Cross System Dialogue: An Effective Strategy to Promote Communication Between the Domestic Violence Community, Child Welfare System, and the Courts

• NCJ Number: 229613
• Author(s): Stacy M. Lowry; Olga Trujillo
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2004-WT-AX-K080
• Sponsoring Agency: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; US Dept of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This publication provides strategies for professionals responding to family violence and child maltreatment.

Abstract

Results show that the cross-system dialogue can be an effective tool to address controversial issues that may arise in the course of collaboration. The cross-system dialogue is a strategy, developed in 1999 by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, whose guiding principles were designed to promote dialogue among domestic violence service providers, child welfare agencies, and the courts in cases where domestic violence and child maltreatment co-occurred and to enhance system responses to families by enhancing victim safety; it holds the batterer accountable, and promotes the stability and well-being of children. It provides a formal structure to address conflict in a productive manner. It is a beneficial strategy that enables system representatives to engage in dialogue that uncovers practice and policy issues that may impede a system representative or system partner's ability to work effectively within and across systems. The cross-system dialogue helps increase trust among system partners and confidence within communities, demonstrates how conflict can be productive, and more importantly, leads to positive change. Appendixes A-B