Child protective service agencies often use formal risk assessment models to determine the immediate danger and future risk of maltreatment, which services or worker actions are necessary to protect the child during the investigation, whether the child should be removed from the home, and elements the initial case plan should address to alleviate jeopardy. The proper design and use of any risk assessment tool should include a critical analysis of the model with respect to cultural context and cultural interpretation. Ethnically competent practitioners will acknowledge and accept differences, be familiar with their own values and orientation, understand the dynamics of differences and how they affect the helping relationship, and adapt these principles in all phases of practice and evaluation. Risk assessment factors affected by culture include the ability of the child to care for self and other siblings, the adequacy of parental supervision, the provision of basic needs, the adequacy of medical care, parenting skills and knowledge, cooperation with case planning and service, response to the child's behavior and misconduct, attachment and bonding, the child's role in the family, and social support. The resources listed in the POCLI bibliography cover a broad range of areas related to risk assessment usage and cultural issues. 10 citations with abstracts and key words