Henry County, Ohio, Child Custody and Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

In 2010, local Henry County courts and community agencies involved in child custody decisions and the response to domestic violence completed a Safety and Accountability Audit. Joined by representatives of Praxis International and the National Custody Project the team conducted interviews, observed practices, and analyzed case records to examine how the response to the intersection of domestic violence and child custody was organized and coordinated, and with what implications for the safety and well-being of children and victim parents. The Safety Audit identified a range of gaps and related recommendations that Henry County began grappling with while this account of its work was being completed.