Citation

Magen RH, Conroy K, Tufo AD. Child. Youth Serv. Rev. 2000; 22(3-4): 251-274.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0190-7409(00)00080-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes the results from a domestic violence screening questionnaire implemented in neighborhood-based child welfare preventive service agencies. The goal of these preventive service agencies is to avert the unnecessary placement of children into foster care as well as preventing child maltreatment. The purpose of the project described in this paper was to systematically change the manner in which child welfare preventive service agencies identified and worked with battered women. Components of the project included recruitment of participant agencies; training of the workers in domestic violence identification; and the use of a new screening questionnaire during intake interviews with women clients. Findings indicated that training enhanced identification; women appreciated being asked about current and historical abuse; and that women felt better able to protect themselves and their children after disclosure of domestic violence to the worker. A secondary effect of the project was that child welfare agencies developed specific services for batterers, battered women and their children.