Improving Service Responses for Children and Young People Who Experience Domestic and Family Violence: A Way Forward

ABSTRACTDomestic and family violence experienced by women and children is a significant social issue. Children and young people’s exposure to domestic and family violence is a recognised form of child abuse and neglect nationally and internationally reflected in child protection legislations and practice guidelines. There is an increasing imperative to ensure effective responses are provided to children and young people, however there are significant service gaps that warrant urgent attention. In this article it is argued that the way forward to responding to the increasing numbers of children and young people who experience domestic and family violence is to build capacity in the existing structure and expertise in women’s shelters.IMPLICATIONSBuilding capacity in existing structures and expertise within women’s shelters can help workers respond to the needs of children and young people.Implementing a child-centred and child-informed practice approach within shelters and employing specialists can ensure that children and young people will be safely and effectively supported.KEYWORDS: Domestic and Family ViolenceChild ProtectionChild-centred PracticeWomen’s SheltersEarly InterventionChildrenYoung PeopleMothersSouth AustraliaSocial Work PracticeWomen’s RefugesSupport ServicesCrisis AccommodationPathwaysCapacity BuildingSocial Worker ExpertiseOut-of-home Care AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank the practitioners in women’s shelters who have supported and guided work informing this analysis. We would also like to thank the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation for funding this project.Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).