E11

PROTECTING THE CHILDREN IN CUSTODY DISPUTES IN FAMILIES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Presenters: Joan Zorza

Abstract Category: Domestic Violence

Instruction Level: Beginner

Presentation: Click Here

Description:      

Protecting children when courts ignore or minimize domestic violence, its effects on children, and laws that could help them.

Abstract:

Batterers are notorious in using the children and custody disputes to continue their abuse of their intimate partners, and many are adept at manipulating those who might help their victims.  Despite laws in every state to protect victims of intimate partner violence and have judges consider the abuse in making custody determinations, most courts and those advising them still minimize the domestic violence, and particularly its danger, significance, and how it affects the children. 

What best helps the children is for them to maintain a stable relationship with their protective parent.  This implies we need to empower the victims and keep them and their children safe; to hold abusers accountable; and focus on what will help each of the family members to heal.  We should also be focusing on what will help courts to maximize children’s resilience and hence their ability to feel safe and heal.  We also need to look at what tools courts use in attempting to end disputes, and whether these help or hurt the protective parent and children.  Mediation, couples counseling, parent programs and parent coordinators are all used, but do they help?  What types of and conditions for visitation will help children, and keep them safe?