“Every Day It Takes a Piece of You Away”: Experiences of Grief and Loss Among Abused Mothers Involved With Child Protective Services

Abstract

Child protection authorities are becoming routinely involved in cases of domestic violence, sometimes removing children from the home. Abused mothers can experience profound grief and loss, especially when their children are removed. This qualitative study focused on the impact of child protective services on mothers because of concerns of domestic violence. Experiences of loss were complex, and included the loss associated with removal of their children, an inability to mother their children, and their identity as mothers. Participants also noted serious health concerns. These themes, along with implications for abused mothers and their children and child protection professionals, are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• child exposure to intimate partner violence
• intimate partner violence
• child protection
• child welfare
• mothering
• loss
• grief

Notes

The study was generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research (ACCFCR).

1. We use the term domestic violence (versus intimate partner violence) when referring to child protection policy in Alberta as this is the preferred term by policymakers in the province.

2. Cases in which children's exposure to domestic violence is the primary or secondary reason for investigation.

3. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and the Northwest Territories.

4. The mandate for CPS in Alberta is to intervene with children age 18 years and younger.

5. CPS in Alberta broadly defines domestic violence as including any violence that occurs between family members—not only intimate partners.