Important Risk Factors in Home-Removal Decisions: Social Caseworker Perceptions

The current study identified factors that played a significant role in decisions to separate a child from his/her primary caretakers for 51 social service caseworkers. Participants rated and ranked the importance of 35 child risk/well-being factors used in recent child separation dispositions. Results indicated that boundary setting with a perpetrator of abuse and parental motivation played a significant role in decision-making. These preliminary findings suggest the need to prioritize services aimed at the promotion of the non-maltreating parent’s limit setting with the perpetrator of abuse, as well as caretaker motivation/cooperation.Virginia M. DeRoma is affiliated with The Citadel, Psychology Department, Capers Hall, 171 Moultrie, 29409, Charleston, SC, USA. Maria Lynn Kessler is affiliated with Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR, USA. Ryan McDaniel is affiliated with New Hope for Children, Charleston, SC, USA. Cesar M. Soto is affiliated with Municipal Defense of Children and Adolescents, Chorrillos, Peru.Address correspondence to Virginia M. DeRoma, The Citadel, Psychology Department, Capers Hall, 171 Moultrie, Charleston, SC, 29409.