When there is a change to a family’s circumstances which has the potential to impact the safety of a child, it is considered a critical juncture in the case and necessitates a reassessment of the family. This includes the birth of a new child or a child joining a focus household in an open case. There are two types of assessments based upon timing and the situation: Pre-birth Assessment and Post-birth/Arrival of New Child Assessment. The purpose of these assessments is to re-evaluate the protective capacities and child needs. The current safety plan needs to be re-evaluated to determine if new safety plan actions or tasks are needed to protect the new child.

Requirements Before Baby is Born:

• The Pre-Birth Assessment must be completed:
  • At least 30 days before a newborn is expected to be born OR
  • Within 72 hours after learning of the pregnancy if the child is expected to be born in less than 30 days

• Pre-Birth assessment completed via Family Functioning Assessment-Ongoing (FFA-O) or Progress Update (PU) within the above timeframes.
• Supervisor Consult, to review Pre-Birth assessment.
• Other Parent Home Assessment (OPHA) if there is a non-maltreating parent to whom the baby will be released. Must be done prior to Multidisciplinary Team Staffing (MDT).
• MDT Staffing, with the parents, grandparents (if the parent is a minor), GAL (Guardian ad Litem), current caregivers, others deemed appropriate by Safe Children Coalition or invited by the parents.
• Children’s Legal Services (CLS) Staffing, with Case Management (supervisor must be present if CM is not fully certified), GAL, and Lead Agency. Prior to Staffing CM must complete a Pre-Birth assessment and an OPHA.

Requirements After Baby is Born/New Child Enters the Home:

• The Post-Birth/Arrival of New Child Assessment must be completed:
  • At least 30 days before newborn or new child moves into the home OR
  • Within 72 hours after learning the child will be moving into the home in less than 30 days

• Assess new child in FFA-O or PU, whichever is due next and send to CLS to be filed. Reassess In-Home Safety Analysis Questions and update Conditions for Return as appropriate. Complete within the above timeframes.
• Re-evaluate Safety Plan. Are any changes needed? An updated Safety Plan must be done before a newborn is discharged from the hospital.
• Inform GAL of new child and Safety Plan changes.
• Generate a new Hotline report if suspected the new child was abused, abandoned, or neglected after consulting with the Supervisor.
• If an OPHA has been approved, follow CFOP 170-7, Chapter 5 when releasing the child to the non-offending parent.
• Complete edit request so the new child can be added to the FSFN case.
• Determine the need for a Child Placement Agreement (CPA) if there is an out-of-home Safety Plan in place.
• CLS Staffing, with CM (the supervisor must be present if CM is not fully certified), GAL, and Lead Agency. Prior to Staffing CM must complete an FFA-O or PU and an OPHA.
• If an OPHA was done prior to the child’s birth, a second one would only need to be completed if significant changes took place in the home since the previous OPHA was completed, such as, a move or change in household members.