What is the primary goal of teaching in CPS?

• A. Promote durable behavior change
• B. Impose punitive measures
• C. Label the child
• D. Remove privileges

Answer: (A)

The goal of teaching in CPS is to promote durable behavior change. That means helping the client develop skills they can reliably use across different situations and over time, not just temporarily. In CPS work, teaching focuses on equipping families or children with practical strategies, problem-solving abilities, and a clear understanding of why certain behaviors are safer or more appropriate so they can maintain these changes even after direct input ends. Achieving this involves modeling the desired behaviors, guiding practice, giving constructive feedback, and creating opportunities to apply new skills in real-life contexts with support for transferring them to various settings. Short-term punitive measures, labeling, or simply removing privileges tend to curb behavior in the moment without building lasting competencies or trust, so they don’t support lasting change.