Children Exposed to Violence in the Child Protection System: Practice-Based Assessment of the System Process Can Lead to Practical Strategies for Improvement

• NCJ Number: 223676
• Journal: Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 8 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 217-234
• Author(s): Serena N. Hulbert
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article summarizes 5 years of research that evaluated the practices of child protection departments, the courts, and service providers in addressing the safety and well-being of children exposed to domestic violence.

Abstract

For systems presumably designed to "protect children," the lack of consistent information in the files regarding the safety and well-being of children exposed to violence in their homes was alarming. It is critical for stakeholders to discuss how best to balance the needs and requirements of parents involved in domestic violence while also addressing the well-being and safety concerns of children exposed to partner violence in the home. When multiple co-occurring factors are present and one of them is domestic violence, a closer assessment by the child protection system is required. The safety and well-being of children exposed to violence requires proper assessment so the court can make appropriate decisions regarding the child's welfare. Cases were identified in which children who witnessed domestic violence were removed from their families, not solely because they witnessed violence, but due to the imminent danger to their physical and emotional health resulting from a combination of all the risk factors and the lack of safe alternatives. The identification of domestic violence in child protection cases emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether the child protection system procedures have evolved to the point of appropriately addressing intervention and treatment after the identification of domestic violence. The data and findings presented in this article are derived from evaluations of four jurisdictions that participated in the Safe Start Demonstration Project, which was launched under Federal leadership in order to improve how local, county, and State agencies prevent and reduce the impact of family and community violence on children. 1 figure, 2 tables and 8 notes