Safety plans are intended to help workers meet their goals to promote the ongoing safety and well-being of children. This written agreement, developed together with the child protective services caseworker and the family, clearly describes the safety services that will be used to support families in building protective capacities. Protective capacities are caregiver strengths that help to buffer and support families. Following the safety plan, families and parents work to take action to eliminate or mitigate threats to the child’s safety. If you are interested in learning how to develop and manage safety plans, use the following resources, which include State and local examples.
Child Welfare Safety Assessment and Planning During COVID-19 and Physical Distancing
National Council on Crime and Delinquency (2020)
Describes ideas for how to conduct safety assessments and create safety plans during COVID-19.
How Can Child Protection Agencies Use Safety Science to Promote a Safety Culture?
Casey Family Programs (2020)
Examines how implementing the use of safety science to create a safety culture in child welfare could help to improve practice and reduce negative outcomes. The article discusses the importance of race equity in the development of a safety culture within child welfare, examines four key principles of a safety culture, provides recommended responses to crises that would align with a safety culture, examines lessons learned from other jurisdictions, and more.
Safety Planning for Long-Term Safety and Wellbeing
Partnering for Safety
Explores the safety-planning process and identifies key steps to creating a plan as each case is dynamic and complex. Also see, Creating the Family Safety Plan.
State and local examples
Child Protective Services Safety Intervention Standards (PDF - 189 KB)
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (2021)
Provides guidelines for child safety decisions and actions is essential and relevant for initial assessment/investigation and ongoing Child Protective Services (CPS). Safety assessment, present danger assessment, protective planning, safety analysis, safety planning, and the management of child safety occur in every aspect of CPS involvement with a family.
Develop and Manage Safety Plans (PDF - 560 KB)
State of Florida Department of Children and Families (2020)
Establishes the policy for developing and managing safety plans in Florida. The resource reviews general requirements, presents danger-safety plans, impending danger-safety plans, establishing conditions for return, how to manage safety plans, reunification supervision, and more.
Parent’s Guide to Child Safety Interventions (PDF - 328 KB)
Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division (2018)
Gives an overview of different types of investigations and assessments that the Vermont Department of Children and Families provides.
Safety Planning Analysis (PDF - 162 KB)
State of Florida Department of Children and Families (2020)
Explains the process of analyzing danger and how professionals can build a sufficient safety plan through answering a series of questions. This resource also provides examples of justifications for why in-home safety plans should or should not be used.
Safety Plan Responsibilities for Child Protection Specialists and Caseworkers (PDF - 132 KB)
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (2019)
Summarizes safety-plan responsibilities for child welfare professionals in Illinois.