CD-CP Case Examples

Children Witnessing Domestic Violence

Two children, two and eight years old, witnessed a domestic dispute in which a woman was stabbed by her boyfriend and retaliated by hitting him in the head with a metal bar. When the officers arrived, they found the children curled up on the couch, splattered with blood. Police arrested the boyfriend and the mother was brought to the hospital by ambulance. The children were brought to the police station. The police, concerned about issues of both physical safety and emotional security of the children, summoned clinicians and child protective services. The eight-year-old girl began to cry as she told clinicians about watching the bloody fight. The two-year-old, distraught and overwhelmed, reported to the clinician that she "had blood on her" which she feared would not come off. The clinicians worked with the children, while police and child protective services worked closely together to assure the safety of the children. Clinicians immediately notified domestic violence advocates who helped the mother through the court proceedings. Both the children and the mother continued to receive clinical services and support.

Building Trust

A mother and her two children, ages two and ten, witnessed the violent murder of their stepfather; he was shot through the door of their apartment. The police supervisor, a CD-CP Fellow, offered a referral for mental health services and provided the mother with his beeper number. The sergeant accepted daily calls from the mother during which he provided her with information regarding the family's protection from reprisal and reminded her each time of the clinical support available to her and her children. With the ongoing support of the sergeant, the mother was finally able to accept the mental health referral for herself and her children. After intensive treatment, both children are functioning well in school and the mother has been able to relocate her family to a safer neighborhood.

Keeping a Family Together

A woman was stabbed to death by her estranged boyfriend in the presence of her eight children. CD-CP clinicians responded to the scene, provided acute clinical assessments of the children, and consulted with relatives and police as to how to tell the children their mother was dead. Police conducted follow up visits to the family, providing practical recommendations for the security of the home and information regarding the status of the prosecution. The efforts of the police, mental health, child welfare, and home-based support professionals, coordinated by the CD-CP team, allowed the children to remain together rather than be dispersed to multiple foster homes. As a result of the CD-CP intervention, several children and family members received clinical services and support.

For additional information, call the NCCEV at 203-785-7047 or email nccev@info.med.yale.edu