This rating is used to determine the parent/caregiver’s capacity to provide the level of monitoring needed by the child.

 

 

 

 

0 | This rating is used to indicate a caregiver circumstance in which supervision and monitoring are appropriate and functioning well.

1 | This level indicates a caregiver circumstance in which supervision is generally adequate but inconsistent. This may include a placement in which one member is capable of appropriate monitoring and supervision but others are not capable or not consistently available.

2 | This level indicates a caregiver circumstance in which appropriate supervision and monitoring are very
inconsistent and frequently absent.

3 |This level indicates a caregiver circumstance in which appropriate supervision and monitoring are nearly always absent or inappropriate.

This item describes the characteristics of the neighborhood where they live (within several blocks) pertaining to safety and availability of community resources that could mitigate risks.

 

 

 

 

0 | Parent/caregiver lives in a safe neighborhood with community resources.

1 | Parent/caregiver lives in a neighborhood that is generally safe but there are limited community resources for children.

2 | Parent/caregiver lives in an unsafe neighborhood with limited resources for children.

3 | Parent/caregiver lives in a dangerous neighborhood with no resources for children.

This item refers to the physical condition of the house or apartment in which the parent/caregiver is currently living. Shelters would be rated ‘Not applicable.’

0 | No health or safety concerns on property

1 | Minor health or safety concerns on property that pose no threat and easily correctable

2 | Serious substantiated health or safety hazards, i.e. overcrowding, inoperative or unsafe water and utility hazards, vermin, or other health and sanitation concerns including home where drugs are produced/sold or where there is current drug activity).

3 | Substantiated life-threatening health or safety hazards, i.e. living in condemned and/or structurally unsound residence; exposed wiring, potential fire/safety hazards, or vermin infestation.

N/A | Not applicable

**LOOK OUT**

This item rates the physical condition of the home. This item should be rated at least 2 if there is drug use in the home. The N/A should only be used if the caregiver/family is homeless. If you have not seen the home and there are no known concerns, score this item 0.

This rating describes the degree of difficulty or conflict in the parent/caregiver’s relationship and the impact on parenting and childcare.

 

 

 

 

0 | Parent/caregiver(s) appear to be functioning adequately. There is no evidence of notable conflict in the parenting relationship. Disagreements are handled in an atmosphere of mutual respect and equal power.

1 | Mild to moderate level of family problems including marital difficulties and partner arguments. Parent/caregivers are generally able to keep arguments to a minimum when child is present. Occasional difficulties in conflict resolution or use of power and control by one partner over another.

2 | Significant level of caregiver difficulties including frequent arguments that often escalate to verbal aggression or the use of verbal aggression by one partner to control the other. Child often witnesses these arguments between caregivers or the use of verbal aggression by one partner to control the other.

3 | Profound level of caregiver or marital violence that often escalates to mutual attacks or the use of physical aggression by one partner to control the other. These episodes may exacerbate child’s difficulties or put the child at greater risk.

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s ability to understand his/her child(ren)’s nutritional needs and provide a reasonably healthy diet.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver is able to plan and produce a healthy diet for children.

1 | Parent/caregiver is able to plan a healthy diet but may struggle with providing it consistently.

2 | Parent/caregiver is unable to provide a consistently healthy diet for children. Parent/caregiver is not knowledgeable about nutritional needs of children.

3 | Parent/caregiver is not able or not willing to provide healthful nutrition management for children

Discipline is defined as all parenting behaviors and strategies that support positive behavior in children.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver generally demonstrates an ability to discipline her/his children in a consistent and respectful manner.  Parent/caregiver’s expectations are age-appropriate and he/she usually is able to set age-appropriate limits and to enforce them.

1 | Parent/caregiver is often able to set age-appropriate limits and to enforce them. On occasion, her/his interventions may be too harsh, too lenient, or inconsistent. At times, her/his expectations of her/his children may be too high or too low.

2 | Parent/caregiver demonstrates limited ability to discipline his/her children in a consistent and age-appropriate manner. She/he rarely is able to set age-appropriate limits and to enforce them. Her/his interventions may be erratic and overly harsh but not physically harmful. Her/his expectations of her/his children are frequently unrealistic.

3 | Significant difficulties with discipline methods. Parent/caregiver disciplines her/his children in an unpredictable fashion. There is either an absence of limit setting and disciplinary interventions or the limit setting and disciplinary interventions are rigid, extreme, and physically harmful (such as shaking the child, whipping, etc.).

This item describes the parent/caregiver’s ability to create a home environment that encourages the child(ren) to learn.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver is able to provide a positive, developmentally appropriate learning environment for
children.

1 | Parent/caregiver is able to provide an environment that generally supports learning, although parent/caregiver may be somewhat uninvolved in that learning.

2 | Parent/caregiver does not actively or consistently support a learning environment for children.

3 | Parent/caregiver actively works to prevent the creation of a learning environment for children.

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s knowledge of parenting skills and strategies and his/her ability to actually use these skills and strategies with his/her child(ren).

 

0 | Parent/caregiver(s) applies flexibility in parenting role; parent has knowledge of multiple parenting practices and is able to implement them effectively with his/her children in a manner that is consistent with the child’s development and needs.

1 | Parent/caregiver(s) has knowledge of parenting practices that are consistent with child’s needs and development but may struggle at times to effectively implement them.

2 | Parent/caregiver has limited flexibility and/or knowledge of parenting practices; parenting practices are seldom effective and/or consistent with child’s development and needs.

3 | Parent/caregiver(s) is extremely limited in his/her understanding of parenting practices. May be very concrete or rigid in his/her approach to child rearing.

**LOOK OUT**

This item is rating the caregiver’s parenting skill set and their ability to apply those skills with their child. A parent who has difficulty with discipline should also be rated here.

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s ability to be knowledgeable both about his/her legal rights and legal and moral responsibilities as a parent/caregiver.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver has a strong understanding of rights and responsibilities.

1 | Parent/caregiver has an understanding of rights and responsibilities but may still require some help in learning about certain aspects of these needs.

2 | Parent/caregiver requires assistance in understanding rights and responsibilities.

3 | Parent/caregiver requires substantial assistance in identifying and understanding rights and responsibilities.

**LOOK OUT**

This item is rating a caregiver’s knowledge of their legal rights as well as their legal and moral responsibilities for their child. This item should be scored if the caregiver has maltreated the child in any way.

This item refers to the family’s income regardless of its source in comparison to the family’s financial needs.

 

0 | Family has financial resources necessary to meet needs or has limited resources but is effectively utilizing those to meet needs.

1 | Family has financial resources necessary to meet most needs; however, some limitations exist.

2 | Family has financial difficulties that limit their ability to meet significant family needs.

3 | Family is experiencing financial hardship that has made them unable to meet family needs.

This rating should be based on the ability of the parent/caregiver to participate in or direct the organization of the household, services, and related activities.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver is well organized and efficient in coordinating household, services, and activities

1 | Parent/caregiver has minimal difficulties with organizing or maintaining household to support needed services. For example, may be forgetful about appointments or occasionally fails to call back case manager.

2 | Parent/caregiver has moderate difficulty organizing or maintaining household to support needed services.

3 | Parent/caregiver is unable to organize household to support needed services.

This item refers to the assets and resources that the parent/caregiver(s) can bring to bear in addressing the multiple needs of the child and family. This item would include access to and utilization of extended family, social supports, and community institutions such as libraries, YMCAs, Park District and other services.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver has sufficient social and familial supports so that there are few limitations on what can be provided for the child.

1 | Parent/caregiver can access the necessary resources to help address the child’s major and basic needs but those resources might be stretched.

2 | Parent/caregiver has limited resources (e.g. a grandmother living in same town who is sometimes available to watch the child) that may not be sufficient to meet the needs of the child.

3 | Parent/caregiver has severely limited resources or no social/family supports available to assist in the care and treatment of the child.

This item refers to the family’s knowledge of choices they might have for specific treatments, interventions or other services that might help the family address their needs or the needs of one of the family’s members. A family with a child having special needs (e.g., hearing-impaired, medically complex, developmental disability, etc.) would be included here.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver has strong understanding of service needs and options.

1 | Parent/caregiver has understanding of service needs and options but may still require some help in learning about certain aspects of these services.

2 | Parent/caregiver requires assistance in understanding service needs and options.

3 | Parent/caregiver requires substantial assistance in identifying and understanding service needs and options.

This item rates the parent/caregiver’s current and likely future housing circumstances.

 

0 | This rating indicates a family/parent in stable housing with no known risks of instability.

1 | This rating indicates a family/parent who is currently in stable housing but there are significant risks of housing disruption (e.g. loss of job).

2 | This rating indicates a family/parent who has moved frequently or has very unstable housing.

3 | This rating indicates a family/parent who is currently homeless.

This item is rated only for individuals who are employed or are in an employment like environment (e.g. training program, internship). An individual whose disability prevents employment would be rated as zero.

 

0 | If able, parent/caregiver is fully employed with no problems at work. Alternatively, Parent/caregiver may not be seeking employment or chooses to be a full-time homemaker.

1 | Parent/caregiver is partially employed, employed significantly below her/his level of education/experience/training, or is having some work-related problems.

2 | Parent/caregiver is having significant work-related problems or is temporarily unemployed because of such difficulties.

3 | Significant difficulties with vocational functioning. Parent/caregiver is chronically unemployed or obtains financial resources through activities that are illegal and/or potentially harmful to her/himself and her/his family members (prostitution, drug dealing, for example).

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s relationship with other relatives who do not currently live with the family.

 

0 | Extended family members play a central role in the functioning and well being of the family. They have predominately positive relationships with members of the extended family and conflicts are resolved quickly.

1 | Extended family members play a supportive role in family functioning. They generally have positive relationships with members of the extended family. Conflicts may linger but eventually are resolved.

2 | Extended family members are marginally involved in the functioning and well being of the family. They have generally strained or absent relationships with extended family members.

3 | Family is not in contact or estranged from extended family members. They have negative relationships with continuing conflicts.

 

Community is broadly defined as the people and institutions where the parent/caregiver lives. This could include a neighborhood, a city or town, or even a county. ‘Community’ is generally understood as the institutions that comprise it—businesses, churches, community centers, etc.

 

0 | The parent/caregiver is actively involved in his/her community.

1 | The parent/caregiver is somewhat involved in his/her community. He/she is supportive of and involved in community institutions.

2 | The parent/caregiver identifies with a community but is not currently involved.

3 | The parent/caregiver is not involved with any community.

Natural supports refer to help that one does not have to pay for. This could include friends and families or a church or other organization that helps the family in times of need.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver(s) has substantial natural supports to assist in address most family and child needs.

1 | Parent/caregiver(s) has natural supports but some limitations exist whereby these supports are insufficient to address some family and child needs.

2 | Parent/caregiver(s) has limited natural supports.

3 | Parent/caregiver(s) has no natural supports.

This item is intended to describe the degree to which a parent/caregiver has self awareness regarding how his/her actions and behavior affect his/her children.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver(s) has a clear understanding of the impact of his/her behavior on children and is able to adjust behavior to limit negative impact.

1 | Parent/caregiver(s) has some understanding of impact of his/her behavior but may struggle at times to change behavior to limit negative impact.

2 | Parent/caregiver(s) has limited understanding of the impact of his/her behavior on children.

3 | Parent/caregiver(s) has no understanding or denies any impact of his/her behavior on children.

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s ability to understand and respond to the joys, sorrows, anxieties and other feelings of children with helpful, supportive emotional responses.

 

0 | Adaptive emotional responsiveness. Parent/caregiver is emotionally empathic and attends to child’s emotional needs.

1 | Parent/caregiver is generally emotionally empathic and typically attends to child’s emotional needs.

2 | Limited adaptive emotional responsiveness. Parent/caregiver is often not empathic and frequently is not able to attend to child’s emotional needs.

3 | Significant difficulties with emotional responsiveness. Parent/caregiver is not empathic and rarely attends to the child’s emotional needs.

This item describes the parent/caregiver’s ability to articulate in an understandable way their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and concerns regarding parenting and children’s needs and strengths.

 

0 | Parent/caregiver(s) is able to express feeling and thoughts effectively with regard to family and child issues.

1 | Parent/caregiver(s) is able to express feeling and thoughts but sometimes struggle to express these so that others can listen and/or understand.

2 | Parent/caregiver(s) requires help learning to express feelings and thoughts effectively with regard to family and child issues.

3 | Parent/caregiver(s) requires substantial help learning to express feelings and thoughts effectively with regard to family and child issues.

This item refers to the parent/caregiver’s mental health status. Serious mental illness would be rated as a ‘2’ or ‘3’ unless the individual is in recovery or successfully managing illness.

0 | Parent/caregiver (s) has no mental health limitations that require assistance or impact childcare.

1 | Parent/caregiver (s) has some mental health limitations but they do not significantly interfere with ability to care for the child at this time.

2 | Parent/caregiver(s) has significant mental health limitations that make difficult or prevent them from being able to care for the child without immediate assistance.

3 |Parent/caregiver (s) is unable to provide any needed assistance or attendant care to child due to serious mental illness.

This item rates the parent/caregiver’s pattern of alcohol and/or drug use. Substance-related disorders would be rated as a ‘2’ or ‘3’ unless the individual is in recovery.

0 | Parent/caregiver (s) has no substance-related limitations that impact or impair parent/caregiving ability and childcare.

1 | Parent/caregiver (s) has some substance-related limitations that interfere or may interfere with parenting ability and childcare.

2 | Parent/caregiver (s) has significant substance-related limitations that make difficult or prevent them from being able to parent and care for their child without assistance.

3 | Parent/caregiver (s) is unable to provide any needed assistance or childcare due to serious substance dependency or abuse.

This item describes the parent/caregiver’s developmental status in terms of low IQ, mental retardation or other developmental disabilities and the impact of these conditions on his/her ability to care for child.

0 | Parent/caregiver (s) has no developmental limitations that impact childcare.

1 | Parent/caregiver (s) has some developmental limitations that interfere or may interfere with his or her ability for childcare at this time.

2 | Parent/caregiver (s) has significant developmental limitations that make difficult or prevent them from being able to parent and care for their child without assistance.

3 | Parent/caregiver (s) is unable to provide any needed assistance or childcare due to serious developmental disabilities.

This rating describes posttraumatic reactions faced by parent/caregiver, including emotional numbing and avoidance, nightmares and flashbacks that are related to their child’s or their own traumatic experiences.

0 | Parent/caregiver has adjusted to traumatic experiences without notable posttraumatic
stress reactions.

1 | Parent/caregiver has some mild adjustment problems related to their child’s or their own traumatic experiences. Parent/caregiver may exhibit some guilt about their child’s trauma or become somewhat detached or estranged from others. These symptoms may mildly impact their ability to provide childcare.

2 | Parent/caregiver has moderate adjustment difficulties related to traumatic experiences, and these difficulties impact ability to provide childcare. Parent/caregiver may have nightmares or flashbacks of the trauma.

3 | Parent/caregiver has significant adjustment difficulties associated with traumatic experiences, and these difficulties severely impact the caregiver’s ability to provide childcare. Symptoms might include intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, and constant anxiety.

This item describes the parent/caregiver’s ability to take care of personal hygiene and self-care needs, including dressing, bathing, eating, etc.

0 | No evidence of hygiene or grooming problems. This is characterized by the ability to independently complete all relevant activities such as bathing, grooming, and dressing.

1 | This is characterized by difficulties that impair the individual’s level of functioning but do not represent a significant short or long-term threat to the person’s well-being.

2 | This is characterized by an extreme disruption in one’s self-care skill or moderate disruption in more than one self-care skill. The person’s self-care does not represent an immediate threat to the person’s safety but has the potential for creating significant long-term problems if not addressed.

3 | This is characterized by extreme disruptions in multiple self-care skills. The person’s self-care abilities are sufficiently impaired that he/she represents an immediate threat to himself/herself and requires 24-hour supervision to ensure safety. For example, a person with an eating disorder that prevents sufficient nutritional intake would be coded here.

This rating focuses on the presence or absence of short or long-term risks associated with impairments in independent living abilities like money management, transportation, job readiness, housekeeping, and cooking.

0 | No evidence of any deficits that could impede maintaining own home.

1 | Some problems exist with maintaining reasonable cleanliness, diet and so forth. Problems with money management may occur at this level. These problems are generally addressable with training or supervision.

2 | Notable problems with completing tasks necessary for independent living are apparent. Difficulty with cooking, cleaning, and self-management when unsupervised would be common at this level. Problems are generally addressable with in-home services.

3 | This individual is unable to live independently given their current status. Problems require a structured living environment.

This item describes the parent/caregiver’s use of leisure time for legal recreational activities.

0 | The parent/caregiver has active legal recreational interests that he/she pursues consistently.

1 | The parent/caregiver has legal recreational interests but does not pursue them consistently.

2 | The parent/caregiver has limited legal recreational activities.

3 | The parent/caregiver has no recreational activities. (Watching television alone is not considered a recreational activity.)

This item is a global rating of the degree to which the caregiver appears to be committed to facilitating progress toward permanency plan goals, including supporting the parent in doing the things necessary to allow for reunification with his/her child(ren).

0 | Caregiver is completely committed to doing whatever he/she needs to support permanency plan goals, including supporting the parent in moving towards reunification.

1 | Caregiver is generally committed to doing the required tasks in order to support permanency plan goals, including reunification.

2 | Caregiver is ambivalent or uncommitted to supporting permanency plan goals, including reunification, at this time.

3 |Caregiver is uninterested in supporting the current permanency plan goals.

This item rates the degree to which family members accept and welcome the foster child as an equal member of the family.

0 | All members of the family view the child as an equal member. Child is included in all family celebrations and events, and child’s accomplishments and milestones are given attention equal to that of other children in the family.

1 | Most family members accept the child in a welcoming manner, celebrate the child’s accomplishments,and include the child in family events. There may be one family member who treats the child differently, but this has little impact on the child’s well-being; or the child is occasionally left out.

2 | At least one parent treats the child as an unequal member of the family. The child is sometimes left out of family celebrations, trips, and events. The child’s milestones are not acknowledged in a manner equal to that of other children in the family.

3 | The child’s status in the foster family is beneath that of other children in the family. The child may be left behind when the family takes trips, and the child’s milestones are ignored when those of other family members are celebrated. Some or all of the family members ignore or resent the child’s presence in the family.

This item describes the parent’s relationship and level of responsiveness/cooperation with his/her child(ren)’s caseworker.

0 | Parent actively stays in contact with the caseworker and consistently responds to the caseworker’s input and requests.

1 | Parent does not always stay in contact with the caseworker, but is generally responsive to the worker’s requests and input. Parent is generally good about following through on appointments, returning the caseworker’s phone calls, etc.

2 | Parent is inconsistent in his or her response to the caseworker’s requests and input.

3 |Parent is unresponsive and uncooperative with the child welfare caseworker. He/she may be actively hostile or seeks to avoid the worker.

This item describes the degree to which the parent participates in any suggested or mandated treatment programs.

0 | Parent consistently participates in personal treatment and shows progress on targeted treatment issues as evidenced by documentation from treatment provider.

1 | Parent generally participates in personal treatment, but may sometimes miss scheduled treatment visits, or parent has been attending treatment but provider’s documentation suggests minimal progress on targeted treatment issues.

2 | Parent sporadically participates in personal treatment.

3 | Parent refuses to participate in personal treatment.

**LOOK OUT**

This item rates the caregiver’s level of participation in their own treatment or recommended services.

This item pertains to a parent who is participating in “shared parenting activities” by attending school conferences, medical appointments, residential or group home, etc.

0 | Parent is actively involved in child’s life while in placement and may take part in shared parenting with the substitute caregiver.

1 | Parent is generally involved in the child’s life while in placement, but still has periods of time where he or she has been less involved or inconsistent.

2 | Parent is involved in child’s life but only has minimal interactions over an extended period of time.

3 | Parent is mostly uninvolved in child’s life; he or she may not interact with the child.

**LOOK OUT**

This item is rating the caregiver’s level of involvement with the child’s treatment, school, recommended services, etc.

This item is a global rating of the degree to which the parent appears to be committed to doing the things necessary to allow for reunification with his/her child(ren).

0 | Parent is doing whatever he/she needs to accomplish in order to be reunified.

1 | Parent is generally committed to doing the required tasks in order to achieve reunification and has once or twice in the last month failed to follow through consistently (e.g., misses visits, therapy sessions and/or court appearances, etc.)

2 | Parent appears or reports being ambivalent or uncommitted to reunification at this time.

3 | Parent is uninterested in achieving reunification at this time.

This item describes the degree to which the parent is aware of their role (even if only present and not directly involved) in the maltreatment of his/her child(ren).

0 | Parent accepts responsibility for his/her role in prior child maltreatment and demonstrates behavior changes that reduce risk of future maltreatment.

1 | Parent understands his/her role in prior child maltreatment, but there may be some concern about their ability to translate that awareness into the prevention of future maltreatment.

2 | Parent does not accept primary responsibility. He/she blames others.

3 | Parent denies any role in prior child maltreatment. Parent may deny that maltreatment took place, or may deny any connection and any level of responsibility for the maltreatment of the child.

If the parent is not the actual abuser, this item describes the parent’s current level of contact and involvement with the perpetrator of the abuse or with anyone who may have abused children in the past.

0 | Parent has no contact/relationships with individuals who were involved in earlier maltreatment of children. Anyone who had engaged in prior child maltreatment (e.g. paramour) is now out of his/her life.

1 | Parent has limited contact with individuals who were involved in earlier maltreatment of child, but he/she is aware of the importance of protecting children from this individual(s).

2 | Parent remains in relationship with individuals who were involved in earlier maltreatment.

3 | Parent remains in relationship with individuals who were involved in earlier maltreatment and denies any risk with these individuals; and/or parent continues to associate with individuals who could be harmful to children.

This item describes whether the parent has any prior history of maltreating a child in his/her care.

0 | No evidence of any history of maltreatment

1 | Parent’s maltreatment of children is limited to the most recent findings. He/she has only the current episode of DCFS involvement.

2 | Parent has two indicated incidents of DCFS involvement.

3 | Parent has three or more indicated incidents of DCFS involvement or any episode ending in the termination of parental rights.

**LOOK OUT**

This item is scored if the caregiver has been indicated on the current case as well as past cases.