Rethinking Protection: Keeping Domestic Violence Survivors Out of Child Welfare - Promising Futures

In many states, mandated reporters are trained to report any and all concerns about a child’s exposure to domestic violence (DV) to the child protection system. Even in states where reporters have somewhat more discretion, child protection systems accept large numbers of DV-related child maltreatment reports that reflect and exacerbate racial and gender disparities in responses and outcomes. Yet survivors report feeling blamed for harm that results from their partner’s violence, and the majority believe that their situations were made worse by mandatory reporting, according to a survey conducted by the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

So what are the alternative ways for teachers, child- and family-serving agencies, advocates, faith leaders, friends & family, and others to help children and their survivor parent without involving child protection?

In this critical conversation, survivors and activists will respond to this challenge and invite participants to adopt new approaches and ways of thinking to provide real help to adult and child survivors. Join us to learn about the actions, conditions, and experiences that can lessen the impacts of exposure to violence on children, enhance the well-being of child and adult survivors, and help them heal and feel supported.

Shellie Taggart – Project Director of the Children and Youth Program at Futures Without Violence

Ericka Murria – Founder, Owner and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advocate at Supreme Transitions (Detroit)

Jasmine Wali – Policy Advocate and Consultant on Child Welfare & Mandatory Reporting

Wendy Mota – Program Manager of the Children and Youth Program at Futures Without Violence

This webinar is presented in English with closed captioning in English. If you require other accommodations to access this resource, please email us so that we can do our best to meet your need.

Bridges to Better is a project of Futures Without Violence. The development of this webinar is supported by Grant Number 90EV0401, 90EV0532, and 90EV0524 from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and by the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under grant #90CA1850. Points of view shared are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.