Advocacy for children and young people exposed to domestic violence

Abstract

This chapter reports on the evaluation of a children’s independent domestic violence advocacy service (KIDVA) in the North West of England which worked with children and young people aged between 11 and 25. The evaluation of the KIDVA provision used multiple methods to report on the processes involved in developing and delivering this unique provision and examined the benefits of the service for children and young people. We begin with a brief outline of policy and practice issues related to children and young people who experience domestic violence and then describe the methods used to capture the experiences of children and young people and evaluate how advocacy was implemented. The evaluation data illustrate the range of services provided under the banner of advocacy and the role children and young people played in shaping the KIDVA services. Their involvement appeared crucial to the success of the service. The evaluation found that the current funding model for children and young people’s advocacy should move away from a spot purchase approach, so as to ensure sustained and long term availability and relationship building.