- Home
- » The Role of First Responders in Child Maltreatment Cases: Disaster and Nondisaster Situations
- » Appendix I: Domestic Violence Exposure Assessment
The Role of First Responders in Child Maltreatment Cases: Disaster and Nondisaster Situations
![Rate this Publication Rate](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120916003628im_/http://www.childwelfare.gov/images/rate.gif)
Author(s):
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau.
Cage, Richard., Salus, Marsha K. |
Year Published: 2010 |
Appendix I
Domestic Violence Exposure Assessment1
First responders can use the following assessment questions when interviewing children who may have been exposed to domestic violence.
Type and Frequency of Exposure
- What kinds of things do your mom and dad (or his/her girlfriend or boyfriend) fight about?
- What happens when they argue?
- Do they yell at each other or call each other bad names?
- Does anyone break or smash things when they get angry? Who?
- Do they hit one another? What do they hit each other with?
- How does the hitting usually start?
- How often do your mom and dad argue or hit?
- Have the police ever come to your home? Why?
- Have you ever seen your mom or dad get hurt? What happened?
Risks Posed by the Exposure
- Have you ever been hit or hurt when your mom and dad (or his/her girlfriend or boyfriend) are fighting?
- Has your brother or sister ever been hit or hurt during a fight between your mom and dad (or his/her boyfriend or girlfriend)?
- What do you do when they start arguing or when someone starts hitting?
- Has either your mom or dad hurt your pet?
Impact of the Exposure
- Do you think about your mom and dad (or his/her girlfriend or boyfriend) fighting a lot?
- Do you think about the fighting when you are at school? While you are playing? When you are by yourself?
- How does the fighting make you feel?
- Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night? Why? Do you have nightmares? If so, what are they about?
- Why do you think they fight so much?
- What would you like them to do to make it better?
- Are you afraid to be at home? To leave home?
- What or who makes you afraid?
- Do you think it is okay to hit when you are angry? When is it okay to hit someone?
- How would you describe your mom? How would you describe your dad?
Protective Factors
- What do you do when your mom and dad (or his/her girlfriend or boyfriend) fight?
- If the child has difficulty responding to this question, the first responder can ask if the child has:
- Stayed in the room
- Left the room or hidden
- Gotten help
- Gone to an older sibling
- Asked his parents to stop
- Tried to stop the fighting.
- If the child has difficulty responding to this question, the first responder can ask if the child has:
- Have you ever called the police when your parents are fighting? What did the police say?
- Have you ever talked to anyone about your parents' fighting? Who? What did that person say?
- Is there an adult you can talk to about what is happening at home? Who?
- What makes you feel better when you think about your parents' fighting?
1Ganley, A. L., & Schechter, S. (1996). Domestic violence: A national curriculum for child protective services. San Francisco, CA: Family Violence Prevention Fund; Children's Hospital Boston, Child Protective Team. (2004). Injuries and behaviors indicative of abuse. Available: http://www.child-protection.org/CPTtext/tProviders/tInjuries.htm; Massachusetts Department of Social Services. (2002, March). Investigation training: Evidence and indicators of maltreatment. Boston, MA: Author; Bragg. L. (1998). Domestic violence protocol for child protective services intervention. Charlotte, NC: Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services.
This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.