From Survival to Safety: Responding to Domestic Violence Coercive Control in Child Welfare
Child welfare professionals increasingly encounter families impacted by domestic violence that extends beyond physical harm. Coercive control (patterns of perpetration that include psychological abuse, isolation, intimidation, and manipulation) poses significant risks to adult survivors and children yet often remains invisible in traditional assessments. This training equips professionals with the knowledge, skills, and frameworks needed to recognize coercive control, understand its intersections with mental health and substance use, and response in ways that prioritize safety, dignity, and long-term stability for children and families. The purpose of this training is to strengthen practice by shifting responses from crisis-driven, incident-based interventions to holistic, survivor-centered, and child-focused strategies that promote safety and resilience.