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Child custody issues and co‐occurrence of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: controversies and points of agreement amongst practitioners |
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| Authors: | Geneviève Lessard Catherine Flynn Pierre Turcotte Dominique Damant Jean‐François Vézina Marie‐France Godin France Paradis Rhea Delisle Yennelys Alcedo Lorraine Juneau Linda Rock Simon Rondeau‐Cantin |
| Affiliation: | 1. Co‐director, Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence Against Women (CRI‐VIFF),;2. Professor,;3. Graduate Student,;4. Professor, School of Social Work, Laval University,;5. Professor, School of Social Work, University of Montreal,;6. Director, Groupe d’aide aux personnes impulsives (organization helping violent partners),;7. Director, Maison de la famille D.V.S. (organization offering supervised access right),;8. Preventive Medicine Doctor, Regional Direction of Québec City Public Health,;9. Social Worker, Centre de sante et de services sociaux de la Vieille‐Capitale (local community service center),;10. Practitioner, Maison pour Femmes Immigrantes (shelter for immigrant women/mothers and their children),;11. Practitioner, Centre jeunesse de Quebec – Institut universitaire (child protection services),;12. Practitioner, Centre d’amitié Autochtone de Quebec (aboriginal friendship centre),;13. Graduate Student, School of Social Work, Laval University, Québec, Canada |
| Abstract: | The situation of families undergoing separation in a context of co‐occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment raises certain issues related to child custody. The results presented in this paper were collected and analysed within the framework of a qualitative study aiming to identify the principal points of agreement and the main controversies amongst practitioners in several different types of organizations. Focus groups were held with a total of 43 practitioners from six different settings concerned with child custody in cases of co‐occurrence of IPV and child maltreatment. Although they agreed on the importance of ensuring the safety of victims of violence, their views diverged on three points: (1) the importance of preserving the father–child relationship; (2) collaboration between voluntary organizations and semi‐voluntary or legal agencies; and (3) consideration of cultural differences. |
| Keywords: | child abuse (neglect) child care policy and practice divorce (contact issues) domestic violence research in practice |