Child Protection Survey

1) 2009.Increase availability of, and mandate referrals to, trauma response services for children affected by domestic violence, particularly services to children in the aftermath of domestic homicide.
2) 2009.When Child Protection Services investigators detect the presence of domestic violence, refer the victim to an advocate, the perpetrator to batterer intervention services and the children to mental health services and support each individual through the completion of the services recommended by the advocates or therapists.
3) 2010. Immediately address, through assessment and counseling, the impact of grief and abandonment on the children who have experienced family violence.
4) 2010. Provide ongoing and more frequent assessment of mental health needs for children receiving child protection services due to abuse/neglect incidents and ensure follow-through on recommended treatment services for the children.
5) 2012. Provide victims of domestic violence specific, relevant information about resources in the community at intake screening and at closing of the case by Child Protection Services.
6) 2013.Provide access for Child Protection Investigators and Case Managers to view all new child protection cases holistically, considering past "founded" and "unfounded" child protection reports on file during intake to provide context for the case being considered. This will offer some perspective on the experiences of the children and family involved and may inform the course of intervention.
7) 2016. The use of trauma-informed interview techniques, along with an awareness of typical presentation of children who have witnessed domestic violence, may assist in gleaning more accurate information in child interviews as well as resulting in better care referrals.
8) When considering an out-of-home kinship placement, incorporate information about the intergenerational nature of domestic abuse and conduct more intensive screening for safe placement.