Type:	Journal Article
Title:	The impact of violence on mothers' and children's needs during and after parental separation
Other Titles:	Early child development and care
Authors:	McInnes, Elspeth
Keywords:	Family law;Health;Screening;Mental health;Impact on children and young people;Counselling
Year:	2004
Publisher:	Gordon and Breach
Citation:	174 (4), 2004
Notes:	This describes a South Australian study of single mothers’ adaptation to living in a single-parent household after ending their relationship, in the context of family violence. It presents qualitative research interviews with 18 separated mothers whose main reason for ending their relationship was due to violence, and includes their views on how the violence had impacted on their children. They have continuing concerns about their children such as their children’s withdrawal, anxiety, aggression and continuing exposure to violence during contact with their father. Access to professionals to seek help for their children’s needs was reported to be inadequate. It concludes that isolation, relocation, homelessness, legal responses and poverty after separation compounded the impact of violence on mothers and children. It finds that not all mothers could protect their children during contact with violent ex-partners due to failures in the family law system. Family law decision-making becomes an important area for reform. Improvements to health system supports (such as screening for histories of violence or current violence) are another area of reform to reduce the continuing impact of violence. Schools are identified as having a major role in supporting mothers and children recovering from violence. The findings suggest that schools and children’s services should identify the prevalence of children and parents who have been exposed to family violence in order to provide appropriate support and counselling.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12260
ISSN:	0300-4430
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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