Black T., Trocmé N., Fallon B., & MacLaurin B. (2008). The Canadian child welfare system response to exposure to domestic violence investigations. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32(3), 393-404, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.10.002.
The objective of this study was to examine the Canadian child welfare system's response to substantiated child maltreatment investigations involving exposure to domestic violence. Investigations showed that the child welfare response to children’s exposure to domestic violence depended on whether it occurred alone or with another form of maltreatment, with children facing both being far more likely to be placed in care. Although exposure to domestic violence was substantiated often, it rarely led to placement on its own, suggesting the system often concludes these families don’t need child protection services.