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Inclusion of certain aspects of animal-human relationships (AHR), such as animal abuse and animal-assisted interventions, can enhance child welfare practice and there are resources available to promote such inclusion. However, there is little knowledge of whether this is being accomplished. This study sought to fill this gap by conducting a national survey of state public child welfare agencies to examine AHR in child protective services practice, their assessment tools, and cross-reporting policies.
In America, 63% of households have companion animals (American Pet Products Association [APPA], 2007), and more than 70% of U.S. households with minor children have companion animals (APPA, 2006), thus making child protective services (CPS) workers likely to encounter families with animals. Operating from a strengths-, ecological-, and/or family-centered perspective suggests that the presence of companion animals, and their meaning for relevant family members, should be taken into consideration in doing professional CPS work. Animal and child welfare experts have advocated for the inclusion of animals, especially assessment for animal abuse, in child welfare practice (e.g., Arkow, 2007; Boat, 1999; Garbarino, 1999; Risley-Curtiss, 2009; Zilney 6c Zilney, 2005), and guidelines for doing so have been developed (see Arkow, 2003; Randour & Davidson, 2008). Currently the extent of this integration is unknown. This study's purpose was to examine the extent that animal-human relationships (AHR) are included in CPS practice by surveying state public child welfare agencies regarding (1) inquiry of animals in the home; (2) assessment for animal abuse; (3) knowledge of the cooccurrence of animal abuse, child maltreatment, and intimate partner violence (IPV); (4) the existence of cross-reporting of abuse; and (5) information on animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in the training of CPS workers, their assessment tools, and policies.
Literature Review
Animals as Family
Popular media polls, as well academic research, show that the overwhelming majority of humans with companion animals consider them family members. For example, in a study by Risley-Curtiss, Holley, and Wolf (2006) more than 97% of participants said a "pet is a member of my family" (p. 262). Through these familial relationships, companion animals often become sources of social support and can reduce reactivity to stressful situations (Allen, Blascovich, & Mendes, 2002). Since companion animals seem to be sensitive to family moods they may also mirror family tension and...