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Voices from the frontline: Child protection workers’ perspectives on barriers to assessing risk in domestic violence cases

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  • Olszowy, Laura
  • Jaffe, Peter G.
  • Dawson, Myrna
  • Straatman, Anna-Lee
  • Saxton, Michael D.

Abstract

Previous research has identified barriers for child protection workers in effectively intervening in domestic violence (DV) cases. The child protection sector has been criticized for placing the onus on victims to keep children safe and failing to engage perpetrators. This qualitative study examined barriers for child protection workers in assessing risk with families where DV is the primary concern. The sample included 29 key informants in the Ontario, Canada child protection sector who were interviewed on their risk assessment, risk management and safety planning practices in the context of DV. The results indicated that key informants identified barriers at the systemic (i.e., lack of collaboration with community partners), organizational (i.e., lack of written policies or procedures specific to DV), and individual (i.e., client-worker challenges, high caseload, lack of ongoing training) levels. Specific difficulties in engaging and providing intervention for perpetrators were also identified. Finally, child protection workers highlighted a diverse range of promising practices in engaging effectively with victims, perpetrators and their children. These findings emphasize the importance of community collaborations to manage risk with these cases as well as ongoing consultation with DV specialists to respond and keep families safe.

Suggested Citation

  • Olszowy, Laura & Jaffe, Peter G. & Dawson, Myrna & Straatman, Anna-Lee & Saxton, Michael D., 2020. "Voices from the frontline: Child protection workers’ perspectives on barriers to assessing risk in domestic violence cases," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:116:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920300116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105208
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mills, Linda G. & Friend, Colleen & Conroy, Kathryn & Fleck-Henderson, Ann & Krug, Stefan & Magen, Randy H. & Thomas, Rebecca L. & Trudeau, John H., 2000. "Child protection and domestic violence: Training, practice, and policy issues," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 315-332, May.
    2. Jenney, Angelique & Mishna, Faye & Alaggia, Ramona & Scott, Katreena, 2014. "Doing the right thing? (Re) Considering risk assessment and safety planning in child protection work with domestic violence cases," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P1), pages 92-101.
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    5. Postmus, Judy L. & Merritt, Darcey H., 2010. "When child abuse overlaps with domestic violence: The factors that influence child protection workers' beliefs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 309-317, March.
    6. Hughes, Judy & Chau, Shirley & Poff, Deborah C., 2011. ""They're not my favourite people": What mothers who have experienced intimate partner violence say about involvement in the child protection system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1084-1089, July.
    7. Pennell, Joan & Rikard, R.V. & Sanders-Rice, Tia, 2014. "Family violence: Fathers assessing and managing their risk to children and women," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P1), pages 36-45.
    8. Button, Deeanna M. & Payne, Brian K., 2009. "Training child protective services workers about domestic violence: Needs, strategies, and barriers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 364-369, March.
    9. Hughes, Judy & Chau, Shirley, 2013. "Making complex decisions: Child protection workers' practices and interventions with families experiencing intimate partner violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 611-617.
    10. Bourassa, Chantal & Lavergne, Chantal & Damant, Dominique & Lessard, Genevieve & Turcotte, Pierre, 2006. "Awareness and detection of the co-occurrence of interparental violence and child abuse: Child welfare worker's perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 1312-1328, November.
    11. Kohl, Patricia L. & Barth, Richard P. & Hazen, Andrea L. & Landsverk, John A., 2005. "Child welfare as a gateway to domestic violence services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1203-1221, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikolova, K. & Postmus, J.L. & Buttner, C. & Bosk, E.A., 2020. "Working together to protect women and children from domestic violence: Factors influencing willingness to collaborate between organizations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Mbamba, Crispin Rakibu & Kpobi Ndemole, Ignatus & Madinatu Hassan, Sarah & Arthur, Isaac & Mountz, Sarah, 2022. "Practice approaches to combat child trafficking in trafficking-sensitive areas in Ghana: Experiences of practitioners involved in child trafficking interventions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    3. Brian Littlechild, 2021. "Review Paper: ‘Discourses on the Place of Mothers Rights where They Are Subject to Domestic Violence within Child Protection Work in England’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.

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