Rachel A. Fusco

Children's direct sensory exposure to substantiated domestic violence crimes.

Police officers served as public health sentinels to collect data on children exposed to domestic violence events (DVEs) across an entire municipality for 1 year. These officers used a standard, validated protocol to collect data on all investigate DVEs. This study extended previous research by including data demographic data on children in the household at the time of the DVE and investigating children’s direct sensory exposure to DVEs. Findings revealed that almost half of all events had children present, and 81% of these children were directly exposed to DVEs. Children under the age of 6 years old were at greater risk of direct sensory exposure. Domestic violence households with children were more likely to be low-income, non-White, and headed by a single female compared to households at large. Logistic regressions revealed that six major DVE variables were related to children being directly exposed. These included father as perpetrator, victim injury, weapon use, non-White victim, mutual assault, and arrest of perpetrator.

Intimate Partner Violence in Interracial Couples: A Comparison to White and Ethnic Minority Monoracial Couples

The number of interracial couples in the U.S. is growing, but they often receive little support. Although previous studies have explored the relationship between low social support and decreased relationship satisfaction in interracial couples, there are few studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) in these couples. To better understand IPV in interracial couples compared to monoracial couples, all police-reported IPV events across a municipality were examined. Odds ratios showed differences between interracial and ethnic minority monoracial couples. Interracial couples were more likely to have a history of prior IPV (OR = 2.60), engage in mutual assault (OR = 2.36), and result in perpetrator arrest (OR = 1.71) than ethnic minority monoracial couples. Victims of IPV in interracial couples were also more likely to be injured (OR = 1.37). There were no significant differences between the couples in terms of substance use or children present during the IPV event. Differences between IPV in interracial and White couples also emerged. Interracial couples were more likely to have children present (OR = 1.84), to have a prior report (OR = 1.98), to result in victim injury (OR = 1.73), and to result in perpetrator arrest than White couples (OR = 2.18). Interracial couples were more likely to engage in mutual assault than White couples (OR = 2.94). However, interracial couples were about 50% less likely than White couples to use drugs or alcohol before or during the IPV event. Research is needed to better understand the unique challenges and needs faced by interracial couples to help them sustain healthy partnerships.

Domestic Violence and Children’s Presence: A Population-based Study of Law Enforcement Surveillance of Domestic Violence

The purpose of the present study was twofold: (1) to test whether law enforcement officers could reliably use a standard protocol to collect data on domestic violence events (DVEs) across a large municipality, and (2) to use these data to examine prevalence and nature of the violence and children’s presence. Reliability checks indicated that data were collected reliably on over 5,000 substantiated DVEs. Findings showed that 48% of all assaults in the municipality were DVEs. Victims were predominantly females in their early thirties, and injuries were predominantly minor and resulted from body contact. Children were present in nearly 50% of the DVEs. They were disproportionately present in domestic violence households compared to all other households in the municipality. Domestic violence households with children were more likely to have mothers and fathers involved in the violence and were disproportionately minority households headed by single females in relatively poor neighborhoods.

Effects of structural family therapy on child and maternal mental health symptomatology

Objective: This pilot study examined the effect of structural family therapy (SFT) on children’s impairment and depressive symptomatology and mothers’ depressive symptomatology and anxiety for 31 families served by a community mental health clinic. Method: A one group predesign/postdesign, with a baseline and two follow-up time points, was used. Results: A series of repeated measures analyses of variance showed significant improvement for mothers’ depression, F(2, 36) = 6.93, p = .003, η2 = .278, and anxiety, F(2, 34) = 6.44, p = .004, η2 = .275. Mothers’ ratings of their children’s impairment significantly improved, F(2, 42) = 6.27, p = .005, η2 = .270, though children’s self-rated impairment and depressive symptomatology did not change. Results were confirmed using random regression analyses. Conclusion: SFT has promise for simultaneously addressing mothers’ and children’s needs in community mental health settings. However, structural barriers impacting feasibility were identified and discussed.

Developmental and Social-Emotional Screening in Child Welfare: Implications for Young Children in Rural Settings

Studies of child maltreatment in rural areas are equivocal, with some showing higher rates and others showing no differences compared with other communities. The current study presents findings on developmental and social-emotional screenings among young child welfare-involved rural children (N = 1,321). Almost half of these children showed problems requiring further assessment. Children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and children in foster care demonstrated more developmental problems, while biracial children and children referred for parental substance abuse had more social-emotional concerns. This study adds to the scarce literature on the needs, challenges, and strengths of child welfare-involved families in rural communities.

Socioemotional Problems in Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Mediating Effects of Attachment and Family Supports

Given the high likelihood of women remaining with their partner when intimate partner violence (IPV) is present, it is important to work with existing family strengths and social supports to minimize emotional harm to the children of these couples. The current study involved interviews with mothers of young children in the child welfare system across a state in the northeast (n = 336). Roughly one third of these women reported IPV in the past year. The relationship between IPV and child socioemotional problems was explored, along with supports that might mediate this relationship. Study results showed that child exposure to IPV was directly related to socioemotional problems. This was mediated by three family and social factors: strength of mother–child attachment, overall family functioning, and level of mothers’ emotional support. Findings revealed the heterogeneity among families with IPV and highlight the need for interventions focused on the ecological context in which women are parenting.

Socioemotional Problems Among Young Children in Out-of-Home Care: A Comparison of Kinship and Foster Care Placement

This study examined socioemotional problems among children age 0 to 5 years in formal kinship and foster care across a northeastern state. Findings revealed that more than one third of children in both types of care showed socioemotional problems. More children were placed in kinship care when they lived in rural settings, were biracial, or spent time in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) after birth. Unique child and maltreatment characteristics predicted socioemotional problems scores for each placement type. Among children in kinship care, being biracial, spending time in the NICU, and being referred to child welfare for either caregiver substance abuse or neglect were related to socioemotional problems. When children were in foster care, spending time in the NICU, being referred to child welfare for child neglect, or being referred for intimate partner violence were all related to socioemotional problems. The results have implications for child welfare policy and practice, especially in light of increased efforts to place children with kin.

Motherhood in Liminal Spaces: White Mothers Parenting Black/White Children

Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their biological black/white biracial children. The findings suggest that having children locates them in a liminal space between whiteness and blackness. Many face racism from their families and communities, which they are unprepared for, given their upbringing as white Americans. Yet despite these experiences, many still practice color-blind perspective in socializing their children. Implications of these findings include the need for early intervention and support for white mothers raising biracial children as well as the need to challenge the assumption that mothers are solely responsible for the well-being and cultural and racial socialization of their children.

“They Brought Me in Like I Was Their Own Kid”: Youth and Caregiver Perceptions of Out-of-Home Care

The child welfare system usually becomes involved with families when there are child safety concerns as a result of child abuse or neglect, serious parent–child conflict, physical or behavioral health conditions, or family violence. As part of their practice, child welfare workers must make every reasonable effort to safely maintain children within their families, including providing supports and services. However, for some families these preservation services are insufficient and when this is the case, children are placed in out-of-home care.

Child Welfare Practice in a Systems of Care Framework

A systems of care (SOC) framework is an approach to service delivery that works cooperatively across systems to create an integrated process for meeting the many needs of families. Based on the principles of interagency collaboration, community-based services, strength-based practices, cultural competence, and full participation of families and youth, a SOC framework requires that multiple systems serving children and families come together to create and offer coordinated programs and services. This is particularly crucial for child welfare, as families often have multiple, complex needs that are better served by agencies and organizations typically seen as “outside” the child welfare system (e.g., substance abuse programs and domestic violence counseling).