Laudan Y. Aron
Krista K. Olson
The Urban Institute
March 1997
The research reported here was prepared under contract with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with additional support from the Office of Community Services and the National Institute of Justice.
For their guidance and contributions, we thank Martha R.
Burt, our Project Director at the Urban Institute; Jerry
Silverman, our Project Officer at ASPE; and Frances Gragg
and Dana Schultz of Westat who helped us with several site
visits. Finally, we thank the many individuals who shared
their insights and wisdom with us during the site visits.
This study would not have been possible without their
contributions. Any errors or omissions are those of the
authors.
Table of Contents
Rationale for the Study 1
Background 2
Evidence of Overlap Between Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence 3
Witnessing Domestic Violence 5
Child Welfare Services 6
Mission and Goals 7
Investigations 9
Services 10
Worker Safety and Burnout 11
Complexities 11
Working with Other Agencies 13
Selecting the Five Communities for Study 14
II. Family Violence Project, Children's Services Bureau, San Diego County, California 16
Introduction 16
Brief Overview of Child Welfare Services 18
Child Welfare Agency Approach to Domestic Violence 19
Perspectives of Other Community Service Agencies and Organizations 24
Outcome and Evaluation Issues 29
Conclusions 29
III. Intake/Crisis/Investigative Unit, Department of Human Services, East Hawaii, Hawaii 32
Introduction 32
Brief Overview of Child Welfare Services 33
Child Welfare Agency Approach to Domestic Violence 34
Perspectives of Other Community Service Agencies and Organizations 39
Outcome and Evaluation Issues 45
Conclusions 45
IV. Domestic Violence Unit, Massachusetts Department of Social Services 48
Introduction 48
Brief Overview of Child Welfare Services 49
Child Welfare Agency Approach to Domestic Violence 50
Perspectives of Other Community Service Agencies and Organizations 63
Outcome and Evaluation Issues 67
Conclusions 68
V. Oregon Department of Human Services, State Office for Services to Children and Families 71
Introduction 71
Brief Overview of Child Welfare Services 72
Child Welfare Agency Approach to Domestic Violence 73
Perspectives of Other Community Service Agencies and Organizations 82
Outcome and Evaluation Issues 87
Conclusions 88
VI. Families First, Family Independence Agency, Michigan 91
Introduction 91
Brief Overview of Child Welfare Services 92
Child Welfare Agency Approach to Domestic Violence 95
Perspectives of Other Community Service Agencies and Organizations 101
Outcome and Evaluation Issues 108
Conclusions 109
VII. Findings and Observations 112
Approaches to Addressing Domestic Violence Issues within Child Welfare Agencies 113
Starting with the Whole Agency 114
Starting with a Service Focus 116
Prerequisites for Success within CPS 118
Interplay Among the Five Elements for Success 120
Who Should Be Involved 122
The Importance of the Larger Community 127
The Domestic Violence Community 128
Other Options for Collaboration 131
Community Coordination and Information Sharing 132
Treatment Services 135
Community Characteristics 136
Complex Policy Questions 137
Identifying Cases Affected by Both Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence 138
Does Witnessing Equal Abuse? 140
Mandated Treatment 142
A Final Issue--Evaluation 144
Conclusions 145