scholarly journals Developing a Theoretical Framework to Discuss Mothers Experiencing Domestic Violence and Being Subject to Interventions: A Cross-National Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Arnull ◽  
Stacey Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
The United States ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
Social Work Policy ◽  
Mother Blame ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

The discourse about domestic violence has developed in patriarchal societies, and so we position our understanding of ‘mother’ within a patriarchal framework. We explore the ways in which ‘mothering’ and ‘mother blame’ have been constructed within that framework and how this becomes relevant in the context of domestic violence and child welfare social work. We review literature from Australia, Canada, England and Wales, and the United States of America that has focused on child welfare responses to mothers experiencing domestic violence and abuse. On the basis of that review, we argue that mothers are responsibilised for violence and abuse they do not perpetrate. We show that the way legislation operates in some jurisdictions facilitates hegemonic, patriarchal constructions. We call for a review of current child welfare social work policy and practice in which domestic violence is present.

scholarly journals Child Protective Service Referrals Involving Exposure to Domestic Violence: Prevalence, Associated Maltreatment Types, and Likelihood of Formal Case Openings

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan G. Victor ◽  
Colleen Henry ◽  
Terri Ticknor Gilbert ◽  
Joseph P. Ryan ◽  
Brian E. Perron
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
The United States ◽  
Child Welfare Workers ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Standard Data ◽  
Protective Service ◽  
Exposure To Domestic Violence ◽  
Formal Case ◽  
Welfare Workers

Childhood exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) is widely understood as potentially harmful to children. Accordingly, many child welfare systems in the United States construe CEDV as maltreatment when the exposure results in harm or threatened harm to the child. The purpose of the current study was to investigate substantiated child welfare referrals directly related to CEDV to better understand the prevalence and patterns of CEDV-related maltreatment and how child welfare workers respond under the “harm or threatened harm” standard. Data were drawn from 23,704 substantiated referrals between 2009 and 2013 in a large Midwestern child welfare system. Approximately 20% of substantiated referrals were CEDV related. A plurality of CEDV-related referrals included both a male caregiver and female caregiver who were co-substantiated for maltreatment. The most common maltreatment types substantiated for these referrals were neglect based rather than abuse based, and just under a quarter (23%) of CEDV-related referrals were formally opened for services. Referrals involving co-occurring substance abuse were most likely to be opened for services based on predicted probabilities derived from multilevel modeling. Implications for policy and practice are considered.

Child Protective Services Guidelines for Substantiating Exposure to Domestic Violence as Maltreatment and Assigning Caregiver Responsibility: Policy Analysis and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
pp. 107755952110026
Author(s):  
Bryan G. Victor ◽  
Ashley N. Rousson ◽  
Colleen Henry ◽  
Haresh B. Dalvi ◽  
E. Susana Mariscal
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Protective Services ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Child Exposure ◽  
Exposure To Domestic Violence ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
Child Welfare Systems

The purpose of this study was to examine the range of policy approaches used by child welfare systems in the United States to guide workers in classifying and substantiating child exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) as an actionable form of maltreatment. To that end, we conducted a qualitative document analysis of child protective services (CPS) policy manuals from all state-administered child welfare systems in the U.S. ( N = 41). Our findings indicate that a majority of state-administered systems (71%) have adopted policy requiring workers to demonstrate that children have endured harm or the threat of harm before substantiating CEDV-related maltreatment. Many state systems (51%) also include policy directives that require workers to identify a primary aggressor during CPS investigations involving CEDV, while far fewer (37%) provide language that potentially exonerates survivors of domestic violence from being held accountable for failure to protect on the basis of their own victimization. Based on our findings and identification of policy exemplars, we offer a recommended set of quality policy indicators for states to consider in the formulation of their policy guidelines for substantiating children’s exposure to domestic violence that promotes the safety and wellbeing of both children and adult survivors of domestic violence.

Adolescent Brain Development

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Black
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Brain Growth ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Environmental Input ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Social Work Policy ◽  
Adolescent Brain Development

Although it was once widely held that development through toddlerhood was the only significant time of tremendous brain growth, findings from neuroscience have identified adolescence as a second significant period of brain-based changes. Profound modification of brain structure, function, and connectivity, paired with heightened sensitivity to environment, places adolescence both as a heightened period of risk and importantly as a time of tremendous opportunity. These findings are of key relevance for social-work policy and practice, for they speak to the ways in which the adolescent brain both is vulnerable to adverse conditions and remains responsive to positive environmental input such as interventions that support recovery and resilience.

Preparing Social Work Students for Child Welfare Careers: The Use of Title IV-E Training Funds in Social Work Education

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Levy Zlotnik ◽  
Llewellyn J. Cornelius
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Child Welfare Agencies ◽  
Potential Child ◽  
Title Iv ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Welfare Agencies

Child welfare agencies are seeking ways to improve the competency of their staff. As a result of partnership efforts between social work education programs and public child welfare agencies, an increasing number of BSW and MSW programs have accessed Title IV-E training funds to support the social work education of current and potential child welfare workers. This article reports on a survey of the use of this funding stream in social work education. It identifies (1) trends in its use, (2) characteristics of programs that do and do not receive funding, and (3) the impact of this funding source on social work education. The findings also reflect on the impact of use of Title IV-E funds on child welfare training in the United States.

A Meta-Theoretical Framework for Understanding Educational Disparities Affecting Black Youth in the United States: Implications for Social Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-206
Author(s):  
Stephanie C. Boddie ◽  
Eric Kyere ◽  
A. Christson Adedoyin
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Black Youth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Educational Disparities ◽  
Modern Capitalism

BackgroundBlack youth are disproportionately disadvantaged in nearly every indicator of academic performance.ObjectiveThis analysis seeks to understand the role of racism in the genesis of educational disparities affecting Black youth.MethodsDrawing from structural functionalism, modern capitalism, and critical race theory, we provide a meta-theoretical framework to explore the underpinnings of racial disparities that disadvantage Black youth in U.S. public schools.FindingsThis meta-theoretical framework suggests a critical need to examine the history of racism as well as the social, political, and economic structure of the U.S. to understand the educational disparities affecting Black youth.ConclusionSocial work professionals can use this meta-theoretical framework to inform research, policy, and practice addressing educational disparities and ultimately create more equitable, fair, and just school environments.

Addressing domestic abuse through FGCs

2018 ◽  
pp. 123-140
Author(s):  
Kate Parkinson ◽  
Michaela Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
The State ◽  
Child Protection Services ◽  
Specific Research ◽  
The Family ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

This chapter focuses on the use of family group conferences (FGCs) in cases of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). In the case of DVA, there is a disconnection between the family, domestic abuse services, child protection services, and child contact. Evidence highlights the potential of FGCs to galvanise relationships between families and professionals, and among professionals themselves. For example, research into the state-wide implementation of FGCs in Hawai'i found that the conference approach enabled professionals to understand each other's professional responsibilities, enhancing communication and leading to an improved service response to meeting the needs of families. More specific research into the use of FGCs in DVA cases undertaken in North Carolina found the potential of FGCs to offer an inclusive and coordinated response to families, bringing together families, domestic abuse support professionals, and child welfare professionals to plan for the safety of children.

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