Mental health, substance use, and injuries among survivors of domestic violence obtaining custody or parenting time orders from family court

Zeoli, April

Friday, March 30, 2012: 10:20 AM-10:40 AM

Yerba Buena Salon 7 (San Francisco Marriott Marquis)

Speaker:
April Zeoli, PhD, MPH, Michigan State University

Authors:
Echo A. Rivera, MA, Michigan State University
Cris M. Sullivan, PhD, MPH, Michigan State University
Sheryl P. Kubiak, PhD, MSW, Michigan State University

Presentation Format:
Poster

Learning Objectives:

1. Articulate mental health problems that survivors of domestic violence may face when leaving an assailant with whom they share children.
2. Describe the implications of types of abuse and mental health problems of survivors on Family Court custody processes and determinations.
Objective 3

Description:
In our presentation, we describe an ongoing longitudinal study investigating the experiences of women survivors of domestic violence who seek custody arrangements from Family Court. We will present data about the extent of survivors’ physical injuries and whether they received (or needed) medical treatment. In addition, we will present data about types of abuse experienced, survivors’ and assailants’ substance abuse and treatment utilization, and other mental health problems of survivors. Implications for Family Court processes will be discussed.