TANF workers' responses to battered women and the impact of brief worker training - What survivors report

Author: Saunders, D. G. / Holter, M. C. / Pahl, L. C. / Tolman, R. M. / Kenna, C. E.
Publication: Violence Against Women
Link to Published Abstract
Topics: Domestic Violence Education/Counseling Gender Legislation and Policy Ownership
Keywords: Domestic Abuse Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
Bibliographic information +

The study reports the results of a program to increase the frequency with which Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF, welfare) caseworkers screen women clients for domestic violence. The authors find that TANF caseworkers rarely ask women about domestic abuse. When the topic of domestic abuse is raised (by either the woman or the caseworker) whether or not the woman’s partner has a gun is rarely discussed (15% of cases), whether or not caseworks have been trained in domestic violence assessment.