Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. Psychological Evaluations shall: 1. Be provided to clients referred by DCFS or by the court 2. Be conducted in accordance with APA Guidelines for Psychological Assessment and Evaluation (PAE). B. The primary focus of recommendations made by the contractor must be the child's health and welfare. The relevant factors to be considered by the contractor shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the following: 1. How seriously has the child's psychological well-being been affected? 2. What therapeutic interventions would be recommended to assist the child? 3. Do the results of evaluation indicate that the parent(s) can be successfully treated to prevent harm to the child in the future? If so, how? If not, why not? 4. What would be the psychological effect upon the child if returned to the parent(s)? 5. What would be the psychological effect upon the child if separated from the parents or if parental rights are terminated? C. The evaluation must address the psychological and developmental needs of the child and/or parent(s). Relevant issues may include but are not limited to abuse or neglect of the child, safety, parental capabilities, reunification, or other permanency plans. In considering psychological factors affecting the health and welfare of the child, contractor may focus on caregiver capacities in the context of the psychological and developmental needs of the child. This may involve an assessment of: 1. the adult's capacities for parenting, including those attributes, skills, strengths and abilities most relevant to abuse and/or neglect concerns; 2. the psychological functioning and developmental needs of the child, particularly with regard to vulnerabilities and special needs of the child, as well as the quality of the child's attachment to the parent(s) and the possible developmental and emotional effects of separation from the parent(s), siblings, extended family members and other caregivers; 3. the current and potential functional abilities of the parent(s), and when necessary for resolution of the case, other relatives to meet the needs of the child; and/or 4. the need for and likelihood of success of clinical or other interventions for identified problems, which may include recommendations regarding treatment modalities and objectives, frequency of services, specialized interventions, parent education and the child’s placement when possible.
