The level of vulnerability system considers many factors including severity of abuse and age of the child. The level 1 cases in Crook County consist of severe sexual abuse and situations where the child is a severe danger to themselves. These level 3 cases include parental absence resulting from parental incarceration, mentally retarded or developmentally disabled children needing treatment, and children requiring residential treatment. Most children entering foster care exhibit behaviors after being abused or neglected. Victims of sexual abuse are often afflicted with a number of problems related to abuse.
Most children enter foster care after being abused or neglected by their parents.
These same parents often exhibit problems known as family factors. There is less single parenthood, less unemployment, fewer parents with poor parenting skills, and fewer parents with a history of abusing children. Crook County does however, have a higher percentage of untreated sexual offenders than elsewhere in Oregon. Family problems contribute to a child's placement in foster care and can also be a barriers to returning a child home. Barriers are family problems that should be addressed before a child is returned home.