Social Work Fields of Practice & Domestic Violence

1. Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cutting Issue for Social Workers Universal Screening Risk Assessment Intervention Child Welfare High co-occurrence • Keep mother and children safe from abusive partner • Does witnessing domestic violence equal child maltreatment? Child & Family Services Assess for past & current violence before any family or marital counseling School Social Work Impact of witnessing domestic violence on children • Teen Dating Violence 1 in 5 teenage girls experience physical & sexual violence in dating relationships Mental Health Impact of past or current abuse on mental health of client • Trauma & PTSD • Increased risk for depression & anxiety Social Work Fields of Practice & Domestic Violence Substance Abuse High risk for women with HIV/AIDS • Impact of past or present violence on both batterers & victims • Associated with violence, not a cause Medical Social Work Emergency Rooms • Pediatrics • Increased risk for pregnant women and women with disabilities. Employee Assistance Programs Workplace policies that support abused women • Hold batterers accountable • Provide safety for workers • Stalking, violence at the workplace Gerontology/Disabilities Adult Protective Services •Violence Across the Lifespan • Caretaker Abuse Public Assistance TANF Waivers • High co-occurrence with poverty Developed by Fran Danis, Ph.D. , University of Missouri-Columbia