Children Exposed to Violence in the Child Protection System: Practice-Based Assessment of the System Process can Lead to Practical Strategies for Improvement

Abstract

ABSTRACT Child protection cases often involve children exposed to violence. Children exposed to violence and families experiencing domestic violence are at a higher risk of being disproportionately impacted by inadequate child protection system practices that fail to properly address their safety and well-being. Evidence continues to accumulate that these children and their families require improved methods in identification, assessment, and treatment. This article summarizes 5 years of research that evaluated the practices of child protection departments, the courts, and service providers. The research design allowed for examination of each entity's practices to determine their effect on the overall operation of the child protection system and the potential these practices have on negatively or positively impacting case outcomes.