Identifying Domestic Violence in Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations

• NCJ Number: 192704
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 580-601
• Author(s): Randy H. Magen; Kathryn Conroy; Peg McCartt Hess; Ann Panciera; Barbara Levy Simon
• Date Published: June 2001
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: An earlier version of this article was presented at the fourth International Family Violence Research Conference, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, July 22, 1995.

Annotation

This study evaluated the implementation of a domestic violence questionnaire introduced as a component of child maltreatment investigations.

Abstract

In 1993 the New York City Child Welfare Agency (now known as the Administration for Children's Services) developed a new domestic violence questionnaire to be used in investigating suspected cases of child maltreatment. The new questionnaire was piloted in one service area of the agency referred to as Zone C, which incorporated a range of neighborhoods, ethnic and racial groups, and socioeconomic classes. Case workers, supervisors, and administrators in Zone C received specialized training in domestic violence as well as in the use of the questionnaire. Case workers in Zone C were required to complete the domestic violence questionnaire on all child protective investigations assigned during the 6-month pilot test. The questionnaire contained a series of questions about the characteristics of the adult companion relationship and required the case worker to assess the adult relationship, the risk to children, and the ability of the parent to protect the children. After completion of the questionnaire, case workers indicated the actions taken when domestic violence was found in the relationship. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 15 case workers. Case record data provided additional data. The questionnaire was found to result in a 100-percent increase in the number of battered women identified during investigations. The interview data revealed that although there was resistance by case workers to the implementation of the questionnaire, there was a willingness to comply and complete the questionnaire. Workers conveyed a sense of responsibility to provide services to combat domestic violence. Most respondents believed their mandate was to protect the child and questioned the role of identifying domestic violence in protecting children. The issues of how child protective workers should assess and intervene in cases of domestic violence are complex and require an examination of the mission of child protective service agencies. 1 figure and 50 references