As a practitioner focused on creating great outcomes for children, it is crucial to understand the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on child custody and the wellbeing of children. A recent study, Children Exposed to Violence: Child Custody and its Effects on Children in Intimate Partner Violence Related Cases in Hungary, provides valuable insights into this issue.
The study highlights several key points:
- Custody and visitation rights can be used as a form of custodial violence, continuing the IPV even after separation.
- Institutions often fail to recognize the abusive dynamics in relationships, treating them as mutual disagreements rather than acknowledging the perpetrator's abusive actions.
- Children exposed to IPV may suffer from various behavioral and emotional problems, which can manifest as difficulties in school, including speech and language issues.
For practitioners, it is essential to incorporate these findings into their practice. Here are some actionable steps:
- Develop a thorough understanding of how IPV can continue through custody and visitation arrangements. This awareness can help in identifying and mitigating ongoing abuse.
- Advocate for institutional changes that recognize the impact of IPV on child custody decisions. Ensure that legal and child welfare systems consider the history of abuse when making custody and visitation arrangements.
- Provide targeted support for children exposed to IPV. This includes speech therapy and other interventions to address the emotional and behavioral issues that may arise from their experiences.
- Encourage further research into the effects of IPV on children and the efficacy of different interventions. Continuous learning and adaptation of practices based on new research findings are vital for improving outcomes.
By integrating these insights into your practice, you can better support children who have been exposed to IPV and contribute to their overall wellbeing and development.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Children Exposed to Violence: Child Custody and its Effects on Children in Intimate Partner Violence Related Cases in Hungary.
