Reframing Child Safety in Michigan: Building Collaboration among Domestic Violence, Family Preservation, and Child Protection Services

Abstract

In recognition of the substantial overlap between domestic violence and child maltreatment, Michigan's domestic violence, family preservation, and child protection programs are working together to enhance the safety of children and their battered mothers. This article discusses the development of Michigan's collaborative efforts, including the identification of obstacles that had prevented cooperation in the past. This article then describes three components of Michigan's collaboration. First, the development and implementation of statewide cross-training: on domestic violence for family preservation and child protection staff, and on family preservation and child abuse and neglect for domestic violence staff. Second, providing intensive family preservation services to battered women and their children by direct referral from domestic violence service programs. Third, the development of CPS policy to support these collaborative training and program initiatives. Finally, this article concludes with some observations about statewide implementation of collaborative work.