Web resource:	https://academic.oup.com/btcint/
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	In whose best interest?: a Canadian case study of the impact of child welfare policies in cases of domestic violence
Other Titles:	Brief treatment and crisis intervention.
Authors:	Jenney, Angelique Redmond, Melissa Mazzuca, Josephine Alaggia, Ramona
Keywords:	Impact on children and young people;Child protection
Year:	2007
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Citation:	7, August 2007
Notes:	General Overview:The authors of this Canadian study found that mandatory reporting of children exposed to domestic violence may result in a reluctance to disclose, damaged relationships between workers and mothers experiencing domestic violence, and victim blaming. Objective: In 2000, Ontario's child welfare legislation was amended to define exposure to domestic violence as a form of maltreatment and to require reporting and investigation of such exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the implications of this amendment for women who are targets of domestic violence, their children and the service professionals who help them. Methods: The study was based on interviews and focus groups conducted in Ontario with a sample of child welfare workers, VAW service providers, survivors, legal professionals, police officers and health care providers. Results: After the amendments, there was a large increase in referrals to child welfare agencies but funding was not increased to the degree needed to provide services or to develop community capacity. The researchers found that service providers were concerned about the duty to report exposure to domestic violence, as it undermined the trust between themselves and their women clients. They were also concerned about victim blaming, where the mother is held responsible for not leaving a violent situation, rather than the father being held responsible for creating a violent situation. Child welfare workers commented that they were not able to work with the violent fathers because of lack of training or mandate. Women's advocates pointed out that the referral of the child led to the mother being asked intrusive questions about her employment, support system and parenting. Women who are marginalised due to race, sexual orientation, immigration status, class, ability, mental health or criminal history are particularly affected by this process. Conclusions: The authors recommend that more consideration should be given to how the changed legislation has impacted on disclosure of domestic violence and on service providers. They suggest that differential response models should be piloted. These models categorise children exposed to domestic violence as high or low risk, with children at high risk referred to child protection while children at low risk are referred to voluntary community based services. [permission to reprint abstract provided by OUP]
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/15212
ISSN:	14743310
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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