What is the duty to warn or protect standard in CPS practice?

• A. It is the obligation to warn or protect a third party when there is imminent risk of serious harm.
• B. It is the obligation to inform the client’s family after every session.
• C. It is optional when the client mentions harming someone.
• D. It only applies to physical harm to the CPS.

Answer: (A)

The duty to warn or protect means you must take steps to prevent serious harm when a client poses a credible, imminent threat to another person. When there is a real chance of harm to a specific or reasonably identifiable victim, confidentiality yields to safety concerns. The standard typically requires you to warn the potential victim and/or involve law enforcement, and to document your risk assessment and the actions you took. The critical elements are imminence and seriousness—if the risk isn’t imminent or isn’t serious, you continue to protect confidentiality and focus on safety planning with the client. It isn’t about informing the client’s family after every session, and it isn’t optional when a client mentions harming someone. It’s about taking protective steps to prevent harm to others in line with professional ethics and relevant state requirements.