Certified Case Manager Practice Test

What type of threat is recognized when a child is in a situation where they are at risk of harm?

1. Emotional stress

2. Present danger

3. External conflict

4. Social disengagement

The correct answer is: Present danger

The concept of "present danger" refers specifically to situations where a child is immediately exposed to a risk of harm. This term is often used within the context of child protection and welfare assessments. When a child is in a scenario assessed as presenting danger, it indicates that there is an urgent, definable threat to the child’s physical or emotional safety that necessitates immediate intervention. Identifying present danger is critical for professionals, as it informs the urgency and type of response needed to protect the child. Assessments of present danger are essential in child protective services, guiding decisions about safety planning and potential removal from hazardous environments to ensure the child's immediate well-being. In contrast, emotional stress, external conflict, and social disengagement are broader issues that, while they can impact a child’s well-being, do not specifically denote immediate risk or harm in the same way that present danger does. These factors may be associated with longer-term issues or conditions but do not reflect the urgent nature of a situation where a child faces a direct and immediate threat of harm.