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Psychosocial Assessment of Alleged Victims of Child Maltreatment

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A Practical Guide to the Evaluation of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect

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Abstract

In a medical-based setting, a social worker performs a psychosocial assessment to determine the needs and well-being of a family. In doing so and often as part of a multidisciplinary team, the social worker may be the first to suspect a child has been maltreated resulting in the legal mandate to report the incident to the state child protection agency for investigation. The purpose of this chapter is to present the components of a psychosocial assessment that a social worker in a medical-based setting performs. It also discusses key elements of interviewing caregivers and children while interviewing the role of social workers on a multidisciplinary team, and the differences between a clinical social work psychosocial assessment and child protection investigation. Finally, it outlines the steps of the CPS process from investigation to termination of services.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Houston, Texas, USA

    Kelli Connell-Carrick PhD, MSW (Assistant Professor)

  2. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

    Maria Scannapieco PhD, MSW (Professor)

Authors
  1. Kelli Connell-Carrick PhD, MSW
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  2. Maria Scannapieco PhD, MSW
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Texas Children's Health Plan, Inc., Holcombe Blvd. 2450, Houston, 77021, Texas, USA

    Angelo P. Giardino

  2. Texas Children’s Hospital, Children's Assessment Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Fannin St. 6621, Houston, 77030-2399, Texas, USA

    Michelle A. Lyn

  3. School of Nursing at Houston, Department of Integrative Care, University of Texas, Bertner 6901, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Eileen R. Giardino

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Connell-Carrick, K., Scannapieco, M. (2010). Psychosocial Assessment of Alleged Victims of Child Maltreatment. In: Giardino, A., Lyn, M., Giardino, E. (eds) A Practical Guide to the Evaluation of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0702-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0702-8_14

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0702-8

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