the

Needs of
Children

in domestic
violence shelters

A Toolkit to Assist North Carolina

Domestic Violence Agencies and
Other Service Providers to Identify
and Respond to Children Exposed
to Domestic Violence

( 2 ) Center for Child and Family Health

table of contents
4

Acknowledgements

Introduction

About the Center for Child and Family Health

About the Toolkit

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

15

Chapter 2: Trauma-Informed Identification and Screening

20

Chapter 3: Positive Parenting Skills and Behavior Management

25

Chapter 4: The Impact of Trauma on Parenting

28

Chapter 5: Child Service Community Partnerships and Referrals

38

Chapter 6: Legal Considerations When Serving Children in Shelter

46

Appendices:

A. Additional Resources

B. Research References

C. Self-Assessment Checklist for Community Partnerships

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: This Toolkit may be reprinted in whole or in part by other individuals and organizations for the purpose
of improving services for children and adolescents as long as full credit is given to the Center for Child and Family Health in every
reprint, with the following exception. Reprints of the Toolkit may not be created or used for profit, including fee-based conference
presentation materials and other contracted presentations and materials for profit. Any use outside of these parameters, including
placement and storage on websites, requires the written permission of the Center for Child and Family Health.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 3 )

acknowledgements
There are numerous individuals and organizations
that have contributed to the development of this toolkit
through research, practice, funding, and feedback. This
groundbreaking project dedicated to improving services for
children in domestic violence shelters would not have been
possible without the generosity and commitment of
the following:

The Families Served

Thank you to the mothers, caregivers, and children served
for their feedback during the pilot project assessments and
parenting skills training, and for demonstrating courageous
and sincere effort on behalf of their children and families.

The Funders
Pilot Sites
The enthusiasm and participation of the directors and staff
at the pilot sites helped to make this project a success and
beneficial to other shelters in North Carolina. Their vision and
commitment to helping families and children is commendable
and greatly appreciated. We extend special thanks to: Area
Christians Together in Service (ACTS) in Vance County; Family
Services of the Piedmont in Guilford County; Hannahs
Place in Halifax County; Shelter Home of Caldwell County;
Southeastern Family Violence Center in Robeson County; and
Wesley Shelter in Wilson County. Also, we are very grateful
to Margaret Samuels, MSW, and Yvonne Wasilewski, PhD, for
their leadership and contribution to the original pilot project
and the early development of the toolkit.

( 4 ) Center for Child and Family Health

We express our appreciation to The Duke Endowment

and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for their support and
commitment to building a comprehensive, trauma-informed
system of response for children and their caregivers
in shelter.

The Reviewers
Many thanks to those who have taken the time and shared
their expertise in reviewing this toolkit. Their generous and
useful suggestions have been invaluable.

introduction

Approximately six to eight thousand children

reside in North Carolinas domestic violence shelters for
some time during each year, with many more coming into
contact with community domestic violence agencies. Their
stays typically are short-term, brought on by an acute
crisis or violent incident, unexpected by the child, and one
more step in a cascade of family and social disruptions.
Despite the need to help these children achieve safety and
emotional well-being, and stop the cycle of domestic violence
facing them, only a small handful of North Carolinas more
than 90 domestic violence shelters are able to provide
comprehensive child-focused services, and state funds do not
require programs nor fund them specifically to design and
deliver services around childrens needs. Even if full
funding and state support for childrens services in
shelters were available, existing domestic violence
programs vary widely across the state in terms
of capacity, as does the availability of child and
adolescent community resources.

The projects goals included: determining whether it was

feasible to train shelter staff to provide routine screening for
traumatic stress and other behavioral and developmental
concerns in children entering domestic violence shelters;
enhancing the care and support for children while living in
shelter through the delivery of training on developmentally
appropriate parenting strategies; and establishing a system
for referrals within the community for children experiencing
symptoms of distress or developmental delays, including how
to address legal considerations for both children and parents.

In order to take steps to alleviate these barriers, the

Domestic Violence Shelter Screening Project sought to
inform domestic violence shelter service providers on how
to identify the mental health and community service needs
of resident children, and improve their capacity to educate
and support battered parents and caregivers. In 2006, The
Duke Endowment and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation jointly
funded an endeavor of the Center for Child and Family Health
(a collaboration of Duke University, the University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University, and
Child and Parent Support Services), Duke Universitys Center
for Child and Family Policy, and six domestic violence shelters
to test various strategies for improving the identification and
response to children.

The comprehensive training and consultation at the

pilot sites was provided by mental health and legal
staff from the Center for Child and Family Health, while the
Center for Child and Family Policy conducted research and
evaluation regarding quality of assessment, training, and
community referral.

The six pilot sites across North Carolina were selected for
their variety of community and program strengths and
challenges, including: Area Christians Together in
Services (ACTS) in Vance County; Family Services of
the Piedmont in Guilford County; Hannahs Place in
Halifax County; Shelter Home of Caldwell County;
Southeastern Family Violence Center in Robeson
County; and Wesley Shelter in Wilson County.

The project provided the basis for what is included in this

toolkit. A full report on the Domestic Violence Shelter
Screening Project can be downloaded at
http://www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/evalsvcs/files/
Final_Report_DVS_071608.pdf

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 5 )

About the Center for Child and Family Health

The Center for Child & Family Health (CCFH) was
founded in 1996 and continues to function as a non-profit
consortium of faculty and staff from Duke University, the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Central University, and Child and Parent Support Services,
Inc. CCFH uniquely combines direct clinical practice with
academic resources as a multidisciplinary endeavor, so that
all of its services benefit children and families from both a
holistic approach and use and development of evidencebased, best practices.
CCFH began with a small staff of medical, legal, and mental
health providers and a board comprised of concerned
community and university leaders. It has evolved into a staff
of approximately 60 members, including several academic
faculty, community oriented staff members, and interns
and residents from multiple fields. The Center now has
a governing and volunteer core of a 17 member board of
directors and a 25 member Leadership Council. In 1999, Child
& Parent Support Services, a longstanding Durham area nonprofit focused on in-home abuse prevention services, became
a consortium member.
From the time of its founding until 2003, most of the work
at CCFH was comprised of prevention, assessment and
direct services to local children and families by medical,
mental health and legal service providers. Since then,
CCFH has developed a wider influence and expertise
in the field of childrens services. In 2003, CCFH
joined the National Child Traumatic Stress Network,
a national network dedicated to improving mental
health standards of care related to child traumatic
stress, fostering increased CCFH provision of
research and training statewide, nationally,
and internationally. In 2006, the CCFH Legal
Program expanded its work to include

( 6 ) Center for Child and Family Health

teaching law school coursework, widening community legal

referral, and increasing its statewide and national presence.
CCFH has now expanded in breadth and depth into an
organization that not only provides direct care, but also
informs the body of knowledge around the best practices
for the prevention and treatment of childhood trauma
through training, dissemination, and research, as well as
multidisciplinary services for traumatized children across the
state, the nation and internationally.
The authors of this toolkit include the following staff at the
Center for Child and Family Health: Ernestine Briggs-King,
PhD (Director of Research), Jennifer Brobst, JD, LLM (Legal
Director), Robert Murphy, PhD (Executive Director), Donna
Potter, LCSW (Training Coordinator), Ebony Sneed, MPA
(Research Coordinator), and the invaluable contractual
services and expertise of Leslie Starsoneck, MSW.

About the Toolkit

What is the Toolkit for?

How to use this toolkit

This toolkit is designed for use by shelter-based and other

domestic violence direct service providers in North Carolina.
Volunteers, program managers, and other collateral
child-serving agencies across the State may also find the
information and resources in the toolkit helpful when
responding to the diverse needs of children and families
exposed to domestic violence. Whether service providers are
new to the work or have years of experience, whether they
are licensed clinicians or dedicated survivors and volunteers,
this toolkit will serve as a teaching tool and guide to
understanding how trauma from domestic violence impacts
children and how best to serve these childrens needs.

Although each chapter of the toolkit builds on previous

chapters, each can be read and referred to independently.

What is Covered in the Toolkit?

In Chapter I, service providers in shelters and other domestic
violence agencies working with children will learn about the
mental health and behavioral impact of domestic violence on
children, with some guidance on how to approach children
and their caregivers about the childrens mental health
needs. Chapter II provides specific assessment tools to
help providers make appropriate identifications of mental
health service needs. Chapter III describes ways to teach
positive parenting skills to adult and teen parent residents
in shelter. Chapter IV addresses the potential mental health
needs of parents and the impact of domestic violence on
parenting. Chapter V provides information on a number of
additional community resources for children, including child
care services, and childrens health insurance. Chapter VI
addresses legal concerns and referral sources for service
providers working with children in families experiencing
domestic violence. Finally, the Appendices include additional
resources, research references relied upon in this toolkit, and
a useful Self-Assessment Checklist for Community Referrals.

For those using the toolkit for the first time, look
closely at the key points (see key symbol to
the right), and take advantage of the practice
skills and scripts, role-playing and practicing
the respective parts with your co-workers until you
feel comfortable with the techniques and assessments.
Reading the toolkit from beginning to end should give you
a solid understanding of the basic symptoms of traumatic
stress in children at different developmental stages
caused by domestic violence, and how to improve your
skills in meeting their needs.
For those who already have substantial training in
understanding the mental health needs of traumatized
children, the toolkit can be a reference guide for using the
variety of appropriate assessment tools and a refresher
for practicing your skills.
For use as a quick referral guide, the toolkit can be easily
used to quickly find appropriate community referrals for
a variety of services for children related to mental health,
social service, and legal service needs.
As a training tool, the toolkit can be used again and again
for training new staff and other community partners so
that children and their caregivers can continuously receive
high quality monitoring, support and care.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 7 )

Chapter 1:
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON CHILDREN
Families enter domestic violence shelters due
to a variety of possible factors commonly associated with
homelessness, including a possible lack of employment to
ensure independent housing, transportation, and financial
security. The primary reason for many, however, is the
experience of frightening, traumatic, violent events. The
impact of trauma on children can be addressed by many
different domestic violence service providers, but the toolkit
focuses somewhat on shelter staff members because they
may have more of an opportunity to spend an extended
amount of time with children. All of the resources within this
chapter and throughout the toolkit, however, can be very
useful for a variety of service providers helping both parents
and children exposed to the trauma of domestic violence.
A trauma is an experience which is sudden, uncontrollable,
and negative. It is a situation that overwhelms the coping
skills of the child or adult experiencing the trauma and
makes them fear for their safety and/or the safety of others.
The trauma of domestic violence can have lasting negative
impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of the infants,
children, adolescents and adults exposed to or targeted by
the violence.

( 8 ) Center for Child and Family Health

kEY POINT: Domestic violence is one of the most significant

possible traumas for a child, especially a young child. Shelter
service providers are in a unique position to help identify
when children may be exhibiting signs of traumatic stress
and need mental health services.
I. Understanding the Impact of Trauma
on Childrens Brain Development
Young children count on their caregivers to make the world a
safe place and they believe their caregivers will be successful
in this task. Children are therefore hard-wired to run to their
caregivers if they feel terrified. The problem with domestic
violence is that children end up in a situation where they feel
terrified but they cant go to their caregivers for safety. This
can cause them to doubt that the world is a safe place, and
if they doubt it, they will not be able to explore and discover
the world in the manner they need to developmentally. They
also may not interact with others in positive ways because
of the interference of some of the traumatic symptoms that
arise in stressful situations. Living in shelter may be stressful
in and of itself, given the fact that the family has been
uprooted in a situation of crisis and danger. The combination
of experiencing trauma and being in shelter may be especially
challenging for both children and their caregivers.

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

Research has shown that trauma can impact childrens brain

function and structure, altering their cognitive, emotional,
and behavioral development. When faced with danger, a
persons nervous system responds with signals for adrenaline
and other hormones to be released into the blood, increasing
heart rate and blood flow to muscles. When a person is faced
with danger all of the time, the bodys changes are more
dramatic and become more lasting. In young children who
have experienced early, chronic violence, particularly at the
hands of their caregivers, their brains end up focusing their
energy on survival instead of higher reasoning and learning.
That means children may see a situation as very threatening
when others dont. They may then seem to go off, act
out, or have tantrums for no reason. The reason is that their
brains tell them to see a threat where those who have not
experienced trauma would not.
Shelter service providers can help parents identify and
understand the source of their childrens behavior and
responses to domestic violence.

What does trauma look like in children?

Controlled studies show structural changes in the

brains of children exposed to violence including:
less brain mass and less brain tissue connecting the
hemispheres of the brain
less brain activity in higher reasoning and learning
difficulty regulating affect (emotions) and behavior
(actions)
changes in the stress hormone systems of children
exposed to violence
delays in fine motor and gross motor coordination,
language, and learning

world as a result of his or her developmental level will help

parents recognize trauma symptoms better and make more
sense of the childs behavior. It will also help the parent
figure out the best way to word things so that the child can
understand and not be overwhelmed.

Memory problems (difficulty recalling experiences)

Poor school performance or excessive absences
Developmental delays, including:
Problems with receptive and expressive language
(understanding what is being said by others and trying
to express themselves)

Stages of child development - At what ages will children

do certain things?
0-5 years

Cognitive delays/difficulty learning

In general, young children develop in the context of

relationships and use relationships with caregivers to:

Poor fine motor coordination

calm themselves down/soothe;

Gross motor delays

figure out how relationships work and how the world will
treat them;

Sensory integration problems (disorganized, doesnt

explore, clumsy, inability to calm)
Failure to thrive in infants (failure to gain weight and
poor physical growth during infancy)
Many other emotional and behavior issues that will be
explored in this chapter

as a secure base for exploring and learning about the

world; and
as a model for understanding acceptable behaviors.
Specifically, in the first three years of life, children
are typically:

II. CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Developing basic emotions.

Children respond to trauma, including domestic violence,

in different ways at different ages. It is important to have
a basic understanding of development in order to put the
trauma in context. Knowing how a child understands the

Developing simple words, then, sentences.

Providing uneven receptive and expressive language.
Children can usually understand things before they can
say them. HOWEVER, they often appear to understand

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 9 )

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

much more than they actually do

because they are very tuned in to
their caregivers emotions.
Believe their caregivers know
everything and can do anything they
want. So, for example, if there is
domestic violence, children believe
the parents must have wanted it
that way.
Self-centered: The world revolves
around me. Everything relates to
me. Therefore, if someone does something bad, the
child may feel it was his or her fault.
Reactions to trauma (0-3):
Because infants cannot talk, their trauma symptoms are
physical. Even as they develop verbal language in their first
three years, their first language is still their behavior and play.
Physiological responses to trauma include:

Reactions to trauma (4-5):

Physiological responses include:
Difficulty calming themselves down
Trouble with sleeping and eating regularly
Somatic complaints (dont feel well, e.g., stomach
aches, headaches)
Emotional and behavioral responses include:

Difficulty being soothed

Aggression

Trouble with sleeping and eating regularly

Fears

Trouble with body functions (e.g., they may become gassy

or constipated)

Developmental regression (i.e., going back to an earlier

stage of development) e.g., a child who has been pottytrained may start to wet the bed again after witnessing a
fight between their caregivers.

In the fourth and fifth years of life, children are typically:

Developing the ability to take another
persons perspective
Developing ability to soothe their own feelings and calm
themselves down

Nightmares and night terrors

Clinging to caregivers and being afraid of being left alone

6-12 years

Developing more advanced language, telling stories,

and asking questions. As they try to figure out what is
happening, some of their stories may incorporate some
truthful aspects with some more fantastical aspects. Or,
they may incorporate things they have heard their parents
say into their own story.

Typically, children at this age are:

Becoming very concrete in their thinking. Things are

either good or bad, fair or unfair. They dont appreciate
moral ambiguity or gray areas yet, so it is difficult for
them to both love and fear the same person.

Focused on becoming more independent at school and

with their peers.

Still wanting to be the center of the universe! Therefore,

they still try to take responsibility for things that are out
of their control.
Very afraid their caregivers will stop loving them or will
leave them. As a result, many tend to respond to scary
situations by becoming very clingy.

( 10 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Able to show more than one emotion at a time.

Able to understand shades of meaning in words e.g.,
Your grandfather has passed away.
Able to think logically and to understand cause and effect.

Able to control their impulses more effectively than they

had in preschool.
Busy developing and trying to maintain friendships with
their peers.
Still concrete thinkers. They may have trouble with the
idea that someone or something can be good and bad at
the same time.

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

Not aware of why they do what they do. Therefore

asking why did you do that?! will only lead parents to
feel frustrated!
Reactions to trauma
Both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems,
including aggression towards peers, siblings, adults,
and animals
Verbal expression of distress, closer to that of adults
Somatic complaints, e.g., stomach aches, headaches

13-18 years
Typically, adolescents at this age are:
Able to behave according to their own internal standards,
but are still extremely concerned about the opinions
of others
Beginning to figure out who they are as people and with
whom they want to socialize.
Thinking abstractly and logically about different problems
and consider the future
Concerned with intimate relationships (i.e., the
emergence of hormones)
Concerned with group identity or membership in a peer
group, which becomes more important than identifying
with immediate family members

III. GUIDELINES FOR TALKING TO CHILDREN

ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Reaching out to children and their caregivers in shelters
to focus on the childrens specific mental health needs is
important to help not only the children, but the family as
a whole. It may be the first time the caregiver has been
given information on where to find services for their child
or what symptoms of trauma look like in children exposed
to domestic violence. Many parents may fear losing their
children to social services if they admit to their concerns
for their children, but entering shelter is a positive first step
in keeping their children safe. For more information about
confidentiality, the duty to report child abuse and neglect,
and other legal concerns, please see Chapter VI.

KEY POINT: Children may want to voice their concerns and

fears and feel safe for the first time to do this now that
they have escaped the violence in their home. Not talking
about the violence at all (ignoring their questions or making
something up) can leave children confused, scared, or feeling
responsible for the violence. Although a childs capacity to
understand the violence, as well as what happens after the
violence, may differ depending on age and development,
identifying the needs and services for children is crucial to
their wellbeing.

Reactions to trauma

Some tips for talking to children (and their parents)

about domestic violence

Aggression towards peers, siblings, adults or animals

Infants and toddlers:

Defiance

Share basic information with the parent related to early

child development, positive parenting skills (including
information about the risks of shaken baby syndrome),
and the impact of domestic violence on infants and
toddlers (including identification of failure to thrive and
developmental delays).

Isolate themselves from caregivers and choosing peers

over parents
Substance abuse
Self-blame
Depression, suicide attempts, and other selfharming behaviors

Share information with the parent based on her own need

for safety, consistency and maternal well-being. Babies
and young children get their cues from their primary
caregiver about how safe they are and how to respond to
events in life.
Let caregivers know that children at this age are likely
to be fussy and difficult to soothe in this situation and
that the parent should make every effort to maintain any
possible consistency (e.g., keep the same bed time, sing
the same songs, read the same stories).

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 11 )

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

Preschoolers and young school age children:

Young adolescents:

Provide the parent with all of the information above and

encourage the parent to do the following, but if they
cant, you can help with their permission.

Encourage the parent to communicate information and

reassurance directly, but if they cant, you can help with
their permission.

Explain to young children that it is the parents job is to

keep them safe and that grownups sometimes have big
feelings and dont know how to handle them
without help.

Listen without judgment and provide accurate

information.

Explain to the child that the shelter is a place of help for

their family.
Restore a sense of predictability for children, such as
when they can expect to see certain family members
again or under what circumstances, or what must happen
first before a child can see the abusive parent.
Say that there is a need for everyone to be safe.

Talk about abuse prevention and what makes a safe/

healthy intimate relationship, including information on
alternatives to angry responses.
Make it clear that they are not in the role of parent or
their parents friend, although they may have some
limited responsibilities.
Reinforce that they are not responsible for what has
happened and that both parents love them.

Make it clear that the violence and life changes associated

with the violence (moving to a shelter, staying with a
neighbor, changing jobs) are not the childs fault.

Safety plan with adolescent and parent for in shelter and

other settings (including discussion of healthy dating
relationships e.g., see resources from the North Carolina
Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Appendix A)

Remind the child that their parent(s) and other caregivers

love the child very much.

IV. RESILIENCE

School age children:

Encourage the parent to communicate information and
reassurance directly, but if they cant, you can help with
their permission.
Explain to children that the parents could not be safe
together and had to separate for the parents and
childrens safety.
Provide reassurance about the future and tell the children
what will likely stay the same (e.g., school, ability to see
friends or family members, parental care and love).
Prepare the children for what might be different (e.g.,
home, school, rules, time with parents or other
family members).
Reinforce that the child is not responsible for whats
happening and that the parent(s) and other caregivers
love the child.
Help the child identify what he or she did well when the
violence occurred and/or during escape or entry into
shelter (e.g., called police, informed another adult, left
house, comforted another sibling, or went to a safer place
in the house).

( 12 ) Center for Child and Family Health

While domestic violence has the potential to have very

negative effects on all aspects of childrens lives and
development, it does not affect all children in the same way.
Human beings can be incredibly resilient, facing adversity
with courage and perseverance. Resilience can come in
many forms, and develops over time given a persons life
experiences and support. The more resilience factors a child
possesses, the greater the likelihood of positive outcomes in
the childs life.

KEY POINT: There are many things that shelter staff and
especially parents can do to help children develop resilience
factors and cope with the trauma of domestic violence. One
of the most basic and most important is to provide physical,
emotional and behavioral structure and routine. In order for
children to feel emotionally secure, they need a warm,
loving and predictable relationship with their parent.
What are Resiliency Factors?
Having a parent provide emotionally responsive caregiving
is the best predictor for a childs healthy recovery from
domestic violence exposure. Domestic violence shelter staff
can help parents be more emotionally responsive to their
children by helping them recognize the feelings their children

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

are having and helping children use words to express those

feelings. Staff can also help by teaching parents how to
give their children safe ways to cope with big and confusing
feelings (see Chapter III).
Research has also indicated other resiliency factors to
consider, such as: a childs positive self esteem; childs
belief that his/her actions can change the outcome of his/
her situation; average to above average cognitive, language
and coping abilities; external attribution of blame for the
domestic violence; family cohesion; extra-familial support;
and mothers warmth and emotional stability.

IV. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR CHILDREN

EXPOSED TO TRAUMA
Once the family residents and shelter providers have shared
an understanding of the potential for trauma in children
exposed to or directly victimized by domestic violence
and the assistance that the shelter staff can provide to
the childrens needs, it is helpful to identify whether there
may be potential mental health concerns and a need for
specialized services for the children.

What are the top mental health concerns for children

exposed to trauma?
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Sexualized Behavior
Complex Trauma

Separation Anxiety Disorder

The most common mental health concern for children who
have experienced domestic violence is separation anxiety.
If the child has experienced a terrifying event, he or she will
try to cope by maintaining close proximity to the caregiver,
whose primary job is to keep the child safe. This can be
difficult for parents, who may also be traumatized and
irritable and desperately in need of services themselves.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

We often think of children in shelter as being mad at
their moms. They tell her they dont have to listen to her.
They might yell at her or treat her disrespectfully. This
behavior impacts their functioning and can be diagnosable
as a mental health disorder. Consider that often in a home
where there is domestic violence the mothers authority has
been undermined and the children have not had to comply
with her commands at all. She may lack confidence and not
know how to consistently and effectively provide rewards
and consequences that can positively shape her childrens
behavior. It is also important to keep in mind that anger is
often a response to fear as it can serve to protect us when
we are threatened (the fight or flight response). Childrens
fear of being unsafe or of feeling their mother cannot
protect them may contribute to oppositional behavior
appearing angry.

Phobias (extreme fears)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Phobias (extreme fears)

Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)

If a child has experienced something extremely frightening,

they will try to avoid having that thing happen again. One
way to do that is to avoid people, places or situations that
remind the child of the experience. This avoidance becomes
a phobia. For example: if the childs parents always argued
at night when the child went to bed, the child may develop a
phobia of bedrooms or bedtime.

Children's "bad behavior" in domestic violence shelters may not be

"bad," but rather a cry for help. Improving positive parenting skills,
identification of children's and parent's mental health needs, and
ensuring structure to keep children active and engaged during their stay
are all ways to help children move beyond the trauma of domestic violence.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 13 )

Chapter 1: The Impact of Trauma on Children

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Sexualized Behavior

Some children will develop Posttraumatic Stress symptoms

from their domestic violence exposure, which means that
they think about the trauma when they dont want to and
that it causes their body to feel the same sensations of terror
they felt at the time the violence was actually happening.
Those sensations are so distressing that children will work
very hard to avoid anything that will remind them of
the violence.

Some sexualized behaviors that do not involve being coercive

to others, like masturbation, have been shown to be present
in children who have chronic domestic violence exposure,
even when there is no evidence the child has been sexually
abused. However, it is important to remember that domestic
violence and sexual abuse often go together. If you know a
child is acting out sexually, the child should be assessed by
experts to determine if the child has been sexually abused.

Posttraumatic Stress symptoms can be categorized into the

following symptom clusters:

Complex Trauma

Re-experiencing
Difficulty staying awake or falling asleep

Complex trauma is a term that describes how children who

have chronic early exposure to interpersonal violence and
other traumatic events, particularly when it is perpetrated by
caregivers, can have trouble regulating or modulating their:

Biopsychological Distress
Secondary Reminders (e.g., intrusive
thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks)
Avoidance/Numbing
Emotional Numbing
Social Detachment
Memory Loss
Hyperarousal

physical responses to their environment (their heart beats

quickly and wont slow down if they hear a loud noise);
emotional responses (they get very angry quickly and
cant seem to calm down);
behavioral responses (they have trouble controlling their
bodies and their impulses); and/or
relationships with peers and caregivers when children
dont trust that people are safe or will do what they say
they will do (children may be bossy and controlling with
peers and have trouble making and keeping friends).

Anxiety
Irritability
Insomnia
Poor Concentration
Hypervigilance (feeling on guard)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD)
A lot of children who witness ongoing domestic violence in
their homes become diagnosed with ADHD. They have
trouble sitting still and concentrating in school and they
get distracted easily. It is important to ensure that the
child receives an accurate and thorough assessment by
someone who understands the impact trauma can have on
a childs behavior before measures are taken to address
ADHD. Specifically, it is important for children exposed to
domestic violence to be accurately diagnosed (and treated
if necessary), given that ADHD and PTSD may have similar
symptoms leading to a misdiagnosis.

( 14 ) Center for Child and Family Health

There has been tremendous progress in the area of research

and reporting on the traumatic impact of childrens exposure
to domestic violence. Creating greater understanding
among shelter service providers of what children are facing
and how they are really doing can only enhance their work
to empower families in the face of domestic violence.
However, identifying the traumatic symptoms and behavioral
concerns of children is only one step. Learning to use the
tools of assessment that are now available to work with
children (see Chapter II) is another. As will be discussed in
subsequent chapters, accessing mental health resources that
include expertise in understanding the dynamics of domestic
violence along with the specialized needs of childrens
traumatic stress may be a challenge. However, your support
and involvement with identifying and connecting families
with the best community resources available will help give
children and their parents and caregivers the attention they
need and deserve. Providing this service to the youngest and
most vulnerable of domestic violence victims is one of the
most important steps in helping families break the cycle
of violence.

Chapter 2:
TRAUMA-INFORMED IDENTIFICATION
AND SCREENING
Domestic Violence shelter providers are important
first responders for children who may be experiencing
symptoms of trauma. This is particularly true because many
shelter staff members may spend more time with children
than other first responders (e.g., hotline staff, police officers,
health care workers, and mental health professionals).
As suggested in Chapter I, exposure to domestic violence and
other traumas can be associated with a host of outcomes
ranging from a loss of resiliency to developmental delays
to difficulties focusing in school. This module provides
information about three basic screening tools or measures
that shelter staff members can use to help identify some of
the more common emotional, behavioral, and developmental
symptoms of trauma in children.
These tools include:
The UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index
(PTSD-RI),
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and
The Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS).

KEY POINT: All of these screening tools are well

established effective methods of assessing the needs of
children exposed to violence. These particular tools were
also those found to be effective in the pilot shelter programs
participating in the initial Domestic Violence Shelter
Screening Project which fostered this toolkit.
I. SCREENING CHILDREN IN A SHELTER SETTING
At first glance, it may seem like a difficult task to fit in formal
screening tools with the other services provided to children
and parents in shelter, but the benefits can far outweigh the
difficulties. Screening and early identification are two of the
most powerful tools in assisting parents in understanding
how they can more effectively manage a childs behavior
while also strengthening their parent-child relationship.
Information that is collected as part of the screening
process can be used to lighten the load for shelter staff who
often assist the parent with managing childrens behavior.
Furthermore, early identification and treatment of trauma
related difficulties and symptoms can possibly prevent

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 15 )

Chapter 2: TRAUMA-INFORMED IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING

additional problems down the road. Most importantly,

children deserve to receive needed services so that they, like
their mothers, can emerge from shelter a little stronger and
happier, feeling both supported and confident. This in turn,
can have a profound effect in stopping the intergenerational
cycle of domestic violence.

Screening information may ease the worries of

parents who learn that their children are not
permanently harmed by the violence, or they
may find extraordinary or unexpected support
when their children do need substantial services.

4. Discuss how children are often deeply affected by the

problems of their parents and caregivers, as well as by the
move into shelter. These are generally very extraordinary
circumstances for both children and their parents.
5. Explain that you want to ensure that the child is okay
and that any services or assistance that the shelter can
provide are available to her and her child.
6. Explain your shelters policies and duties related to
confidentiality and the duty to report abuse and neglect,
but include a discussion about how use of the shelter is
often seen as a positive step by the parent to protect her
children (see Chapter VI).

When to administer and how to store screening measures

The screening measures should be administered at a

time that is suitable for the parent or child and may be
How to talk with caregivers about the need for screening
incorporated into the shelters existing intake process. The
their children
measures can often be administered within the initial 24
Parents deal with so many issues of their own in domestic
hours of a shelter stay, however staff should be attentive to
violence shelters, including in some cases the fear that
acute crisis states and important safety and practical needs
they may lose their children. They may be hesitant to work
for assistance that take precedence
with staff charged with the task of
over screening. In these latter
screening their children. However,
instances, staff should administer
a compassionate advocate willing to
screening measures as soon as it is
of Screening Tools
discuss parenting and children can be
feasible to do so. Screening measures
and Measures in the Toolkit:
extremely beneficial for parents
should be treated as confidential
in shelter.
information in a manner consistent with
UCLA PTSD Reaction Index a selfexisting shelter policies.
report by parents and children (ages
Below are some tips for having the
7 and older) for PTSD symptoms
first conversation with parents in
The measures should be stored and
shelter about screening their children
retained either in the parent or family
Strengths and Difficulties
for symptoms of trauma, distress, or
members record or file, or, in a
Questionnaire (SDQ) Interview or
developmental concerns:
separate location in which all measures
self-report of parents with children
are stored together. In either instance,
(ages 3-17) for identification of
1. First work to develop a positive
general mental health and social
measures should be placed in a secure,
concerns
relationship and rapport with
preferably locked location. With written
the parent and discuss her own
permission to release screening results,
Parents Evaluation of
emotional well-being and role
shelter staff may choose to provide
Developmental Status (PEDS)
as a parent, respecting and
screening results to other adult or
provided to assist parents in
acknowledging that parenting
child serving agencies. Although any
identifying their childrens possible
differs widely by culture and belief.
record may be subject to disclosure
developmental delays
pursuant to a court order, a subpoena
2. Engage the parent in a general
alone will often be insufficient to
discussion about the child focusing
access shelter records, including
on the childs strengths rather than
measures
and
assessments,
if the victim advocate privilege of
the childs problems alone.
communications covers the service (see Chapter VI).
3. Ask about the childs school, peer relationships,
and functioning.

Summary

( 16 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Chapter 2: TRAUMA-INFORMED IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING

II. THE SCREENING TOOLS AND MEASURES

The screening tools and measures described below and used
during the initial pilot phase of the project were selected
because they are relatively easy to use, are free or very low
cost, and are readily available from the internet. Minimal
training is required to score and interpret these tools and
all were designed for use and tested by individuals without
formal clinical training. However, we recommend adherence
to all guidelines suggested by the developers. Below is a brief
summary of each of the three measures, including website
links to access and download the measures forms and
specific instructions.

UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index

(PTSD-RI)
The PTSD-RI is an extensively used measure, available
in caregiver and child self-report versions (for more
information visit http://kb.nctsn.org/SPT/SPT--FullRecord.
php?ResourceId=1036). This instrument provides an
assessment of posttraumatic symptoms of distress (Pynoos
et al., 2000). The measure is among the most widely studied
assessments of child PTSD symptomatology and is correlated
highly with a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD (Pynoos et al., 1998).
Symptoms associated with PTSD include: (1) re-experiencing
(e.g., recurrent and distressing thoughts/dreams, feeling
like the trauma is happening again); (2) hyperarousal (e.g.,
sleep difficulty, irritability, anger outbursts, constant alert for
threat, hyperactivity); and (3) avoidance/numbing (e.g., avoid
thoughts, feelings, and reminders of the trauma, feeling
detached from others, limited range of affect).
NOTE: The PTSD-RI assesses for a trauma severe enough
that the respondent experienced intense fear, helplessness
or horror and believed that he or she or someone else would
be killed or seriously injured. This particular component of
the measure was not utilized during the pilot phase of the
project. In other words, the questions that were asked
during the pilot phase were primarily related to the childs
experience of witnessing domestic violence.

The following versions of the PTSD-RI were

used during the course of the project:
Parent Report for children 7 years and older
To be completed by parent (or
primary caregiver).
Caregivers can complete the PTSDRI for each child age 7 or over.

The measure can be administered to caregivers in an

interview format, or they can be provided with initial
guidance and given the form to complete on their own.
Child and Adolescent Self Report for children 7 years and older
To be completed by the youth.
Children 7 and over can complete the form by themselves,
however, it is recommended that the form be
administered in an interview format and/or read to
the child.

Step 1 Administering PTSD-RI

1. Determine whether parent wants to read measure on
their own or complete it as part of an interview. Be sure to
be sensitive to any reading or comprehension difficulties.
You may want to complete the first item together. This
measure is also available in Spanish.
2. Review all instructions.
3. Attend to time frame noted in the instructions.
4. Provide and explain response options.
5. Encourage child or parent to answer all items (using their
best estimate or guess).

Step 2 Scoring, Meaning and Interpretation of PTSD-RI

1. Transfer responses to score sheet.
2. Calculate scale scores by adding together scores on each
item indicated.
3. Child has screened in the concerning range and further
action (referrals) should be taken if:
Total Severity is 2.0 or if the total score is 38.00 or
above a referral may need to be discussed with the
parent/caregiver.
Also discuss referral options with the parent/caregiver
if any one of the symptom scales is elevated.

Step 3 Feedback to families after scoring PTSD-RI

Suggested script for talking to Mom: This list of
questions that we just went over and some of
the comments you have made show many
of the strengths of your child and family.
There were 1 or 2 things that we talked
about that I would like to spend a few
minutes on given the results of the
screening . Then describe
specific areas of strength
or concern.
The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 17 )

Chapter 2: TRAUMA-INFORMED IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING

Below is a brief description of the areas assessed as part of

the PTSD-RI.
Re-experiencing-feeling as if you are reliving or living the
bad thing that happened to you again
Nightmares/flashbacks
Physiological Distress
Avoidance/Numbing
Emotional Numbing-not wanting to feel anything
Withdrawing from friends, family, isolating self
Memory Loss/ Cant remember specific details or
events
Hyper arousal - overly responsive to stimuli-jumpy and
overly anxious
Exaggerated startle response
Irritability
Sleep problems
Poor Concentration
Hypervigilance

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

The SDQ, developed by R. Goodman (1997), serves as
a general screening of child strengths, symptoms and
impairments. All materials needed, including free computer
scoring and interpretation, are available at
http://www.sdqinfo.com. It includes 25 items that assess
symptoms related to:

For purposes of the project the following versions of the SDQ

were used:
Parent Report for ages 3+
Child Self Report for ages 11+

Step 1

Administering the SDQ

1. Determine whether parent wants to read measure on

their own or complete it as part of an interview. Be sure to
be sensitive to any reading or comprehension difficulties.
You may want to complete the first item together. This
measure is also available in Spanish.
2. Review instructions.

Emotional disturbance (e.g., depression)

3. Attend to time frame.

Conduct or behavioral problems

4. Provide and explain response guide.

Inattention and hyperactivity

5. Encourage child or parent to answer all items (using their

best estimate or guess).

Peer problems (social relationships)

Prosocial functioning (positive behavior)
The SDQ has demonstrated high levels of reliability and
validity and is available in parent, child and teacher report
versions for ages 3 to 17 years. It features cut-off scores
suggestive of clinical impairment. The SDQ has been used
widely in national and international clinical and research
settings. It features a normative sample of more than 10,000
children. The SDQ correlates highly with lengthier, wellknown assessments of child symptomatology (i.e., Child
Behavior Checklist).

Step 2 Scoring and Interpretation of SDQ

1. Transfer responses to score sheet.
2. Calculate scale scores by summing relevant items.
Below are the various subscales and sample items. Free
computer scoring is also available on the web.
Total Difficulties Score
Emotional Symptoms Scale
Often complains of headaches, stomachaches, or
sickness
Often unhappy, depressed or tearful

( 18 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Chapter 2: TRAUMA-INFORMED IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING

Conduct Problems Scale

Often loses temper
Often fights with other children or bullies them
Hyperactivity Scale
Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long
Easily distracted, concentration wanders
Peer Problems Scale
Picked on or bullied by other children
Generally liked by other children
Positive Behavior (Prosocial) Scale

Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS;

Glascoe, 2006).
Below is a summary of the PEDS measure. Please access the
full training manual and guide at:
http://www.pedstest.com/index.php
10 questions
Identifies 74%-89% of early developmental delays
Shaded boxes predict disabilities
Areas of Assessment:

Helpful if someone is hurt, upset or feeling ill

Global/cognitive

Kind to younger children

Expressive language

Impact/psychosocial functioning

Receptive language

How long have these difficulties been present?

Fine motor

Do these difficulties upset or distress your child?

Gross motor

Do the difficulties interfere with your childs everyday

life in Home Life, Friendships, Classroom Learning,
and Leisure Activities?
Do the difficulties put a burden on you or the family
as a whole?

Step 3 Feedback to families after scoring SDQ

Behavior
Social/emotional
Self help
School
Other

Suggested Script: This list of questions that we just went

over and some of the comments you have made show many
of the strengths of your child and family. There were one or
two things that we talked about that I would like to spend
a few minutes on . See below for areas of concern; and
emphasize one or more strengths before focusing
on concerns.

Remember that initial screening results to identify the needs

of children in shelter can assist shelter service providers
in steering parents and children toward appropriate
services in the community. Referrals should be based on
initial screening results to address the specific needs of
the individual child. Potential referrals are numerous (see
Chapter V), including those for:

Review extreme items

Developmental Evaluation (including speech/language,

physical/motor skills, and occupational)

Review prosocial score and strengths

Review scales with high scores
Feedback to parent &/or child
Referrals
If Total Difficulties Score is 14 or Higher a referral may
need to be discussed with the parent/caregiver.
If Total Difficulties Score is 13 or below BUT two of the
subscales are At-Risk or Significant, a referral may need
to be discussed as well.

Mental health (psychological) evaluation and/or

treatment
Mental health case management
Medical
School related services including academic, cognitive, and
achievement testing
Legal needs of the child to access the above services or
address the source of the traumatic effect

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 19 )

Chapter 3:
POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
By virtue of their decision to seek assistance, parents
in domestic violence shelters have made enormous and
courageous strides to keep their children safe. However,
given their age, children may not be able to easily understand
the positive nature of this serious transition. Some children
may see the move to a shelter as a very negative experience,
given that their mother or other parent has taken them
away from their familiar world and perhaps from someone
they love. Living in a home with domestic violence creates
challenges for both the offending and non-offending
parent to raise the children in a safe and developmentally
appropriate way.

KEY POINT: Children in shelter can act out for a number

of reasons: as a symptom of trauma, fear of change and
the unknown, anger at either or both parents, and normal
developmental stages associated with the childrens ages.
Teaching parents in shelter positive parenting skills can
alleviate the stress of both parent and child by helping them
to more easily address the safety, practical, and emotional
concerns that the domestic violence has caused.

( 20 ) Center for Child and Family Health

I. Teaching Parents Parenting Skills

They say you cant teach an old dog new tricks, i.e., that
adults resist being taught. However, Adult Learning Theory
has given us new ways of ensuring that adults can indeed
learn new methods and improve their skills, and research
has now developed evidence-based practices in teaching
parenting skills. In North Carolina, organizations such as the
Center for Child and Family Health and Prevent Child Abuse
North Carolina can provide resources and offer evidencebased training in parenting skills in local communities (see
Appendix A). Below are four key principles of Adult Learning
Theory that you can put into practice as you help build the
parenting skills of parents in shelter. These approaches can
be used to teach parenting skills one-on-one with individual
parents, or in group settings.

1. Active Learning
Research shows that adults remember 20% of what they hear,
40% of what they hear and see, but 80% of what they discover
for themselves (what they hear, see and DO). Therefore,
giving parents an opportunity to both observe and practice

Chapter 3: POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

what theyve learned is perhaps the most

important adult learning principle. It is
difficult if not impossible to learn any new
skill without actually practicing it. Parenting
is the same. Parents need an opportunity to
see skills in action and to do them
for themselves.

Four Key Components

of Adult Learning:
1. Active Learning
2. Repetition

Summarize at the end of each lesson

what the main points to be learned were.

3. Encouragement

For example:
Demonstrate and use role-plays to
show what child management skills you
are explaining.

4. Respect the
Learners Experience

Try different settings for your role-plays

to make them more real. Do them in the kitchen,
bedroom, yard, playroom, in a public place, with and
without other people around.
Allow the parent to play the role of her child first, with
you demonstrating how the parent should respond, then
let her play the role of herself with you as the child. While
you are playing the child, you should also be available to
coach her in her parent role.
During a role play, always wait for the parent to answer
before suggesting solutions. Only add solutions not
provided by the parent after the parent has had a chance
to respond. Remember that there may be many right
answers and the parent may come up with a new and
creative solution. Your role is to facilitate the problem
solving process, not quiz the parent on the one
right answer.
Be specific with your comments and suggestions. E.g.,
Did you notice how quickly your child did what you
asked her to do when you gave only one simple command
and waited for her to do it? or I love the way you just
praised your little boy for picking up the toys! Look how
fast he is picking up the rest now that you did that!

2. Repetition
Repeat the most important lessons and practice skills more
than once. Repeat the most important lessons and practice
skills more than once. Repeat the most important lessons
and practice skills more than once!
For example:
Teach the methods in a series over time with some review
from the previous lesson to allow the new skills to sink in.

Use a variety of hypothetical what if

examples for each skill to have the
parent brain-storm how to apply
them in different circumstances. Make
the hypothetical examples increasingly
challenging.

3. Encouragement

Be sure to encourage and praise the parent

or caregiver you are working with. Both
adults and children respond and learn
better through praise, rather than criticism,
warnings and pressure to improve. Particularly in a domestic
violence shelter setting, parents may be feeling selfconscious about their parenting skills if the abuser criticized
their ability or they are now living surrounded by other
residents and shelter staff after a period of social isolation.

KEY POINT:

The more you demonstrate praise and

allow the parent to feel the positive impact of praise for
themselves, the more likely they will want to use the strategy
with their children on a daily basis.
For example:
Restate the parents response using her own words and
refer to her by name. This way she knows that you noticed
her improvement and effort.
Allow the parent to express her concerns about why a
certain skill may be difficult to apply in practice, and offer
support to help her overcome those barriers rather than
minimizing why her concern does not appear important
to you.
Sandwich a piece of constructive criticism between two
pieces of positive feedback.

4. Respect the Parents Experience

All parents have had a variety of life experiences that make
them unique and that influence how they see the world and
their relationships. It is far more empowering for parents
if you respect their existing abilities to parent, and to learn
from and praise their skills. Shelter residents may have
far more experience with parenting than the shelter staff

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 21 )

Chapter 3: POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

member who is providing guidance on parenting skills.

However, sharing the parenting skills listed in this toolkit
and from other experienced resources is not only a means of
sharing evidence-based best practices with a parent in crisis,
but also a way to ensure that the childs needs are identified
and met.

II. Parenting Skills and Behavior

Management of Children in Shelter
Mothers enter domestic violence shelters with a set of
parenting skills and practices, which may be influenced
by a variety of factors including practice, family tradition,
parenting classes, religious custom or instruction, and the
necessities of avoiding violence in the home. Parenting
skills learned and practiced in a violent home are often very
different from those found in a peaceful home.
Some research indicates that mothers who are domestic
violence victims are more likely to use harsh physical
discipline and corporal punishment than mothers who are
not domestic violence victims. This may be because the
batterer requires it, because the mother was raised with
harsh discipline, or because the mother is trying desperately
to keep the peace to avoid angering the batterer when the
children misbehave. Nevertheless, parents often change their
parenting following trauma, either becoming more lenient
(the child has already been through
so much) or too rigid (I dont want
anything else to happen to the
child). Adopting more positive
parenting skills and patterns
in these cases may not be
easy, but are ultimately
very worthwhile for
both parent and
child.

The ABCs of Behavior Management

ABC stands for Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence. In
behavior management theory, behavior continues when
it is reinforced in some way. Sometimes its clear what is
reinforcing the behavior. At other times, it isnt. It is helpful
to study the behavior to figure out what happens before (the
antecedent) and what happens after (the consequence) to
see what is influencing the behavior to continue or not.
The first thing caregivers need to understand is that there are
three rules to behavior management.
1. Whatever behavior gets reinforced will increase. It doesnt
matter if the reinforcement is positive or negative.
2. When behavior does not get reinforced, it will decrease
and eventually stop. This can be tricky because the
attention the child gets from the parent - yelling,
bargaining, pleading or praising may serve as
reinforcement. There are some behaviors that are out
of the parents control and are self-reinforcing. For
example, a child picking his or her nose may feel good.
The parent doesnt need to praise the behavior or yell
about it to make it continue. And, if the parent ignores
it, taking away the attention, the behavior wont stop
because it still feels good to the child. For behaviors that
are self-reinforcing, the parent must be able to monitor
very effectively and have rewards for not engaging in the
behavior that are even more satisfying to the child

It makes sense that families

embarking on a new life free from
violence would need to develop,
practice, and adopt a new set of
parenting practices.

( 22 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Chapter 3: POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

than the behavior itself. Some behaviors start out as

self-reinforcing but become even more frequent because
they have the added benefit of driving the parent crazy.
Consider again the example of nose picking. In that case,
the parent has to be especially careful about providing
rewards and consequences in a calm manner.
3. Behaviors that are reinforced some of the time will be the
hardest to get rid of. Therefore, it is very, very important
to BE CONSISTENT!!!!!!
Once parents understand the basic rules of behavior
management, they need to understand the tools they have
at their disposal. These tools look different at different ages,
but they are the same principles regardless of age.

are reminded of their trauma by something in the

environment, their bodies respond with fight, flight or
freeze for protection as if they are back in the dangerous
moment. Hormones and chemicals are fired in the brain.
Children cannot think clearly at that point (they are
having a physical and emotional reaction to the trauma
trigger and can not sort the conflicting feelings
and thoughts).
Crying, wanting to be held, and seeking proximity
are communications of need, not signs that the child
is spoiled.
Children want to please their parents and respond well
to praise.
Separation anxiety is an expression of love and fear of
loss, not a manipulative ploy.

Examples of Parenting Skills that

positively impact children's responses to

domestic violence:
Use of calm and consistent parental behaviors
and predictable routines teach children trust
and an appropriate sense of safety
Parental understanding of child development
and the impact of domestic violence and
other traumatic incidents on childrens
behavior to avoid misinterpreting children
Encouragement of and praise for childrens
positive behavior, including teaching children
to acknowledge their own positive qualities
and behaviors

Using Praise, Rewards, and Attention as Behavior

Management Tools
Praise needs to be:
specific
immediate
given without buts and other back-handed comments
consistent- given every time the desired behavior is
demonstrated by the child
Rewards need to be:
immediate
creative
small

Understanding the Behavior in the Context of Trauma

Children who have been traumatized may feel threatened
or be reminded of the traumatic event in a situation that
looks harmless to someone else, even their parent. If
parents understand this and dont take it personally, they
will be able to more effectively deal with the situation.
One example of this might be a childs extreme response
to a parent raising her voice (either his or her own or
another parent in the shelter). While the parent may
only have been trying to get the childs attention, the
child may have been triggered to remember a domestic
violence altercation in his or her home. When children

motivating - refocus on positive behavior and praise what

you want to see in the future
Attention needs to be:
Focused on the positive. This is MUCH more effective than
focusing on the negative. The warmer the relationship
between parent and child, the more motivated the child is
to do the right thing
80% positive and 20% negative. Typically, parents practice
the reverse - 80% negative; 20% positive - and dont get
good results
Refocus on positive behavior praise what you want to
see in the future

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 23 )

Chapter 3: POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Differential Attention & Ignoring

What behaviors can you ignore and what behaviors cant
you ignore? Do they feel impossible to control or too
dangerous to ignore?
What happens when you give in after a period of ignoring?
INCONSISTENT REINFORCEMENT IS THE MOST
POWERFUL WAY TO KEEP A BEHAVIOR!!!! Children may
learn that they can outlast their caregivers if they simply
continue the bad behavior long enough.
Model the opposite of the behavior you are ignoring or
want to go away. For example, if you want the child to
shop whining or back-talking then respond in a more ageappropriate voice or with respectful language.

KEY POINT:

Any behavior you pay attention to WILL

INCREASE. Praising behavior you want and actively ignoring
behavior you dont want is the most effective combination.

in the bucket. vs. being vague: Clean up this mess.

or issuing too many commands at one time: Put those
blocks away and get your clothes hung up and make
your bed.
Provide praise after each act of compliance, particularly
with younger or oppositional children. That means praise
the children during the actions, rather than waiting until
the very end when the entire task is completed. For
example: You have ten blocks in the bucket already?!
You are doing a great job listening!
Describe in advance the positive consequences of
compliance. For example, We can read this book
together as soon as the books are put away or Once
you take out the trash, I can take you to the mall.

Preventing Aggression and How to De-Escalate

What makes kids aggressive?
Perception of threat (feeling like they need to protect
themselves)

Natural & Logical Consequences

A Natural Consequence is the natural result of your
behavior. For example, you didnt wash your uniform last
night when I told you to, so now you will need to wear a
dirty uniform to the game. Or, you left your bike outside
when I told you to bring it in and now it is rusted from
the rain.
A Logical Consequence is still related to the behavior, but
used when a natural consequence is not safe or practical.
For example, you went down the street when I told you
to stay in front of the house so now you must play inside.
Or, you threw your toy so now you cant play with it for
the day. A consequence should be as directly related to
inappropriate behavior as possible.

How to Develop and Give Effective Commands

Use Statements vs. Questions. For example, Its time for
bed vs. Are you ready to go to bed?
Use a calm voice
Offer meaningful choices, where either response is
acceptable. For example, Do you want to wear your
blue pants or your red pants? vs. Do you want to get
dressed now?
Give one command at a time, simply stated and phrased
positively. For example, Suzy, please put all these blocks

( 24 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Environment if kids dont have enough space to move

around and do different activities (e.g., children of all ages
grouped together watching TV in a small room and one
child wants to dance)
Shelter rules dictating that parents must be with child at
all times
Insufficient resources if kids dont have enough
resources, it generates competition and frustration (e.g.,
one game controller for 10 kids)
Boredom not enough to do or no activities planned (do
NOT wait until children complain or are aggressive before
changing activities or play opportunities!)
Previous traumatic events can influence a childs
perception of being threatened in current fairly nonthreatening situations
What can we do about it? Given your knowledge of child
development, parenting skills, and childrens responses to
trauma, please consider the following practical options:
What can we change about the shelter environment?
(e.g., add toys, structure activities, brainstorm with
children and parents about improvements)
What can we change about the shelter rules? (e.g.,
monitoring of children, support of parents)

Chapter 4:
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON PARENTING
It has long been recognized that women in
domestic violence shelters may have a range of mental
health concerns. However, it is important to consider the
mental health impact of domestic violence on mothers
and caregivers in particular, and how this may impact their
relationships with their children and their ability to parent.
For many mothers to effectively learn the parenting skills
that shelter staff members can share, they must also receive
attention for their own mental health needs.

KEY POINT: When shelter staff help mothers access

needed mental health resources, it allows mothers
to improve their parenting and respond to the needs of
their children as well.
This chapter includes a discussion of two key mental health
concerns common to women in domestic violence shelters
which may significantly impact their ability to parent, along
with recommended interventions: Posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and Depression.

I. COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR

WOMEN IN SHELTER
There are a number of factors that may contribute to mental
health concerns among women who have experienced
domestic violence. In fact, research has long indicated
that women who experience domestic violence are at
increased risk to develop both PTSD and depression. Studies
have shown that the risk for PTSD as well as depression
was almost four times more likely among women who
experienced domestic violence when compared to women
who did not experience abuse.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In the context of parenting, each of the factors of PTSD
may influence a mothers ability to parent her children. For
example, children may trigger a parents trauma memories
or symptoms simply by playing a game that reenacts some
of their experiences (e.g., siblings fighting over toys or
aggressive pretend play). The parent, as a result, may
attempt to avoid the child at these times or may become
overly reactive and angry. Similarly, parents may trigger
a childs trauma memories/symptoms by using corporal
punishment, which can lead to the child avoiding, distrusting
and/or fearing the parent.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 25 )

Chapter 4: THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON PARENTING

It is equally important to understand how difficulty

managing feelings and emotions is associated with PTSD,
including irritability, fear, and anger that can impact a
parents ability to manage child behaviors, and provide the
child with guidance and support. Parents struggling with
managing their feelings may be perceived by their children
as unpredictable and unapproachable. This may impact
their bond, the parents ability to detect and respond to the
needs of her children, and have a negative effect on other
interpersonal relationships. This pattern may be further
complicated by disturbances in sleep, additional stressors
related to being in shelter and preparing for the future for
both parent and child.

as described in the previous chapter,

PTSD includes:

re-experiencing feeling like the trauma

is happening again, recurrent distressing
thoughts/dreams
avoidance/numbing avoidance of people,
places and things that serve as reminders of
the trauma; withdrawing, and feeling detached
from others
arousal e.g., sleep difficulty, irritability, anger
outbursts, constantly feeling on alert/jumpy

Assisting the parent or caregiver in shelter with an

understanding of common symptoms of trauma will not only
reassure the adult as to the source of her own feelings, but
will help her parenting skills and her ability to understand the
potential trauma symptoms exhibited by her child.

Depression
A diagnosis of depression generally includes several
symptoms that last for two weeks or more. Depression
can affect the parents ability to parent predictably,
supervise, be responsive to cues, participate in activities,
and discipline consistently. This may be particularly true
when parenting very young children and infants, resulting

( 26 ) Center for Child and Family Health

in attachment problems
and developmental delays
in the child. Depression
can also interfere with a
parents ability to attend
to her own needs, which is
very difficult for a shelter
resident who is transient,
coping with crises that
not only involve physical
danger but often the need
to attend to many difficult
practical needs, including
housing, employment,
school district changes,
and legal concerns.

Symptoms of
Depression include:
loss of interest
weight loss/gain
sleep disturbance
fatigue
poor concentration
feelings of
hopelessness
thoughts of death

It is with this
understanding of the common mental health concerns
of both parent and child that staff can better identify and
recommend potential intervention services to minimize the
negative consequences for adult and child residents
in shelter.

KEY POINT:

Just as mental health referrals for children in

shelter are an essential service, so are similar referrals for
the childs mother or other caregiver. A joint approach to
services and referrals for both parent and child is the most
promising strategy for helping the family break the cycle of
domestic violence.

II. INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS PARENTAL

PTSD AND DEPRESSION
When providing mental health services in shelter or making
a referral for parents and children who have experienced
domestic violence there are some general guidelines that
may prove to be effective, including a focus on referring
families to evidence-based mental health services and
evidence-based parenting skills training. Generally
speaking, evidence based practices are those interventions
that have been shown through research to be effective for
treatment of psychological and behavior disorders. That is,
there is some scientific evidence to support our knowledge
that the treatment works and people do get better.

Chapter 4: THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON PARENTING

Although there are many possible types of mental health

interventions, this section focuses on what to look for when
identifying good referral sources. Given that some of the
most common mental health needs for shelter residents are
those associated with the trauma of the domestic violence
itself, trauma-focused treatment is often an appropriate form
of referral.

Some examples of evidence based

interventions include:
Trauma Focused Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy
Abuse-Focused Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy

General Aspects of Effective Trauma-Focused Treatment

Establishes a safe environment
Establishes a therapeutic alliance

Parent Child Interaction Therapy

Child Parent Psychotherapy

Sets guidelines for client boundaries and safety

Establishes a relationship of trust with client
Addresses traumatic experiences
Addresses traumatic reminders
Addresses difficulty with emotional regulation
and consistency
Address post-trauma stressors and adversities

Some trauma treatment approaches work with both parent

and child simultaneously. This is due to the fact that there
may be an overlap in concerns displayed among parents and
childrens responses to trauma, or that one family members
response influences the response of the other as
shown below.

Considers developmental impact (particularly for

adolescent parents)

Common Child Issues

Common Parental Issues
Inappropriate self-blame
and guilt

Self-blame/shame
Anger
Self-esteem issues
Guilt

Inappropriate child blame

PTSD symptoms

Over protectiveness

Hopelessness

Over permissiveness

Control of emotions

PTSD symptoms

Betrayal of trust

Depression

Address trauma

Safety
Healthy relationships
Address trauma

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 27 )

Chapter 5:
CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
AND REFERRALS
This chapter is designed to familiarize you with some
agencies that should be specifically included in your network
of partners in working with children in shelter settings, and
provide some guidance on your approach to collaboration
with those partners. Keep in mind that relevant community
partners are frequently noted throughout this toolkit.
For instance, Chapter II includes information about how
the results or scores of some standardized measures for
evaluating children will indicate that a mental health referral
(Local Management Entity or LME) or a referral for early
intervention services (Childrens Developmental Services
Agencies or CDSA) should be made. Understanding the
need for child specific legal referrals and what referrals
would be appropriate are included in Chapter VI. Finally,
Appendix A includes additional state and national resources
related to children and domestic violence and information
on child traumatic stress, and Appendix C includes a helpful
Self-Assessment Checklist to ensure that you have identified
relevant community partners in your area.

KEY POINT: Establishing working relationships with local

child-serving agencies is a key component to building a good
service system for children and youth who have lived or are
living with domestic violence. There are a variety of agencies
that should comprise a communitys network some are
available only in certain parts of the State of North Carolina
or in certain communities, and others are available in every
county. You likely will have more to add to the list
see the Self-Assessment Checklist in Appendix C.
The partners noted in this Chapter include:
Core Child Service Agencies
Childrens Developmental Services Agency (CDSA)
Child Service Coordination Program (CSCP)
Department of Social Services (DSS)
Local Management Entities (LME)
Child Advocacy Centers (CAC)
Child and Family Support Teams/Schools
Child Care Resource and Referral
Health Insurance

( 28 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Core Child Service Agencies

Childrens Developmental Services Agencies
What They Provide
Each state has what is called an Early Intervention system
that is provided for under federal law for young children
with special needs, aged birth to three years. The name of
that federal law is The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), Part C. Section 635 of this law directs the state
early intervention lead agency and its local agencies to make
special efforts to locate and provide services to infants
and toddlers with disabilities who are homeless, and their
families. For these purposes, children living in domestic
violence shelters are considered homeless.
In North Carolina, the program that serves 0 3 year olds is
called the Infant-Toddler Program. Agencies called Childrens
Developmental Services Agencies (or CDSAs) provide
services, including assessment and treatment to infants
and toddlers who have or are at risk for developmental
delay or established conditions that are very likely to lead
to developmental delay. CDSAs were formerly named
Developmental Evaluation Centers. These agencies are
managed at the state level through the Division of Public
Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Every county is served by a CDSA either through a main or
satellite office.
The state has a separate program for 3 to 5 year olds, called
the Pre-School Program which is managed by the
Special Program Section in the Exceptional Childrens
Division at the Department of Public Instruction.
Childrens Developmental Services Agencies evaluate
and provide or coordinate treatment for children as
described above. Examples of their services include
things like speech therapy, services for hearingimpaired children, and physical therapy.
For a description of specific services and eligibility criteria,
go to the home page for Early Intervention Services at
http://www.ncei.org/ei/index.html

There are a variety of services available under the Pre-School

program. More information can be found at
http://www.ncei.org/ei/preschool.html
To contact the states Early Intervention branch about the
Infant-Toddler Program by phone, call (919) 707-5520.
To contact the North Carolina Office of School Readiness in
the Department of Public Instruction about the Pre-School
Program, by phone, call (919) 981-5300.
Where They are Located
For a list of Childrens Developmental Services Agencies, by
county, go to http://www.ncei.org/ei/index.html (the home
page for Early Intervention Services) and enter the name
of your county under Childrens Developmental Services
Agencies, on the right side of the page. Pre-School Program
services are provided through each School District.

Child Service Coordination Program

What They Provide
North Carolina has a program called the Childrens Service
Coordination Program (CSCP). This program is available at
every county health department in North Carolina. The CSCP
is a case management program for children who are aged
birth to five years who are at risk or diagnosed with special
needs. Case management services can take a variety of
forms including things like help finding housing, applying for
health insurance or finding a doctor, or enrolling a child
in school.
For a description of the Child Service Coordination
Program, including definitions and criteria for
eligibility, go to: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/
babylovechild/1m1.pdf
For an explanation of services and information
regarding eligibility, go to the home page for
Child Service Coordination Program at: http://
www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/cscconsumer.html

To access a library of materials designed for parents

or professionals working with children who have
special needs, go to http://www.ncei-eclibrary.org/

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 29 )

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Where They are Located

Every county health department has a Child Service
Coordination Program. There are also a few programs that
are located outside of the Health Department.
For a list of Child Service Coordination Program providers,
go to: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/babylovechild/
cscpProvDirectory.pdf To contact the Child Service
Coordination program by phone, call your local county
Health Department.
The county Health Department is another important resource
when it comes to childrens health. Each Health Department
must provide medical care for children who are poor, or,
coordinate the delivery of that care in the community,
which means each county could do things very differently.
For example, in one county, the Health Department might
provide immunizations to children. In another county, a
medical provider in the community might be responsible for
immunizations. Call the Health Department to find out how it
works in your own community.
Partnership Considerations for working with CDSAs and CSCPs
Cross Training and Information Sharing
The providers of CDSA and CSCP services noted above are
concerned with the developmental and behavioral health
needs of children. These providers may or may not be
familiar with how domestic violence can be implicated in
a childs development and overall mental health. You may
be in a position to teach them about these effects, or, to
learn about them together.
One tip for working together is to provide these agencies
with current information about the needs of the children
you serve. In addition to anecdotes about the families
you serve, you can also share with them reputable,
concise public resources about child development and
domestic violence. Remember that understanding the
impact of domestic violence on children is a fairly new
area of research and public outreach for most service
providers. For examples of easy-to-read and informative
materials you can share with your staff and community
partners, see:

( 30 ) Center for Child and Family Health

The Impact of Trauma on Child Development by

Frank W. Putnam, Juvenile and Family Court Journal
(Winter 2006) http://www.partnershipforsuccess.org/
uploads/200702_winter2006putnam1.pdf
Young Childrens Exposure to Adult Domestic
Violence: Toward a Developmental Risk and Resilience
Framework for Research and Intervention by Abigail
Gewirtz, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Edleson, Ph.D.
http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/paper_6.pdf
7 Steps to Protecting Our Children: A Guide for
Responsible Adults (online booklet addressing child
sexual abuse signs and responses) from nonprofit
agency Dark to Light (http://www.darkness2light.org/
docs/Final7steps.pdf)
6 part paper series on Children and Domestic Violence
and the role of law enforcement (University of Iowa,
2004) (http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/publications.
html)
In turn, these agencies can provide valuable resources
to you and other staff or volunteers about child
development. They can also share parent-friendly
brochures and other materials for you to use in your work.

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Sharing information through meetings or presentations

can build trust and give each of you ideas on how you
should be working together for the benefit of the families
you serve.
As a provider of domestic violence services, you should
be familiar with the criteria for evaluations and services
under both of these programs, but should not feel the
need to be an expert. The criteria for services under the
CDSA and the CSCP can be a little confusing. Clarifying
eligibility and how the local service system works
is important.
Decision Points and Referral Systems
There are decisions you and the CDSA and CSCP will
want to make about how to access each others
services. Because of the extent to which the systems
are interwoven, local planning efforts should include the
Childrens Developmental Services Agency (birth 3 years
old), the Child Service Coordination Program (birth to 5
years old), and the local educational agency, especially the
preschool disabilities program (3 - 21 years old).

CDSA and CSCP evaluations and sometimes

services, can often be delivered at your
service site (in your office or at your
shelter), removing the need to provide or
coordinate transportation for the family.

The scope, services, and criteria for the CDSA, the Child
Service Coordination Program (CSCP) and the local school
system preschool disabilities program are different. The
ease with which families can be referred back and forth
between the CDSA and the CSCP are based on working
relationships, confidentiality processes, and what would
most minimize the burden to a family. Because of these
many variables, the CSCP staff, the CDSA staff, preschool
disabilities program staff, and domestic violence program
staff in each community should develop an individualized
plan for processing referrals.
One of the things you will want to decide is who in your
program will be responsible for referring families to the
CDSA or CSCP programs. For example, will it be every

program employee? the

childrens advocate? the case
manager? You will also want to
decide when they should make that
referral. For example, when there is a
concern by staff or parent? And finally, you will want to
decide who the family should be referred to and under
what conditions? For example, should all families be
referred to the Child Service Coordination Program first
and the CSCP will refer on to the CDSA if the family is in
need of those services? Or, will the family be referred to
the CDSA and if they are not eligible for those services,
theyll be referred to the CSCP?
Certain processes exist between the CDSA and CSCP
related to the sharing of information between agencies.
One such process is that parental consent is not required
in order for the CSCP to refer to the CDSA. However,
information that is shared is minimal and is designed to
connect the family to the agency.1 In contrast, parental
consent is required to refer a child from the CDSA to
the CSCP.
Services provided under these programs are designed to
be delivered in the childs most natural setting which
usually means that staff can go to the familys home to
evaluate the child or deliver services, or a location agreed
upon in consultation with the family.
Confidentiality and Privacy
As is true of many of your community partnerships,
managing confidentiality and privacy is perhaps the
most important component of planning that should
occur locally. It is important to explain to your new
partners that the families you serve are sometimes fleeing
dangerous and potentially lethal living situations. The
planning in those cases might have different details than
planning for families that do not face the same type
of threat.
It is important to know that in cases where domestic
violence protective orders and temporary custody have

The information that is shared is name, address, and date of birth of the child, phone, and general reason for the referral.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 31 )

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

been ordered, these orders may not override

a parents right to access the records of their
minor child(ren). In the absence of such orders,
and in view of the confidentiality requirements
of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA), both parents would have a right to equal
access to the records of a minor child.
Parents also have rights to consent to evaluation
and/or treatment, to know details/progress, and to
access the client (childs) record. You should discuss
how these situations would be handled in cases where
safety is a factor. How will each community partner know
when safety is a factor? How will that be communicated
with other partners? How will each partner deal with
these situations?
The North Carolina Attorney Generals Address
Confidentiality Program (or ACP) 2 is a valuable resource
to discuss with these agencies. Aside from the referrals
that you make to them, they may also see families that
could benefit from the program and sometimes the
program may provide the necessary protection for a
family wishing to receive services. Because the ACP
is designed to cloak the physical location of victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault victims by allowing
the use of a substitute address, this might be the tool
or one of many tools they can use to protect the family
and provide services. This program may be an important
part of a local agreement where the contact information
for a parent living in shelter is contained in a file. Note:
Application to become a participant in the Address
Confidentiality Program must be made through the local
domestic violence or sexual assault agency. 3
Additional strategies for cloaking the whereabouts of a
victimized parent might also be used. Using the domestic
violence program address as the parents address; coding
the file to indicate it should be treated with sensitivity to
privacy because of domestic violence; and developing a
clear and detailed protocol for documenting and releasing
information in these circumstances are among
these strategies.
Finally, there will be instances in which the family
reconciles and the CDSA will provide services to
children living with both parents, including a parent that

perpetrated abuse. While limited,

there are emerging resources
designed to re-engage offending
parents with their children after
domestic violence has occurred.
These may be helpful for CDSA staff to access and
use regarding family dynamics and strategies for
restoring trust and safety in these relationships. 4

Department of Social Services

What They Provide
Each county in North Carolina has a local
Department of Social Services (DSS). There are a
variety of programs & initiatives that are offered
through local departments. They include, for
example, Adoption Services, Child Protective
Services, Child Support Enforcement, Emergency
Assistance, Energy Assistance, Foster Care, and Food
and Nutrition Services, Child Care, and WorkFirst. Often,
domestic violence agencies find themselves most familiar
with or most commonly involved in matters related to Child
Protective Services (CPS) and WorkFirst, which administer
TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families). The focus
of this section is on the Child Protective Services section.
North Carolina has a mandated reporter law, which means
that every person is required to report, anonymously if they
wish, suspicions that a child is being abused or neglected.
For training about the reporting of Child Abuse and/or
Neglect in North Carolina, contact Prevent Child Abuse North
Carolina at 1-800-CHILDREN, or (919) 829-8009 or to view
current training opportunities, view their website at
www.preventchildabusenc.org.
The policy manual governing Child Protective Services is
available on line. It can be accessed at
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/local/index.htm In
2004, North Carolina joined many states in the rest of the
country by adopting a policy on domestic violence for child
protection cases. That section is Section 1409 in the manual.
It is important for domestic violence programs to be familiar
with this policy since it spells out how the local Departments
of Social Services respond to child protection cases when

Information about the North Carolina Attorney Generals Address Confidentiality Program can be found at
http://www.ncdoj.com/about/about_division_address_confidentiality_program.jsp
3 A list of state-funded agencies can be found at www.doa.state.nc.us/cfw./cfw.htm under Programs.
4 The Family Violence Prevention Fund, located at www.endabuse.org has a number of initiatives related to Fathers and their children, including a program entitled,
Fathering After Violence.

( 32 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

there is domestic violence. The policy includes, for example,

a definition of domestic violence, intake processes, a child
protective services assessment, guidelines for interviewing
the non-offending parent/adult victim, children, and the
alleged perpetrator of domestic violence, safety planning
and case decision. There are also five attachments to the
policy that include interviewing tools for DSS to use when
interviewing adult victims, adult perpetrators, and children.
These are also available online.
Where They are Located
To find your local county Department of Social Services, go to
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/local/index.htm or call the
main number at the state Division of Social Services at
(919) 733-3055.
Partnership Considerations
North Carolinas system of public child welfare is stateorganized and county-administered. There are State as well
as local policies that govern how local
departments operate.
Integrating domestic violence into
decision-making as it relates to
public child protective services is
a relatively new development.
In North Carolina, a policy
on domestic violence,
and accompanying
training for

child protective services staff, was developed by the

state Division of Social Services in 2004. Because of the
relative newness of the policy and training and due to the
complexities of intervening with families when child abuse
or neglect are suspected or at issue, establishing ongoing
dialogue with your local department is very important. The
nature of the relationship between your agency and the local
department of social services will vary by location. Here are
some suggestions for talking with your local department
about issues related to children and families and
domestic violence.
Sharing basic information about the services your agency
provides with the local Department of Social Services
(DSS), especially if you offer services specifically for
children, i.e. case management, assessment/screening,
counseling, or therapy.
Discussing how information will be shared between your
two agencies when a family you are providing services to
has been referred or reported to the local department of
social services.
Reviewing the DSS policy on
domestic violence together
and discussing how the policy
will be implemented locally
including intake, investigation,
substantiation and case planning.
Discussing the format of
Child and Family Teams when
domestic violence is suspected
or documented.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 33 )

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Determining and regularly re-visiting a

process for referrals of children, adult victims or
adult perpetrators between your agencies.

Where They are Located

Some of the same considerations for working with CDSAs

and CSCPs, including confidentiality and privacy, also apply to
working with DSS partners. See Chapter VI for discussion of
the mandatory duty to report a suspicion of caretaker child
abuse or neglect to DSS.

For a list of local LMEs, the counties they serve, and contact
information, go to http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/MHDDSAS/
lmedirectory.htm Or, call the state Division of Mental Health,
Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.
The Advocacy and Customer Service Section can be reached
at 919-715-3197. Or, call the Department of Health and Human
Services CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030.

Local Management Entities

Partnership Considerations

What They Provide

Local Management Entities, often referred to by their
initials LMEs are agencies that are responsible for
managing, coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the
provision of mental health, developmental disabilities and
substance abuse services in the catchment area served. LME
responsibilities include offering consumers 24/7/365 access to
services, developing and overseeing providers, and handling
consumer complaints and grievances. 5

From the DHHS website.

( 34 ) Center for Child and Family Health

As a domestic violence program, you will undoubtedly have

times when you will refer either an adult or a child for mental
health services. You may suspect that a mother is depressed
or that a child suffers from severe anxiety, for example, and
believe that an evaluation or consultation with the Local
Management Entity is appropriate.
Many communities are still feeling the effects of a reform of
North Carolinas mental health system that began in the early
2000s. Because of the changing nature of this system, it is
important to have current information about the inventory
of services available in your community, and the logistics of
accessing them. For example, you should know:

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Who the providers are in your area specializing in mental

health services for adult and child victims of domestic
violence. (To locate a therapist trained in an evidencebased mental health treatment for traumatized children
and families, and to read more about how to bring this
treatment to your community, go to:
http://www.cfar.unc.edu/Home/Index.rails)
How your agency can be involved in local planning efforts
for mental health services.
What the most effective way is to make a referral to the
LME (i.e. have the parent call, have an employee facilitate
or make the call, provide collateral information)
What the typical timeline is for an individual to be
interviewed by the LME, referred for services, seen for
treatment.

Where They are Located

As of this writing, there are 20 accredited centers in North
Carolina and 5 provisional centers according to the North
Carolina Child Advocacy Center, a Chapter of the National
Childrens Alliance. For a list of those centers, the counties
they serve, and contact information, go to
http://www.cacnc.org/locator
Partnership Considerations
As noted above, there are a variety of functions performed
by the multidisciplinary teams that provide a response
to allegations of child abuse. These functions can either
be provided by the CAC, or, by a member of the multidisciplinary team. Therefore, it is important to determine
who provides these services through your local CAC.

Whether there is information your agency can

provide that would help to facilitate evaluation, referral,
or treatment.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to a partnership between your

agency and the CAC is the opportunity to provide training
to each other. Because of the chances that various forms
Child Advocacy Centers
of victimization overlap with one another, it is important for
providers to know how to assess and respond to other types
What They Provide
of victimization. For example, a domestic violence shelter
may provide services to a family where a child has been
Child Advocacy Centers or CACs are a model of interagency
physically or sexually abused and
coordination for child victims. Some
seek the consult or make a referral
centers focus exclusively on sexual
to the CAC (in addition to DSS); or,
abuse of children; others focus
community
multidisciplinary
teams,
the CAC may be providing services
on severe physical abuse, or both.
to a family that is experiencing
such as domestic violence response
There is a national accreditation
domestic violence.
process for Child Advocacy Centers

teams and child abuse teams, can

that is administered by the National

form useful partnerships
Childrens Alliance. According to
the National Childrens Alliance,
the purpose of Childrens
Advocacy Centers is to provide a
comprehensive, culturally competent, multidisciplinary team
response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, childfriendly setting. The team response to allegations of child
abuse includes forensic interviews, medical evaluations,
therapeutic intervention, victim support/advocacy, case
review, and case tracking. These components may be
provided by Childrens Advocacy Center staff or by other
members of the multidisciplinary team. 6

Sharing policies on
confidentiality and
privacy rules is also
important, as is true
of any partnership.

https://www.nca-online.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=4032

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 35 )

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Schools & Child and Family Support Teams

What They Provide
Child and Family Support Teams are a joint initiative between
the Department of Health and Human Services and the
Department of Public Instruction. Each team is comprised of
a school nurse, school social worker, parents and community
service providers.
Eligibility for the services is described this way by the
program: Any child in a school that has a CFST nurse and
social worker team and who
is having trouble passing
school or living in his or her
home may be helped by
the team.
The services provided by the
team are free however,
there may be costs related to
services that are recommended as a result of the
Teams work.
To read more about this resource, go to
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/childandfamilyteams/index.htm
Where They are Located
As of this writing, there are 103 schools in 21 school districts
in North Carolina that are home to a Child and Family
Support Team. For a list of these Districts and schools,
go to http://www.ncdhhs.gov/childandfamilyteams/
contacts.htm
Partnership Considerations
Including the domestic violence program in a team
approach to a childs plan for well-being, including
succeeding in school, is a very good idea. Reach out
to the school social worker or school nurse to let them
know about the services you provide, how to make a
referral, and to discuss how you can work together.
You can also help develop mutual policies and protocol
that govern identification, referral, and services for
children, and talk about cross-training opportunities.

http://ncscha.org/centers.php

( 36 ) Center for Child and Family Health

All school systems in North Carolina, regardless of whether

or not they have a Child and Family Support Team, are
governed by both local policy as well as some state and
federal laws. It is important to know how your local school
system implements certain provisions. For example, the
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction houses a
Homeless Program. To read about key provisions from
the federal law (the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act) that is a governing policy for the education of homeless
children, including children living in domestic violence
shelters, and, to find out how this federal law is implemented
in North Carolina go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/
program-monitoring/homeless/ Or, call the main switchboard
at the Department of Public Instruction and ask for the
Homeless Program coordinator at (919) 807-3300.
Another related partner is the group of the School-Based
and School-Linked Health Centers. According to the North
Carolina School Community Health Alliance, School Health
Centers provide access to affordable, quality physical and
mental health care. They provide early identification and
treatment of disease and injury. Centers are linked to a
decrease in health-related tardiness and school absences,
decreased discipline problems and suspensions, and a
reduction in school drop-out rates. They focus on prevention
so that health problems and risky behaviors can be caught
early or prevented altogether. 7 To locate a School Center,
which are NOT located in every school, go to
http://ncscha.org/centers.php.

Chapter 5: CHILD SERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND REFERRALS

Child Care Resource and Referral

What They Provide
The Child Care Resource and Referral Program is a part of the
Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child
Development. The Child Care Resource and Referral:
Works with parents, child care providers, businesses, and
community organizations to help promote the availability
of quality child care services
Provides parents with child care referrals and information
on choosing quality child care, plus resources on various
parenting issues
Offers providers access to valuable training and support
services for new and established programs 8
Where They are Located
Each county has a Child Care Resource and Referral. If you
go to this web page: http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/
parents/pr_parentcontacts.asp you will see that you can
submit a query in order to determine who the local contact
for Child Care Resource and Referral is in your county.
The toll-free number for the Division of Child Development in
Raleigh is (800) 859-0829 (in-state calls only).
Partnership Considerations
One of the primary functions of this service is to locate high
quality child care which may be of particular concern and
interest to the families you see. In addition, these and other
partners can be particularly important as consultants to
your program as you design your services for children. They
can help you design your program to be child-friendly. You
can, for example, talk to them about helping you to set up
play spaces for children of all ages, or developing structured
activities within your program or through referral in
the community.

Health Insurance
It is very important to determine whether the children and
families you see are insured and to guide them through the
process of applying for health insurance if they are interested
in receiving that help. Most of the services described in this

8
9

section are free, low-cost or provided for under Medicaid.

We urge you to consider making this a routine part of your
intake process if it is not already. Having insurance increases
the number of referral possibilities for children and families.

Sometimes children have greater

health insurance options than
their parents.
Applying for public health insurance
To learn about public health insurance for children in North
Carolina - Health Check (Medicaid for children) and NC Health
Choice - go to http://www.nchealthystart.org/outreach/
PartnershipPage/HC_NCHC%20Orientation.ppt
For access to applications in Spanish and English, an Online
Catalog of materials including posters and materials for you
to supply to the families you serve, go to:
http://www.nchealthystart.org/outreach/PartnershipPage/
index.htm
To contact the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, call
(919) 828-1819. Or, to apply for public health insurance, go to
the local Department of Social Services.

The Community Care Networks

The Community Care of North Carolina program (formerly
known as Access II and III) is building community health
networks organized and operated by community physicians,
hospitals, health departments, and departments of social
services. By establishing regional networks, the program is
establishing the local systems that are needed to achieve
long-term quality, cost, access and utilization objectives in
the management of care for Medicaid recipients. 9
There are 14 different networks in North Carolina. To see
which network serves your county, go to
http://www.communitycarenc.com/

http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/parents/pr_sn2_ov.asp
From the Community Care website at http://www.communitycarenc.com/

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 37 )

Chapter 6:
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN
SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER
In almost every case of domestic violence there will be
a legal impact. When children are involved the legal impact
is even more complex. As domestic violence shelter staff
improve their responses to the needs of children in shelter,
including the assessment of trauma symptoms, it is helpful to
be aware of what legal resources are available to all members
of the family.

KEY POINT:

Shelter staff members have compelling

reasons for educating themselves on the legal needs
of child residents. Legal concerns, such as complex custody
disputes and criminal trials, may have a long lasting impact
on the ability of families to cope with trauma and find the
strength and time to seek mental health services and shelter
services. Shelter staff can provide more effective community
referrals generally if they are aware of the potential legal
needs of their clients. Even if specialized court victim
advocates are designated to provide legal information to
clients, shelter clients may have practical barriers in reaching
court advocates or they may feel more comfortable speaking
with the shelter staff members they know.

( 38 ) Center for Child and Family Health

The information below is designed to supplement current

knowledge of potential legal actions. It should not be used
as the sole information in working with clients. Also, this
is only legal information; it cannot constitute legal advice.
Shelter staff and agencies that have specific concerns about
their liability in individual cases should always seek the
counsel and advice of a licensed attorney. For additional
information, please consider obtaining or accessing the
resources noted at the end of this section for use in your
domestic violence shelter, and those you identify in the SelfAssessment Checklist in Appendix C.

Common Types of Legal Issues for Children and Adult

Residents in Shelter
Child residents in shelter will inevitably be impacted by
the legal concerns of their parents. They may see the
stresses that the legal system causes their mother, or it may
practically impact their own lives and safety if an abuser is
sent to jail or a court determines who has custody of
the children.

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

Potential legal issues for adult survivors of abuse may include

criminal court proceedings (as victims and defendants), and a
variety of civil court proceedings, including:
civil protective orders

emancipation
adoption
receipt of specific medical/mental health care without
parental consent

divorce and distribution of property

small claims court
name and identity changes
immigration and deportation
civil suits against the perpetrator (e.g., personal injury)
creation of wills and trusts (when a high lethality
is present)
employment discrimination and harassment

KEY POINT: Children should be seen as potential individual

clients when they receive legal and other services. Simply
serving the mothers legal needs may not sufficiently address
the legal concerns of the child. This is seen most clearly
when the interests of the mother and child conflict (e.g.,
adolescent child wishes to live with abuser or mother wants
to know what free medical services the shelter has referred
her child to but the child wishes it to remain confidential).

workers compensation

Protective Orders for Minors in North Carolina

social security and public benefits appeals

(including disability)

Minors may obtain protective orders through application by

an adult guardian ad litem or parent. Potential cases where
this is needed could include dating violence, child abuse
credit disputes (e.g., joint spousal liability, tax appeals and
(sexual, physical, emotional), threats by a parent to the child
bankruptcy court)
but not to the spouse, or a teenage parent who is abused
Recouping the financial costs of the abuse through
by the childs other parent. Note that when civil actions
restitution in criminal court, crime
are instituted by minors, such as a civil
victims compensation (including rape
protective order complaint for dating
victims compensation), or medical/
violence or child sexual abuse, North
property insurance claims
identify
Carolina generally requires the Court to
appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the
legal
concerns?
In addition to the potential legal needs
child in order to proceed. Appointment
of adults that impact the lives of their
Remember the child has
of a GAL may involve a fee for the family,
children, children themselves may have
legal concerns too, e.g.,
although in DSS cases the GAL is a free
specific legal needs, including:
educational concerns,
service paid for by state government.
immigration law, DVPO
juvenile court (as victims
In addition, when adults seek protective
Listen carefully to how the
and defendants)
caregiver and child explain
orders, North Carolina permits 50B
their barriers to safety
DSS adjudications
domestic violence protective orders to
and stability
include provisions for children, including:
family court (child custody
Remember a familys legal
and adoption)
needs are often criminal AND
custody of the child
child support collection
civil, such as housing rights,
no contact with the child
civil rights, employment
school suspension and disciplinary
rights, personal injury, etc.
child support
proceedings
landlord/tenant and public housing

how do you

disability determinations for benefits

and school services
appointment of a legal guardian

no contact with the childs school

or daycare
obtaining passports, birth certificates, social security
cards and identification information of the child

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 39 )

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

Even if the child is threatened by others not in the 50B

relationship categories, remember that a 50C protective
order for sexual assault or stalking may be obtained.
Protective order custody provisions are only valid for up to
one year, unlike no contact provisions for adults which may
be renewed continually. The rationale for this difference
is that the courts expect the parents to use the protective
order for custody only temporarily, followed by the parent
going into Family or District Court with a more in depth
hearing to obtain a permanent custody order. General child
custody orders may also be obtained on an emergency basis,
with a process very similar to the protective order process
(e.g., ex parte order followed by a hearing for a
permanent order).
School notification of DVPOs: Note that North Carolina
under Chapter 50B now requires notice to school personnel
by the Sheriff when a protective order includes a provision
that prohibits the abuser from being present at the childs
school or daycare. However, if the child changes schools or
daycares, the sheriff is not required to continually send new
notifications, therefore the parent should ensure that the
school is notified.

KEY POINT: Although minors may obtain protective

orders through the representation of a court appointed
guardian ad litem or parent, be careful about encouraging
protective orders for children or adults. This should
always be the clients decision. There are serious
potential legal ramifications for persons who
later change their story in court or drop orders
of protection, such as potential false reporting
criminal charges or being held in contempt of court
or developing a reputation for a lack of credibility,
even if the reasons for a change of heart are fully
justified. There is also the risk of engaging in the
unauthorized practice of law when a non-lawyer makes
a recommendation to an adult or minor client to proceed
with a legal action (see right).

( 40 ) Center for Child and Family Health

Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law

As shelter staff members increasingly discuss available
legal options with their adult and child residents, there
is always the risk that the information will shift into legal
advice. Because shelter residents are often in serious crisis,
they may aggressively ask the shelter staff members to
provide such advice, especially if they are teen parents or
caregivers fearful for their childrens safety. However, it is
very important that shelter staff members do not provide
legal advice to their residents as this would constitute the
unauthorized practice of law (see N.C.G.S. 84.2.1 et seq.).
The unauthorized practice of law in North Carolina is a
misdemeanor crime, similar to the unauthorized practice of
medicine or holding oneself out to be a psychologist without
having such a license. Although many service providers
have a good understanding of domestic violence law and
experience with the court system, the prohibition against
the unauthorized practice of law helps to ensure that if
damaging or dangerous results occur as a result of inaccurate
or inappropriate legal advice, then the client at least has the
recourse to file a complaint for malpractice or a grievance
for unethical conduct with the relevant licensing board.
The purpose of licensures is to protect the public through
required monitoring and standards in areas of practice that
have a greater risk for harming the health and well-being of
the public.
Shelter staff and other non-attorney service
providers, however, can be very helpful in
providing legal information to their clients.
The difference is that legal information is
something that could be provided to anyone
and no specific recommendation is made.
For example, saying generally or
sometimes or some of the options
indicates that you are not recommending
a specific course of action to an individual.
The unauthorized practice of law includes:
telling a shelter resident whether to
respond to a subpoena, explaining what
their legal rights are, filling in legal
forms (including protective order
complaints), or interpreting a legal
document for them.

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

One of the safest ways to provide shelter residents

with detailed legal information is to provide them with
information and/or brochures created by attorneys or legal
agencies, such as the Legal Aid website or the local District
Attorneys Office. The North Carolina Bar Association has
numerous free legal information brochures that you can
distribute to your residents, including those on the rights
of minors, domestic violence, child custody, divorce and
separation, wills and estates, and HIV/AIDS.

what if my client can't read or

write english?

If your client cannot speak or read the

language on a legal form, then advocates
may generally read it out loud or write
down the clients responses word for
word to ensure that it is only transcribing
rather than providing a legal service. It
is often helpful if you sign and date the
form, explaining your role as transcriber
to avoid questions in court.

Examples of Legal Advice vs. Legal Information

Legal Advice:
You should go down to the Magistrates Office and file
criminal charges right away.
It sounds like youre in danger. I think you should call 911
immediately.
What just happened to you could be charged as felony
sex offense.
I think the document youve shown me is a petition for
child custody. This provision here says he wants all rights
to the kids.
I would recommend you get a protective order for
yourself and your kids.

Legal Information:
If you are interested in filing criminal charges you can go
down to the Magistrates Office and try to do this.
It sounds like youre in danger. If you feel you need to,
you can always call 911.

What happened to you might be criminal. If you like, I can

help you to meet with a law enforcement officer about
possible charges, and to tell you about the confidential
blind reporting policy in our community.
Im not an attorney and I cant give legal advice, but it
looks like this might have something to do with child
custody. If you are unsure about what it means and
want to get some advice, I would recommend that you
speak with an attorney directly and Im certainly happy to
provide you with some referrals.
One of your options to increase your safety is to obtain
a protective order. Although you can generally get one
without a lawyer, I would recommend that you seek the
advice of Legal Aid or another attorney if you can before
filing for one. They can give you advice about what the
legal risks might be.

KEY POINT: Be particularly careful to avoid the unauthorized

practice of law. Aside from the legal liability risks for the
shelter and its staff, important legal decisions should be the
clients decision and it is far more empowering for them
to make these decisions themselves. Also, it is dangerous
to assume the legal system is always a safe and protective
course of action for victims. Only a client can determine
the safest course of action in his or her particular situation.
When working with children, ensure that the rights that they
do have are fully respected. Just as we seek to empower
adult domestic violence survivors, we should give child
survivors as much of a voice as possible in the legal system.
For example, children can write their own victim impact
statements in a criminal trial, or write to the judge in a
custody hearing, or ask to speak with the attorney in
a protective order hearing to express their wishes
and concerns.
Who is the Client? Avoiding a Conflict of Interest
and Providing Confidential Victim Advocate Services
to Children
One of the greatest public benefits of domestic violence
and rape crisis center services is that the victim may seek
information, counseling and support in a nonjudgmental
confidential setting (see also discussions on confidentiality
and privacy with community service providers in Chapter
V). Ensuring confidentiality is essential for many victims
to feel safe enough to seek help. Most victim advocates

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 41 )

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

are comfortable with assuring their adult clients that their

confidentiality is secure. However, when children are
involved, mandatory reporting laws may pierce the wall
of confidentiality and require the reporting of abuse and
neglect (see below). When shelter staff members provide
increased services to children, they may be developing legally
protected confidential relationships with children covered
by the victim advocate privilege described below. If victim
advocates are licensed mental health clinicians, their ethical
rules of their licensing board may have additional provisions
related to confidentiality and minors. Finally, individual
agencies may establish internal policies related to whether
they will protect or disclose confidential matters, which
should be made clear to a client of any age prior to engaging
in private discussions.
In general, confidentiality with a client, whether an adult or
child, would be established if no third parties are present
(including parents), the conversation relates to direct
services, and the client expects the conversation to be
confidential. Sometimes a conversation continues to be
deemed confidential by the courts if a third party is present,
but only if the third party is considered a necessary third
party (e.g., caregiver of a very young child, or assistant to a
person with a severe disability, or a language interpreter). In
working with very young children, the parent may be deemed
a necessary party to the conversation and the communication
with the child would still usually be confidential.
However, it is important to be aware that any child may
disclose instances of conduct that might constitute
reportable neglect or even abuse on the part of a parent that
is a victim of partner domestic violence, whether it relates
to acts by the adult domestic violence victim or to sibling
violence. In these cases, even if confidentiality is respected
for conversations with both children and adults, a conflict of
interest might develop for the shelter staff member who is
providing services to both caregiver and child. For example,
a mother and child might separately report abuse concerns
about each other to the service provider. The shelter
should seriously consider terminating one of the service
relationships and refer one or the other resident to external
mental health services to avoid any conflict of interest, and
involve DSS when legally required.
Although everyone can make an effort to maintain
confidentiality with others, North Carolina law protects
information from being used as evidence in court when

( 42 ) Center for Child and Family Health

it arises in certain relationships, such as: doctor-patient,

attorney-client, psychologist-client, priest-penitent, licensed
social workers and counselors and their clients, among
others. Victim advocates are included among the professions
that permit legal protection of confidentiality. Under
N.C.G.S. 8-53.12, domestic violence and sexual assault victim
advocates who have had at least 20 hours of training, can
assure their clients (both adult and child) that their private
conversations have greater protections of confidentiality.
Nevertheless, the privilege of confidentiality may be broken
with the victim/clients consent or waiver, by court order,
or if there is a legal duty to disclose the information. Victim
advocates cannot lawfully break confidentiality and disclose
client information on their own; the privilege belongs
to the client. Even aside from legal concerns, breaking
confidentiality adds to the distrust many child and adult
residents feel toward the legal and community support
system, and inhibits the ability of residents to heal and move
forward, whether the resident is an adult or a child.

KEY POINT: At the beginning of the victim advocate-client

relationship, shelter staff members must be very clear with
their residents of all ages regarding the shelters willingness
to establish confidential relationships with both minor and
adult residents. This impacts both client safety and the ability
of clients to trust shelter staff.
Regarding confidentiality for minors in medical matters,
the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) laws will protect clients from disclosure of
health information for which electronic billing is provided,
although most shelters would not provide fee based services.
Keep in mind that there are many exceptions to HIPAA
protections, including some specifically related to child abuse
and cooperation with law enforcement. Additional federal
confidentiality protections exist for substance abuse services
and information and those related to sexually transmitted
diseases. Therefore an agency required to comply with
HIPAA should obtain legal advice to ensure their policies are
compliant with federal law.
More important to a typical domestic violence shelter setting,
minors have certain rights in North Carolina to obtain medical
testing and treatment from a physician without parental
consent, but only for the following (N.C.G.S. 90-21.5):

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

Sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS)

Pregnancy
Substance abuse
Emotional disturbance (e.g., psychiatric services)
Otherwise the general rule is that minors must obtain
parental consent for medical treatment. For teenage
parents, this can be a complex issue because both parent and
child are minors. It is recommended that shelter staff be very
aware of the confidentiality and treatment policies of medical
clinics and health departments when
they refer minors to
their services.

Note that if your shelter has staff members who have

obtained professional licenses, such as a licensed clinical
social worker or a licensed professional counselor, then
these staff members may be more limited by their licensing
requirements and ethical rules than unlicensed victim
advocates. That is, licensed staff members may be required
to obtain parental consent and disclosure of childrens
services to parents as a requirement of their licensure. In
contrast, unlicensed shelter staff members who are not
limited by licensing provisions may have more freedom
to provide minor residents with confidential services
under North Carolina law. Shelters should clearly identify
whether their policy towards childrens confidentiality is
divided differently among staff licensed and unlicensed staff
members; or whether it is the same for all staff members
regardless of licensure.

How the Duty to Report Child Abuse

Impacts Confidentiality
Under North Carolina law, every person has a legal
duty to report a suspicion of child abuse or neglect
by a caretaker. This duty overrides the privilege
of communications including the victim advocate
privilege. Keep in mind that despite the fact that many

The duty to report only covers caretaker

abuse and neglect. Some common examples
of non-caretaker abuse in which there may
be no mandatory reporting required include:
when a child is harmed by another child at
school, dating violence, when a neighbor or
family acquaintance harms a child, and harm
by a stranger such as a store clerk.

professionals generalize about the duty to report

any child abuse, the law only requires a duty to
report caretaker abuse of children or dependent adults
with disabilities. There is no duty to report non-caretaker
abuse or neglect. The reason that only caretaker abuse
and neglect are covered by mandatory reporting is that if a
caretaker is responding reasonably to the fact that his or her
child has been abused and there is no indication of neglect by

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 43 )

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

can a minor get a protective order?

In 50B (and often 50C) civil protective order hearings, federal

law requires that the victim be permitted to proceed pro
se (i.e., without an attorney) and that there be no filing or
court costs. Other common hearings where the victim may
not need an attorney is in a Small Claims Court proceeding.
Occasionally a victim may seek divorce or custody without an
attorney, although this is difficult in many domestic violence
cases when the parties cannot agree to terms, which is often
the case when child custody is at stake.

Yes, however an adult (parent or guardian)

will need to file the claim on the minors
behalf. Sometimes the minors legal case is
stronger than the parents, e.g., the mother
may have been threatened by her spouse
but her child sustained injuries from severe
parental discipline.

However, in all of the above cases, an attorney may be

very helpful even if not required. Just as batterers may be
unpredictable and dangerous at home, their behavior may
also be unpredictable or dangerous in court. In some cases,
an attorney is especially needed if there is an increased risk
to adult or child victims. For example:

the parent, then the State (DSS) has no need or legal right to
intervene. Constitutional law presumes that all parents are
fit unless proven otherwise, and provides them with the legal
rights and duties to care for their children in the manner they
see fit without intervention by the State.

In some circumstances, DSS may consider a caretakers

refusal or inability to leave a domestic violence relationship
to constitute child neglect (for placing or permitting the
child to remain in a dangerous setting (see Chapter V)). For
example, a mother would likely be considered neglectful if
she knew of the abuse but did not act to protect her child or
even allowed the abuse to continue. Another example is if
she permitted child visitation with an abusive father when
she knew the father had serious mental health or substance
abuse issues that could endanger the child. For shelter
residents, their familys presence in shelter may often be a
positive sign that the caregiver is actively seeking to keep her
children safe from domestic violence; which may in turn help
a caregiver avoid the risk of having Child Protective Services
intervene and remove the children from her care.

When is a Lawyer Especially Needed in Child Cases?

Many domestic violence victims and their children enter
the court system without the use or need of an attorney
representing them. For example, in a criminal proceeding the
State of North Carolina will generally prosecute the offender
and handle the case and its costs. However, keep in mind
that in criminal cases, the State is not the victims attorney,
but rather represents the community as a whole and its
interests in safety and justice. Thus the prosecution will
generally decide whether the case proceeds regardless of the
victims wishes, and may try to have the victim witness held
in contempt if he or she recants.

( 44 ) Center for Child and Family Health

a victim who does not have legal citizenship or

residency status should seek legal representation if at all
possible before any court proceeding in order to avoid
deportation;
family or district court proceedings such as custody and
visitation, can result in permanent court orders that have
long-term impacts on children;
domestic violence situations with high lethality, such as
threats to kill or commit suicide or the use of firearms,
may need legal advice to determine the safest legal
remedy (e.g., escape and identity/address changes rather
than a heated court battle where the offender is required
to appear).

Useful Legal Referrals

KEY POINT: Shelter staff members are in an ideal position

to refer residents, both adult and child, to appropriate
legal services in their community and throughout the state.
Although most domestic violence service providers are aware
of Legal Aids local services and offices, Legal Aid of North
Carolina also has a number of statewide offices that serve
domestic violence victims for free statewide, including some
specifically for children. Do NOT assume that because the
parent or legal guardian does not have a need or ability to
obtain legal assistance that the child does not. Also, the child
may need or be able to access legal services that the parent
or legal guardian cannot.

Chapter 6: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONs WHEN SERVING CHILDREN IN SHELTER

Indian Law Unit (1-910-521-2831)

This unit focuses on providing legal representation to four
of the six staterecognized Indian tribes (Lumbee, HaliwaSaponi, Coharie, and Waccamaw-Siuoan), including work with
housing, economic development, and other issues relating to
their status as a non-federally recognized Indian tribe.

Below are three of the specialized Legal Aid/Legal Services

agencies that may be of assistance to children.

The Battered Immigrant Project (1-866-204-7612)

As part of the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative,
this project provides battered immigrants with legal
assistance with DVPOs, family law issues, public benefits,
and immigration issues. Petitions for stay of deportation
and other immigration law actions may be made on behalf of
child victims of domestic violence alone, even if the parent
does not have a legal claim. Note that the immigration
status and needs of children may be very different from their
parents, and both have a right to access legal information
and representation as needed.

Advocates for Childrens Services (see Legal Aid website for

regional office contacts)
This project provides free legal representation for children
who are in need of medical, psychiatric, special education
and foster care/adoption services to which they are entitled
under state and federal law. They also focus on minors in the
juvenile justice system and children who have been
denied an equal education on the basis of their race and
community status.

There are many other legal resources throughout the state

that can assist children and their parents, such as the North
Carolina Justice Center or Disability Rights North Carolina.
Becoming familiar with the local bar association, or other
law associations such as the North Carolina Association of
Women Attorneys or the North Carolina Association of Black
Lawyers, is useful for pro bono or low cost referral sources.
Law schools often have free legal clinics, and many provide
services across the state, such as the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic
at Duke University or the School Suspension Legal Clinic at
North Carolina Central University. Another resource is to
contact other statewide advocacy organizations, such as
the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Prevent
Child Abuse North Carolina, and the Center for Child and
Family Healths Legal Program, as they often have attorney
members or contacts with a sincere interest in helping
families at risk of abuse.

KEY POINT: Referral to a legal clinic or attorney does

not mean there has to be a clear cut legal case or
that the client must have a great deal of money. There are a
number of free legal clinics that will represent the legal needs
of children and adults (see the Self-Assessment Checklist in
Appendix C to identify resources in your area). Consider not
only your local legal resources, but the statewide resources
available, particularly if your local resources are limited. Trust
your instincts and lean toward a legal referral if you feel the
clients situation is unfair or their rights have not been
respected. Finally, for those services that do require
payment, such as a complex custody dispute, sometimes
even an initial one-time consultation can be very helpful in
providing a client with information to protect their family as
well as the peace of mind that knowledge brings.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 45 )

APPENDIX A. Additional Resources

The resources below have easily accessible free information
for the public, and both clinical and non-clinical service
providers, related to the impact of domestic violence on
children and local, state and national referral sources. For
more specific resources related to chapter topics, please see
resources listed within each chapter.

Child Victimization and Abuse Prevention Organizations

Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
www.preventchildabusenc.org
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Child Traumatic Stress Organizations

www.nccasa.org

Center for Child and Family Health

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

www.ccfhnc.org

www.nccadv.org

Medical University of South Carolina National Crime Victims

Research & Treatment Center

Child Advocacy Centers of North Carolina

www.musc.edu/ncvc
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
www.ncptsd.va.gov
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
www.nctsn.org

www.cacnc.org
National Center for Victims of Crime
www.ncvc.org
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.ncadv.org
RAINN Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network
www.rainn.org

( 46 ) Center for Child and Family Health

APPENDIX B. Research References

Edleson, J. L. (1999). Childrens witnessing of adult domestic
violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 839-871.
Fantuzzo, J., Boruch, R., Beriama, A., Atkins, M., & Marcus,
S. (1997). Domestic violence and children: Prevalence and
risk factors in five major U.S. Cities. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 116-122.
Grych, J. H., Jouriles, E. N., Swank, P. R., McDonald, R., &
Norwood, W. D. (2000). Patterns of adjustment among
children of battered women. Journal of Consulting and
Clinical Psychology, 68, 84-94.
Kaplan, S. J., Pelcovitz, D., & Labruna, V. (1999). Child and
adolescent abuse and neglect research: A review of the past
10 years. Part I: Physical and emotional abuse and neglect.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, 38, 1214-1222.
Kitzmann, K. M., Gaylord, N. K., Holt, A. R., & Kenny, E. D.
(2003). Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic
review. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology,
71(2), 339-352.

Lundy, M., & Grossman, S. F. (2005). The mental health

and service needs of young children exposed to domestic
violence: Supportive data. Families in Society, 86, 17-29.
Piaget, J. (1973) The Childs Conception of the World
(London: Paladin).
Pynoos, R. S., Goenjian, A. K., & Steinberg, A. M. (1998). A
public mental health approach to the postdisaster treatment
of children and adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric
Clinics of North America, 7, 195-210.
Pynoos, R. S., Rodriguez, N., & Steinberg, A. (2000). PTSD
index for DSM-IV. Los Angeles: University of California
Los Angeles.
Theodore, A. D., Chang, J. J., Runyan, D. K., Hunter, W. M.,
Bangdiwala, S. I., & Agans, R. (2005). Epidemiologic features
of the physical and sexual maltreatment of children in the
Carolinas. Pediatrics, 115, e331-e337.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 47 )

APPENDIX C. Self-Assessment Checklist for

Community Partnerships

Childrens Developmental Services

Agency (CDSA)
I have a contact at the local CDSA that I call
regularly to refer clients or ask questions about
CDSA services.
Contact:
_________________________________________

I make referrals to the local CDSA when I suspect

that a child has a developmental delay, like
delayed speech or hearing.

I have offered to the CDSA that they conduct

evaluations at our agency to avoid having to
transport families, and because it might be
more comfortable.
I have invited one of their staff to come make a
presentation to our staff about their services.
We have brochures in our offices about
their services.

Child Service Coordination

Program (CSCP)
I know the name or names of the CSCP staff at
my local Health Department.
Contact:
_________________________________________
I have referred families to the CSCP for case
management services.
I have met with or offered to meet with CSCP
staff to describe our services and find out more
about theirs.
I know how old children have to be to be eligible
for these services.
We have brochures in our offices about
their services.

Child Advocacy Centers (CAC)

I know where the closest CAC is to my office.

Contact: _________________________________________

I can describe what a CAC is, what they do, and who is eligible for their services.

I have called my local CAC for information or support.

My local CAC is aware of the shelters services and policies.

( 48 ) Center for Child and Family Health

appendix C. Self-Assessment Checklist for Community Partnerships

Department of Social Services (DSS)

I have a contact at my local DSS who I call
if I have questions or concerns, or to make
a referral.
Contact:
_________________________________________

Local Management Entities (LME)

I have a good idea which kids need to be
referred for a mental health evaluation.
I know whether or not we have mental health
treatment providers in our area that are trained
in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I know whether my local DSS holds Child and

Family Team meetings.

Contact:
_________________________________________

I am familiar with the DSS Child Protective

Services domestic violence policy. I could
describe how domestic violence is addressed
during an assessment, how DSS evaluates safety
and risk as they relate to domestic violence, and
how a service plan addresses it.
I know whether or not my local DSS has social
workers and supervisors trained on the domestic
violence policy.
I know when I should make a mandated report
of child abuse or neglect to the local Department
of Social Services.
I understand the confidentiality rules that
DSS operates under and they understand the
confidentiality rules and policies that I
operate under.

I have referred children to the LME in the

past year.

I have referred adults to the LME in the

past year.
I have a contact at the LME who I can and do
call if I have questions or need information or am
making a referral.
Contact:
_________________________________________
I have participated in developing a local plan for
mental health services, through the LME, in order
to advocate for my clients needs.
I know how long it usually takes after a call to
the LME before a child or adult is evaluated.
I know how long it usually takes after an
evaluation at the LME before treatment begins.

Child Care Resource and Referral

I know my local Child Care Resource and
Referral line.
Contact:
_________________________________________

I have referred families in order to

locate childcare.

I have called the Resource and Referral line to

ask questions about setting up our shelter play
space or about different programs we can use at
the shelter or refer to in the community.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 49 )

appendix C. Self-Assessment Checklist for Community Partnerships

Medical Insurance
I have downloaded applications for Medicaid off
of the Internet.

I have read the materials about Health Check and

NC Health Choice.

I know which Community Care network covers

my county.

Legal Referrals
I have contacted my local State Bar office
and the court clerks to inform them of our
shelters services.
I have read the materials related to
confidentiality, duty to report, and the
unauthorized practice of law.

We have brochures and other materials about

applying for insurance in our waiting rooms
or offices.

I have downloaded the latest court forms for

protective orders in English and Spanish from the
NC Administrative Office of the Courts website.

I know whom to contact at DSS is to apply

for Medicaid.

I know which private local attorneys specialize in

juvenile law, domestic violence, family law, and
personal injury.

Contact:
_________________________________________

Contact:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

Child and Family Support Teams

(CFST)

_________________________________________

I know whether the school district Im in has a

Child and Family Support Team in one or more of
the schools.

I have invited my local Legal Aid attorneys to

visit the shelter.

I have talked to a member of this Support Team

before.

I have a contact for each local multidisciplinary

team that may address child abuse, domestic
violence, and/or sexual assault.

Contact:
_________________________________________
I have attended a Child and Family
Support Team meeting.

( 50 ) Center for Child and Family Health

We have both local and statewide brochures

and other materials about civil and criminal legal
services and legal information.

The Needs of Children in Domestic Violence Shelters ( 51 )

411 W. Chapel Hill Street , Suite 908 * Durham, NC 27701

(919) 419-3474 * www.ccfhnc.org