Factors to assess when determining the character of a responsible person:

• Honest and open communication

• Criminal backgrounds

• Child welfare priors

• Substance misuse concerns

• Mental or medical concerns

Responsible adult must understand the danger threat and be ready to protect the child from the danger threat. The responsible adult places the child’s safety first.

Be sure the responsible adult has the necessary resources available to perform safety actions.

Resources may include:

• Reliable transportation

• Ability to obtain items (food, diapers, clothes)

• Home (proper sleeping arrangements)

All responsible adults on the safety plan must sign the safety plan indicating they understand what must be done to protect the child and are able to perform the safety actions as outlined.

If parents are assessed to have diminished caregiver protective capacities, they cannot perform safety plan actions.

Always inquire about responsible individuals to perform safety plan actions. Having multiple people perform safety actions will increase the sufficiency of the safety plan and lessen the burden of just one person controlling the danger threat.

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Ask about:

• Relatives (maternal & paternal)

• Friends

• Church, Mosque, Synagogue, Temple members

• Co-workers

• Neighbors

• Providers (GAL, therapist, sponsor)