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Assessing Safety and Risk in Families Affected by Domestic Violence

This section provides resources on assessing safety and risk in families affected by domestic violence. It also includes information on assessing the perpetrator. Resources include State and local examples.

Parenting Arrangements After Domestic Violence: Safety as a Priority in Judging Children's Best Interest (PDF - 233 KB) Jaffe, Crooks, & Wong Journal of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 6, 2005 Provides strategies for courts to limit the opportunities for children to be exposed to parental conflict and violence. Assessing Risk to Children From Batterers (PDF - 153 KB) Bancroft & Silverman (2002) Outlines factors that should be assessed when determining the risk presented to children who continue to have contact with an abusive parent.

Assessing Dangerousness: Violence by Batterers and Child Abusers
Campbell (2nd ed.) (2007)
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Addresses risk assessment and prediction of child physical abuse, fatal child abuse, and intimate partner violence, including descriptions of instruments to measure the likelihood of violent behavior.

Double Jeopardy: Risk Assessment in the Context of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence
Shlonsky & Friend (2007)
In Battered Women and Their Families: Intervention Strategies and Treatment Programs
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Examines the connection between child maltreatment and domestic violence and proposes a risk classification system to assist caseworkers in making service decisions.

Improving Safety for Women and Children After Separation
Radford & Hester (2006)
In Mothering Through Domestic Violence
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Discusses assessment strategies for making risk and safety decisions about child visitation in domestic violence situations.

Safety Planning for Abused Women and Their Children
Hardesty & Campbell (2004)
In Protecting Children From Domestic Violence: Strategies for Community Intervention
View Abstract
Describes the provisions that should be included in safety plans for battered women with children, including information on the Danger Assessment instrument.

Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence: A Handbook for the Juvenile Justice System to Enhance Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Youth From Violent Homes (PDF - 1480 KB)
Baker & Jaffe (2003)
Presents information on risk assessment and reduction with adolescent perpetrators of family violence and evaluating risk and safety plans for victims of domestic violence.

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State and local examples

Child Welfare Services With Families Experiencing Family Violence: Participant Guide (PDF - 4210 KB)
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (2007)
Presents materials from a workshop on working with families experiencing violence, including a module addressing safety and risk assessment and safety planning in cases involving family violence.

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	Related Information Gateway Topics Systemwide: Service array - Domestic violence

Updated on February 4, 2009