When Mom is a Victim Too: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Child Abuse Cases (REPEAT)

When a disclosure of domestic violence is made during a child abuse investigation, it can be difficult to know what steps can help ensure child safety. Moreover, the presence of domestic violence in a family system can also impact, or sometimes even prevent, the disclosure process from happening for child and adult victims. In this workshop, participants will learn about the dynamics of domestic violence and child abuse occurring in the same home. A domestic violence counselor and a child abuse counselor will explore the similarities and differences in these crimes, including offender typology, grooming practices, secrecy, and the disclosure processes. Presenters will explore how the neurobiology of survivors can be affected by the presence of domestic violence and can impact how children and adults survivors of abuse may present to law enforcement, child protection workers, forensic interviewers, advocates, therapists, prosecutors, or medical personnel during child abuse investigations. Recommendations for safety planning across the multidisciplinary team, with considerations for both the child and adult victims, will be discussed, and opportunities for collaboration with domestic violence serving agencies will be explored.