Profiles of Child-Welfare-Involved Caregivers Identified by Caseworkers as Having a Domestic Violence Problem: Then and Now

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (18) ◽  
pp. 2802-2825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya ◽  
Patricia L. Kohl
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
The Past ◽  
Service Experiences ◽  
To Receive

Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant decline in the rate of domestic violence (DV) experienced among caregivers involved with the child protective services (CPS) system. It is unclear whether this shift is related to changes in caregiver characteristics. Furthermore, despite evidence that suggests CPS caseworkers poorly identify DV and fail to link families to DV services, limited research exists on whether the current CPS interventions that are known to improve caseworkers’ DV identification will also improve chances for DV service receipt. The present study uses data from the first and second cohorts of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to compare differences in demographic characteristics and DV experiences between caregivers in NSCAW I (1999-2000; n = 2,758) and NSCAW II (2008-2009; n = 2,207). We also examine the effects of CPS interventions on NSCAW II caregivers’ receipt of DV services external to the CPS agency (i.e., external DV services). Caregivers with caseworker reports of active DV in NSCAW I and II were similar in their demographic characteristics and external DV service experiences. However, caregivers in NSCAW II generally reported lower rates of victimization for specific types of violence than NSCAW I caregivers. Finally, caregivers with active DV involved with an agency that used DV assessment tools were 7.03 times more likely to receive external DV services than those in agencies without DV tools (95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.33, 21.22]). Whereas caregivers in agencies that sometimes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.16, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.99]) or always (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = [0.02, 0.98]) had a DV specialist available were less likely to receive external DV services than those in an agency that never/rarely had a DV specialist available. We recommend CPS agencies use specialized assessment tools to identify DV-affected families and link them to services. Additional research is needed to understand what types of services DV specialists offer within CPS agencies and whether these services meet caregivers’ needs.

Child Protective Services Guidelines for Substantiating Exposure to Domestic Violence as Maltreatment and Assigning Caregiver Responsibility: Policy Analysis and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
pp. 107755952110026
Author(s):  
Bryan G. Victor ◽  
Ashley N. Rousson ◽  
Colleen Henry ◽  
Haresh B. Dalvi ◽  
E. Susana Mariscal
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Child Exposure ◽  
Exposure To Domestic Violence ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
Child Welfare Systems

The purpose of this study was to examine the range of policy approaches used by child welfare systems in the United States to guide workers in classifying and substantiating child exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) as an actionable form of maltreatment. To that end, we conducted a qualitative document analysis of child protective services (CPS) policy manuals from all state-administered child welfare systems in the U.S. ( N = 41). Our findings indicate that a majority of state-administered systems (71%) have adopted policy requiring workers to demonstrate that children have endured harm or the threat of harm before substantiating CEDV-related maltreatment. Many state systems (51%) also include policy directives that require workers to identify a primary aggressor during CPS investigations involving CEDV, while far fewer (37%) provide language that potentially exonerates survivors of domestic violence from being held accountable for failure to protect on the basis of their own victimization. Based on our findings and identification of policy exemplars, we offer a recommended set of quality policy indicators for states to consider in the formulation of their policy guidelines for substantiating children’s exposure to domestic violence that promotes the safety and wellbeing of both children and adult survivors of domestic violence.

scholarly journals Strengths and problems of families in contact with child protective services during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Witte ◽  
Heinz Kindler
Keyword(s):  
Child Protection ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
The Family ◽  
Child And Youth Welfare ◽  
The Face ◽  
Adaptation Response ◽  
Perceived Effects

Objective: The study investigates the dynamics within families in contact with child protective services in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic as perceived by social workers. Based on the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response (FAAR) model, strengths and problems are outlined. Background: Following the first lockdown of public life in March 2020, concerns about children’s well-being have been raised. Practitioners and scientists alike worried that particularly children in families with multiple problems would suffer severe abuse and neglect. However, it remains unclear how these families have actually been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Method: Child protection caseworkers from 40 child and youth welfare authorities across Germany were interviewed twice via telephone. The first interview was conducted during summer 2020, and the second interview two months later. Caseworkers were questioned about their professional experience in their daily work since March 2020. Moreover, they provided information on the perceived effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on families in contact with child protective services. Results: The interviews were analyzed using content analyses. Six overall challenges for families were identified. Families reacted differently to these. The caseworkers reported problems in families like increased parental conflict, media use, and alcohol consumption during the first lockdown. Nevertheless in some families, the caseworkers also perceived there to be less stress and tension during the lockdown in March 2020 due to fewer school requirements. Furthermore, some families were able to establish routines, activate resources, and find solutions for problems on their own. At the time of the second interview, some families’ problems had increased, particularly regarding children’s difficulties at school due to insufficient homeschooling. Conclusion: The results show that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on child protection families are positive and negative. Some are resourceful in the face of adversities, and others show an aggravation of problems. The results are discussed in light of findings on family dynamics during the Covid-19 pandemic in other countries.

scholarly journals Implementation Of Legal Protection Of Children As Victims Of Domestic Psychic Violence

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
Dwi Kurniawan
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
Psychological Violence ◽  
Domestic Sphere ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Legal Norms

This research is focused on the normative legal norms and also the object of the law as the main data, they get out of control and a book of rules, which should be fine correctness of the research that has been done. The author conducted research in the area of Semarang Polrestabes. The results of this study are: (1) Implementation of the legal protection of children as victims of domestic violence can be done in two ways, namely the vicissitudes of non-penal and penal. Non-penal efforts undertaken by preemptive and preventive, while the penal effort is an attempt by the police as repressive as psychological violence in the domestic sphere occurred and reported to the police; (2) Constraints faced by the police in the implementation of the legal protection of children as victims of psychological violence in the household, namely: (a) Difficulty in finding strong evidence of child victims of psychological violence, in this case the question is about how to form psychological violence. (B) The difficulty to distinguish children who suffered emotional abuse committed by family members in a household setting. A child who is exposed to violence usually have a psychological fear to reveal their problems as a result of the perpetrator's actions. (C) The number of child victims of psychological violence for people who shut themselves in their environment and also included the police or Child Protective Services. (D) delay in reporting of family members in the household,Keywords: Legal Protection, Child, Domestic Violence.

Distinguishing Characteristics and Disparities in Child Protective Services-Investigated Maltreatment by Fathers

2020 ◽  
pp. 107755952095082
Author(s):  
Julia M. Kobulsky ◽  
Rachel Wildfeuer ◽  
Susan Yoon ◽  
Jamie Cage
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Criminal Investigation ◽  
Clear Pattern ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Criminal Justice Systems ◽  
Out Of Home Placement ◽  
Criminal Charges ◽  
Home Placement

This study examines distinguishing characteristics of father-perpetrated maltreatment and disparities in Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation outcomes based on perpetrator gender and race. A sample of children ( N = 2,017) reported to CPS for maltreatment attributed to their mother and/or father was drawn from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW II). Measures included perpetrator(s) relationship to the child (mother alone, father alone, mother and father) and race (Black, White, Other), caseworker-reported maltreatment characteristics and co-occurring risk factors, and CPS investigation outcomes (services, substantiation, out-of-home placement, criminal investigation, and criminal charges). Bivariate analyses revealed no clear pattern of higher risk for maltreatment involving fathers. In regression, father-alone perpetration predicted less out-of-home placement but more criminal investigations and charges. A significant interaction indicated the greatest risk for criminal charges when a Black father co-perpetrated maltreatment with mother. Findings imply needs for anti-bias training, specialized services for fathers, and coordinated diversion between child welfare and criminal justice systems.

Adverse childhood experiences and obesity over time

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Miriam Schiff ◽  
Jess Helton ◽  
John Fu
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Obesity Status ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Support Evidence

Abstract Objective: The effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) on children and adolescents’ health status such as obesity is understudied. This study addressed the effect of ACEs on obesity status during childhood utilizing multiple waves of national panel data. Design Longitudinal survey Setting: Data were drawn from three waves of the second cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II). NSCAW II study sampled cases from Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations that were closed between February 2008 and April 2009 nationwide. We measured ACE cumulatively and as separate events, and stratified by gender. Participants: 3,170 youth birth to 14 years of age at baseline. Results: A count measure of ACE is indeed associated with greater odds of obesity during childhood. Differential effects for different types of ACE were also found, most notably neglect. For girls, physical and psychological neglect increased odds of obesity. Conclusions: Findings support evidence for the importance of using both a count measure of ACE as well as separating out single events by gender.

scholarly journals Facilitators of probation-based domestic violence perpetrator programmes: ‘Who’s in the room?’

2021 ◽  
pp. 026455052110250
Author(s):  
Nicole Renehan
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Professional Identities ◽  
Domestically Violent ◽  
Violent Men ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Insufficient Knowledge

The role that probation practitioners play in the desistance process has begun to receive much needed attention. Yet, the experiences of facilitators of probation-based, domestic violence perpetrator programmes have long been neglected. This article explores the experiences and wellbeing of eight facilitators from one cohort of the Building Better Relationships (BBR) programme in England. Drawing upon five-months’ observations and in-depth interviews, I demonstrate how working with domestically violent men with insufficient knowledge, experience, or support, exacerbated within the context of Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, impacted significantly on facilitator well-being, professional identities, and practice. Practice implications are discussed.

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