ICDVP Risk Assessment 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a survivor has a disability, how should this be addressed in risk assessment?
- Disability status is only relevant if the abuser is also the caregiver
- Disability may increase vulnerability to abuse and reduce access to resources, requiring tailored assessment (Correct answer)
- Survivors with disabilities are generally at lower risk because abusers fear legal consequences
- Disability should be documented but does not change the risk assessment process
Correct answer: Disability may increase vulnerability to abuse and reduce access to resources, requiring tailored assessment
Survivors with disabilities face unique barriers and heightened vulnerabilities that must be incorporated into a comprehensive, individualized risk assessment.
Question 2: Which of the following questions directly addresses a high-lethality indicator on the Danger Assessment calendar?
- Has your partner ever criticized you in front of others?
- Has your partner ever tried to choke or strangle you? (Correct answer)
- Has your partner ever broken objects in your home?
- Has your partner ever monitored your phone calls?
Correct answer: Has your partner ever tried to choke or strangle you?
Strangulation/choking is one of the most significant lethality indicators assessed on the Danger Assessment tool.
Question 3: Economic abuse is relevant to risk assessment because it:
- Only affects survivors in low-income households
- Increases financial dependency, limiting the survivor's ability to escape and elevating long-term danger (Correct answer)
- Is a civil matter separate from domestic violence risk
- Typically indicates the abuser is not physically violent
Correct answer: Increases financial dependency, limiting the survivor's ability to escape and elevating long-term danger
Economic abuse creates barriers to safety by trapping survivors in abusive relationships due to financial dependency.
Question 4: A survivor describes their abuser as 'obsessed' and unable to accept the end of the relationship. This best describes which risk factor?
- Minimization by the abuser
- Extreme jealousy and possessiveness as a lethality indicator (Correct answer)
- The honeymoon phase of the cycle of violence
- A non-dangerous emotional response to relationship conflict
Correct answer: Extreme jealousy and possessiveness as a lethality indicator
Extreme jealousy, possessiveness, and an inability to accept separation are significant lethality indicators associated with intimate partner homicide.
Question 5: How should a DV professional document risk assessment findings to support survivor safety and inter-agency collaboration?
- Verbal summaries only, to protect survivor confidentiality
- Detailed written records using survivor-defined language and risk level, shared only with consent (Correct answer)
- Minimal notes to avoid creating records that could be subpoenaed
- Standardized checklists filed with law enforcement automatically
Correct answer: Detailed written records using survivor-defined language and risk level, shared only with consent
Thorough, survivor-centered written documentation supports continuity of care and inter-agency collaboration while respecting confidentiality requirements.
Question 6: When assessing risk for elder survivors of domestic violence, which factor is especially important?
- Whether the abuse began before age 60
- Caregiver dependency and social isolation, which are common in elder abuse situations (Correct answer)
- The elder survivor's prior history of making police reports
- Whether adult children are aware of the abuse
Correct answer: Caregiver dependency and social isolation, which are common in elder abuse situations
Elder survivors often depend on their abusers for caregiving and may be isolated, which significantly elevates their risk and complicates safety planning.
Question 7: Which of the following best reflects a trauma-informed approach to risk assessment?
- Focusing questions on what the survivor did to provoke the violence
- Creating a safe, non-judgmental environment and allowing the survivor to guide the pace of disclosure (Correct answer)
- Completing the assessment as quickly as possible to reduce the survivor's distress
- Informing the survivor that their answers will determine whether services are offered
Correct answer: Creating a safe, non-judgmental environment and allowing the survivor to guide the pace of disclosure
A trauma-informed approach prioritizes emotional safety, survivor agency, and non-judgment to reduce re-traumatization during the assessment process.
ICDVP Risk Assessment 4
When a survivor has a disability, how should this be addressed in risk assessment?