A framework for the prevention and mitigation of injury from family violence in children of parents with mental illness and substance use problems

Abstract

Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive approach to preventing child homicides that result from family violence, the authors applied Haddon’s three methods of injury prevention to the context of family violence: modification of the agent of injury; identification of control strategies to intervene in the process of injury; and application of the comprehensive Haddon Matrix to explore pre-event, event, and post-event strategies addressing the child, parent, and the environment. Examples of evidence-based strategies were identified to support this approach, and innovative strategies were suggested which build on existing approaches applied to other contexts. Recommendations and implications for research and practice are discussed.