Which is NOT a criterion for developing Safety Plans?

A Safety Plan is a crucial tool in child welfare, designed to ensure the immediate safety of a child at risk. To be effective, a Safety Plan must control impending danger, meaning it must offer specific strategies to mitigate risk factors identified during the assessment process. Furthermore, it should have immediate effect, meaning that the implemented measures should start protecting the child right away.

Accessibility is also a vital component of a Safety Plan. It ensures that the individuals involved—whether they are family members, foster parents, or service providers—can easily understand and implement the plan. This fosters collaboration and maximizes the safety measures in practice.

However, including promises of future behavior is not a required criterion for developing Safety Plans. While it is important for caretakers and involved parties to commit to behaviors that support child safety in the long term, reliance on promises about future actions does not meet the tangible and immediate needs for child safety. Safety Plans should focus on concrete, actionable steps that can be taken right away rather than speculative commitments to future behavior. This distinction is critical in child welfare practice, where the child's immediate safety is the primary concern.