Assessing Domestic Violence

This section provides resources on assessing domestic violence in the family, including State and local examples.

Domestic Violence Assessment: Victim Children's Bureau (HHS) User Manual Series (2003) In Child Protection in Families Experiencing Domestic Violence Presents questions to assess the victim of domestic violence. National Consensus Guidelines on Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence Victimization in Health Care Settings Family Violence Prevention Fund (2nd ed.) (2004) Includes information on assessment for both current abuse and lifetime exposure and makes practice recommendations on documentation, intervention, and referral. Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Victimization Assessment Instruments for Use in Health Care Settings Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) Provides practitioners and clinicians with an inventory of existing assessment tools for determining intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence victimization for use with both victims and perpetrators. Intimate Partner Violence: An Assessment Tool for Providers - PALM Version Family Violence Prevention Fund (2005) Provides tips on how to conduct inquiry, assessment, intervention, documentation, and follow-up for domestic violence. Also provides facts and web links.

Assessing Allegations of Domestic Violence
Gould, Martindale, & Eidman
Journal of Child Custody, 4(1/2), 2007
View Abstract
Discusses a variety of factors to consider when developing an evaluation protocol to assess allegations of domestic violence within the context of child custody disputes.

Assessment and Intervention With Parents to Stabilize Children Who Have Witnessed Violence
Ziegler & Weidner
Journal of Family Violence, 21(2), 2006
View Abstract
Addresses issues to consider when assessing the parent of a child exposed to violence, including the parent's ability to provide a safe environment and enhance the child's sense of security.

Assessment for Lifetime Exposure to Violence as a Pathway to Prevention
Chamberlain (2006)
Provides an overview of the long-term health consequences of violence and examines how assessment for lifetime exposure to violence can create a pathway to prevention.

Assessment of Intimate Partner Violence by Child Welfare Services
Hazen, Connelly, Edleson, Kelleher, Landverk, & Coben, et al.
Children and Youth Services Review, 29(4), 2007
View Abstract
Describes policy and practice with respect to the assessment of intimate partner violence in a sample of child welfare agencies and examines the relationship of contextual characteristics and assessment practices.

Awareness and Detection of the Co-Occurrence of Interparental Violence and Child Abuse: Child Welfare Worker's Perspective
Bourassa, Lavergne, Damant, Lessard, & Turcotte
Children and Youth Services Review, 28(11), 2006
View Abstract
Examines child welfare workers' awareness of the co-occurrence of interparental violence and child abuse and how they detect interparental violence in the cases that are brought to their attention.

Child Abuse and Other Family Violence
Janzen, Harris, Jordan, & Franklin (2006)
In Family Treatment: Evidence-Based Practice With Populations at Risk
View Abstract
Discusses family violence and suggestions for its assessment and treatment at both the family and community levels.

Is It Abuse, Alienation, and/or Estrangement?: A Decision Tree
Drozd & Olesen
Journal of Child Custody, 1(3), 2004
View Abstract
Describes a decision tree designed to assist evaluators in identifying the causes of multiple allegations of maltreatment and abuse.

Screening for Domestic Violence in a General Pediatric Clinic: Be Prepared!
Holtrop, Fischer, Gray, Barry, Bryant, & Du
Pediatrics, 114(5), 2004
Studies the implementation and effectiveness of domestic violence screening in a pediatric residency training clinic.

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic
Dubowitz, Prescott, Feigelman, Lane, & Kim
Pediatrics, 121(1), 2008
Estimates the prevalence of intimate partner violence among parents at a pediatric primary care clinic and evaluates the effectiveness of a brief screen for intimate partner violence.

Severity of Partner and Child Maltreatment: Reliability of Scales Used in America's Largest Child and Family Protection Agency
Slep & Heyman
Journal of Family Violence, 19(2), 2004
View Abstract
Examines the reliability of a scale to determine the severity of seven different forms of family maltreatment.

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State and local examples

Guidelines for Responding to Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence (PDF - 4630 KB)
Minnesota Department of Human Services (2005)
Provides direction to child protection staff when responding to situations in which child maltreatment and domestic violence are both occurring. Includes screening, assessment, and safety plan tools.

Guidelines on the Co-Occurrence of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment (PDF - 556 KB)
Safe From the Start (2004)
Presents recommendations from a Kansas community initiative to better address the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment. Includes screening guidelines for first responders, direct service professionals, and other community professionals to assess the adult caregiver and child.

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	Related Information Gateway Topics Systemwide: Service array - Domestic violence

Updated on March 19, 2010