Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Beyond politics and positions: a call for collaboration between family court and domestic violence professionals
Other Titles:	Family court review
Authors:	Salem, Peter Dunford-Jackson, Billie Lee
Keywords:	Family law;Child protection
Year:	2008
Publisher:	Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Citation:	46 (3), July 2008
Notes:	General Overview: The domestic violence advocacy and family court communities share many objectives in common, including the goal of safe and healthy families and the prevention of violence. Yet collaboration between these professional communities remains wanting. This US article reflects on the sources of division between the two communities and seeks to offer constructive ideas about how differences of opinion may be bridged. Discussion: Importantly, the article is co-authored by representatives of the Family Violence Department of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (FVD/NCJFCJ) and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). In the past, the two organisations have frequently found themselves in opposite camps over questions of law and legal process, including with respect to the use of conciliatory dispute resolution in domestic violence cases. However, the authors acknowledge that the views of those within the two organisations are not uniform and are hopeful about the possibilities for collaboration. The article is divided into six sections. Part I explains the background to the article, which emanated out of the Wingspread Conference in 2007. Part II outlines the diverging histories of the domestic violence advocacy and family court communities. Part III makes the case for collaboration, and in particular highlights the importance of eliminating mixed messages, meeting the needs of children, developing appropriate interventions, and making effective use of resources. Part IV identifies four main obstacles to collaboration between the domestic violence and family court communities: first, the complex entanglement of ideology with issues of professional identity, livelihood and turf; second, differences in definitions of domestic violence, particularly with respect to the relevance of gender; third, lack of trust between the communities; and fourth, resistance to change. Part V reflects on the outcomes of collaboration between the AFCC and FVD/NCJFCJ to date, which include the co-authoring of numerous publications and joint presentations at conferences. Finally, Part VI offers broad suggestions about how to encourage collaboration, including through better communication and the development of joint projects.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13632
ISSN:	1531-2445
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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