A Good Call?: Contextual Factors Influencing Mandated Reportingin Domestic Violence Programs
Date
2020
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Publisher
Springer Open
Abstract
Domestic violence shelter advocates closely guard the confidentiality of survivors in their shelter programs, yet they are simultaneously mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. The mandate to report child abuse and neglect may include a child’s exposure to domestic violence, which may be disclosed when assessing danger for program entry. The purpose of this study is to understand what decision making factors influence domestic violence shelter advocates’ decision to override survivor’s confidentiality and report child abuse and neglect. A survey of 142 domestic violence shelter advocates found that advocates that holistically consider the impact of reporting are less inclined to report child abuse and neglect. At the same time,advocates who perceive that their agency has a better relationship with child protective services are more inclined to report child abuse and neglect. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to research, policy and practice. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Keywords
Survey Results, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Mandatory Reporting, Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Children Exposed to Violence, Victim Advocacy, Victim Advocates, Service Providers, Confidentiality, Crime Reporting, Child Protective Services, Practitioners, Decision-making, Legal Interventions, Shelters, Risk Assessments, Disclosure
Citation
Carlson, M.L., Wittrup, E., Moylan, C.A. et al. A Good Call?: Contextual Factors Influencing Mandated Reporting in Domestic Violence Programs. J Fam Viol 35, 269–278 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-019-00101-y