ICDVP Child Witnesses 3

Question 1

When interviewing a child witness to domestic violence, the ICDVP-recommended approach prioritizes:

Accepted Answer

Open-ended, non-suggestive questioning techniques

Answer

Forensic best practices require open-ended, non-suggestive questions to obtain reliable disclosures and avoid contaminating the child's account.

Question 2

Illinois law requires courts to consider a parent's history of domestic violence when making custody determinations primarily because:

Accepted Answer

Exposure to domestic violence endangers children's safety and well-being

Answer

Illinois courts weigh domestic violence history because children's safety and healthy development are directly jeopardized by exposure to an abusive household.

Question 3

A child witness discloses abuse only to a trusted teacher and not to a parent. The teacher's most appropriate immediate response is:

Accepted Answer

Fulfill mandatory reporting obligations and provide support to the child

Answer

Mandatory reporters must report the disclosure to DCFS and should reassure and support the child without making promises of secrecy.

Question 4

The concept of 'secondary traumatic stress' in DV advocates working with child witnesses refers to:

Accepted Answer

Trauma symptoms the advocate develops from indirect exposure to clients' trauma

Answer

Secondary traumatic stress occurs when helpers absorb trauma-related distress through repeated exposure to survivors' experiences.

Question 5

Which statement about children's memory and testimony regarding witnessed violence is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Children's accounts are generally reliable when gathered with non-suggestive techniques

Answer

Research shows children can provide reliable accounts of witnessed events when interviewed with evidence-based, non-leading techniques.

(ICDVP) Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals Practice Test

(ICDVP) Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals Practice Test

ICDVP Child Witnesses 3