Last week, Safe Passage for Children attended a training hosted by the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW). The session focused on better ways to support families affected by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), featuring a powerful lecture by Dr. Lynette Renner from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Renner explained that IPV is a pattern of behavior used to gain power and control over a partner. It’s shockingly common– about 1 in 3 women worldwide experience IPV in their lifetime. Yet, these numbers likely underestimate the true scope, as many incidents go unreported.
The impact on children is significant. Even if they don’t witness the abuse directly, growing up in a violent home can cause long-term emotional and developmental harm. Studies show that as many as 25% of U.S. children are exposed to IPV, and in at least 30% of cases, IPV and child maltreatment happen in the same home.
Safe Passage’s fatality data echoes this pattern. From 2014-2022, 28% of child fatalities involved both IPV and child abuse. That number jumped to 52% in 2022-2023 and early findings from this past year show a similar trend.
Despite the clear overlap, child protection agencies, domestic violence advocates, and the courts often operate in silos. This disconnect leaves families vulnerable. We need a more coordinated approach– one that puts children’s safety first, supports non-offending caregivers, and holds abusers accountable.