The assessment of imminence of risk of placement: Lessons from a family preservation program

Abstract

Intensive family preservation programs are a form of family services aimed at preventing the placement into foster care of children deemed at imminent risk of removal. There is considerable debate, however, on how best to determine the risk of imminent placement. This article presents an analysis of the determination of imminent risk within one family preservation program, and finds that the conventional and accepted risk factors to be used in making a risk determination at intake are more accurate at predicting placement after leaving the program than in predicting who is judged to be at imminent risk at intake. Specific elements contributing to this discrepancy are discussed, with implications for risk assessment research and policy.