Some troubled children are ignored

Children who have watched the most disturbing of domestic episodes — one parent killing another — seem to be on their own.

The Utah Department of Health's Violence and Injury Protection Program studied domestic violence-related deaths from 2000 to 2002.

Children under age 18 were in the victim's or perpetrator's care in 31 of the 49 murders, but fewer than one-third of them were referred to Utah's Division of Child and Family Services.

Of four cases in which a child called police to report the deadly attack, only one received help through DCFS.

In a quarter of the cases, children witnessed or were present during the murder. None were referred to DCFS for support or counseling, according to the report.

"It's tragic," said Teresa Brechlin, an intentional-injury prevention coordinator who spearheaded the study.

Many children have behavioral problems and emotional problems a few years later. One girl who watched her mother kill her father and then commit suicide never received counseling after going to live with relatives. She later started cutting on herself, Brechlin said.

Children basically have two avenues for help — DCFS or the Utah Crime Victim Reparations Fund, which provides money for mental health counseling, among other things.

"What we're finding is that a lot of people apply for some funds through CVR but don't pursue it," Brechlin said.

Referring children to DCFS or calling a victim advocate, she said, is not standard procedure in a murder case but should be.

"The only solution we could come up with is an automatic referral from the the police to DCFS," Brechlin said, adding it would take a "major policy change" for that to happen.

The report recommended law enforcement be further educated about laws pertaining to children who witness domestic violence, and more emphasis should be placed on implementing them.

It also recommends better communication among DCFS, police, prosecutors and Crime Victim Reparations. It suggests DCFS assess children and families who have experienced domestic violence homicide and provide appropriate interventions and follow-up services.

Children's needs get lost in the efforts to protect the victim and prosecute the perpetrator, researchers say. A suddenly single mom often has more pressing needs for her shattered family, including food and shelter.

"Honestly, it comes down to funding and building and modeling healthy relationships for children that they're not getting," Brechlin said. "There's no money in prevention. There just isn't."

---

E-mail: romboy@desnews.com