Summarizes the growing body of research on the simultaneous occurrence of child maltreatment and domestic violence, including details about collaborative programs implemented through federal, state, and local initiatives to respond to these co-occurring problems. Research previously indicated that there exists a 30- to 60-percent overlap between violence against children and violence against women in the same families, but more recent findings suggest an even greater overlap. Children in abusive homes face the risk of observing traumatic events, of being abused themselves, and of being neglected. Specific programs that address the overlap between violence against children and against women have taken a variety of approaches, among them: (1) mandatory training on domestic violence for child protective services (CPS) workers; (2) new protocols for identifying and serving battered women and for risk assessment and intervention in cases of domestic violence; (3) multidisciplinary collaboration; and (4) support groups and hot lines. While domestic violence and child protection programs have focused on assisting the battered woman and child, more research is needed on the effectiveness, availability, and quality of programs and services for male batterers. Also included are further sources of information on the subject as well as relevant Internet sites.
