Protocols Developed that Address the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Cleveland, OH, September 21, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Grafton County, New Hampshire has been devoted to addressing the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse and how it relates to system response. Supported by federal funding, the courts, domestic violence agency, and child protection agency have worked together to coordinate their responses. The efforts have resulted in vast changes in policy and practice, including the philosophical approach to families both in and out of systems.

Grafton County is one of five federal demonstration sites that have been implementing the recommendations found in the publication, Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice (the Greenbook). It is imperative that there is a common lens and framework from which systems respond. This past year Grafton County has been dedicated to the systems and closely aligned partners, putting pen to paper and writing protocols and policies that promote safety, well-being, and stability for families experiencing the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse. Three guides were developed through this project – one for the courts, one for court appointed special advocates, and one for the domestic violence community.

I.S.P. Consulting was brought in to help write the guide for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA volunteers are appointed in abuse and neglect cases to represent the best interest of the child to the court. The CASA Guide is more of a training tool on domestic violence that also incorporates the best practices that are supported by the community and the court.

Lauren Litton of I.S.P. Consulting praised the community for taking the chance to try something new. “Communities often are afraid to document their new approaches for fear that it won’t work or will backfire”, Ms. Litton stated. “It is this very documentation that assists the community in further assessing what is and is not working and additionally helps other communities by sharing lessons learned” she added.

The court, CASA, and domestic violence guides are in draft form for the next few months while they are piloted. The CASA guide can be found at www.thegreenbook.info/documents/NH_CASA_Guide.pdf

###