ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a strategy for assessing risk for child maltreatment in families. Observational assessment, self-report assessment, standardized assessment, and continuous assessment are all presented, along with a list of useful standardized child, family, and environmental assessment instruments. Census-based and actuarial assessment is outlined and obstacles to forensic child maltreatment assessment are explored. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model is presented with a note on a bioecological approach to information gathering. Strategy for evaluation of parent, child, and environmental domains is presented. Different forms of assessment should be used for each case in order to give providers a thorough and holistic view of the family, taking multicultural considerations into account.
