Understanding and Minimizing Risk for Abuse Allegations

The following information is from the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) Best Practice Guidelines for Child Maltreatment in Foster Care.

The reality of fostering today includes the possibility of allegations against foster/adoptive parents. Reports of maltreatment of foster children occur for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, some are substantiated and it is crucial for DHHS to protect children from further harm. Other reports may be unsubstantiated, emerging from the complex dynamics of the foster care situation.

Factors that influence the reporting of maltreatment of children in out-of- home care include:

• Children in foster care may be very visible to people in the community who, in good faith, may misjudge a situation and make a report in situations where no maltreatment has occurred.
  
• Because people view children in foster care as an especially vulnerable group, reporters may be especially vigilant and prefer to err on the side of caution when making decisions on whether to report concerns of possible maltreatment of children in foster care.
  
• Agencies with responsibility for the care or custody of children in foster care may be more likely to file complaints on borderline situations out of concern for liability and the risk of negative public perception if they do not report.
  
• Young children with limited verbal skills may have difficulties distinguishing, to others, the caregiver who may have abused them. An effort to talk about past abuse may be interpreted as abuse that is occurring in the present with the current foster caregivers (Carbino, 1991).