Illinois Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) Practice Test

What differentiates a Safety Concern from Risk in child welfare assessment?

1. The potential harm to the child which could be immediate or in the very near future

2. The likelihood of any degree of longer-term future harm/maltreatment

3. When a child in the household is not in immediate danger of moderate to severe harm

4. A visual, inter-generational presentation of the family

The correct answer is: The potential harm to the child which could be immediate or in the very near future

In child welfare assessment, a Safety Concern is distinguished from Risk by the potential harm to the child, which could be immediate or in the very near future. Safety Concerns are indicators that a child is currently in imminent danger or is at risk of immediate harm, while Risk refers to the likelihood of any degree of longer-term future harm or maltreatment. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Option B is incorrect because it focuses on long-term future harm, which is not the primary consideration when identifying immediate Safety Concerns. Option C is incorrect as it presents a scenario where the child is not in immediate danger, which does not align with the definition of a Safety Concern. Option D is also incorrect as it introduces the concept of a visual inter-generational family presentation, which is not directly related to the definition of Safety Concern in child welfare assessment.