Protecting Children in Families Involved in Domestic Violence (PN #06)

Abstract

Child welfare agencies are seeing a growing number of cases of children witnessing adult domestic violence, or maltreated children whose mothers are also the victim of domestic assault. Yet the problems of child maltreatment and violence against women have traditionally been viewed and treated as two distinct issues. Working together on behalf of the safety of all victims of family violence requires communication, cross-training, and ongoing coordination and integration of services. This issue provides practical guidelines for child welfare professionals based on a national curriculum (Ganley & Schechter, 1996) and it provides resources for professionals interested in learning more about national efforts to successfully respond to all victims of family violence.