Ex-Partner Stalking and Children

MERJA LAITINEN is Professor of Social Work and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lapland, Finland. Her research interests are violence and abuse against children and women, social work and inter-professional, empowering practices with children, young people, and their families in vulnerable situations. ANNA NIKUPETERI is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Lapland, Finland, and a licensed social worker. Her research focuses on different sensitive target phenomena in social work, the methodological questions behind their study, and how to develop systems that better serve people in need. HENG CHOON (OLIVER) CHAN is Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Birmingham, UK. Dr. Chan’s research focuses on sexual homicide, sexual offending, stalking behavior, juvenile delinquency, psycho-criminology, and Asian criminology. He is the author of more than 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and eight books.

• List of Figures xvList of Tables xviAbout the Editors xviiAbout the Contributors xxForeword xxivAcknowledgments xxvi1 Why Shed Light on Children in Cases of Ex-Partner Stalking? 1Merja Laitinen, Anna Nikupeteri, and Heng Choon (Oliver) ChanResearch Background 1Definition of Key Concepts 4Structure of the Book 6References 10Part 1 Ex- Partner Stalking as a Multifaceted Phenomenon in Children’s Lives 172 Children as Collateral Victims of Separation/Divorce Stalking 19Walter S. DeKeseredyIntroduction 19Conceptualizing Separation/Divorce 20Definition of Stalking 22The Consequences of Child Exposure to Separation/Divorce Stalking 24What is to be Done? 26Conclusion 28Notes 29References 293 Manifestations of Ex-Partner/Parental Stalking in Children’s and Young People’s Lives 35Merja Laitinen and Anna NikupeteriIntroduction 35Methods 37Manifestations of Stalking and Their Impacts on Children 40Children’s Experiences of Ex-Partner/Parental Stalking 41Impacts of Stalking on Children’s Everyday Lives and Agency 44Children in the Service System and Their Expectations of Being Helped 48Conclusion 51Note 53References 534 The Impacts of Ex-Partner Stalking on Children: A Psychological and Trauma Perspective on Stalking 57Didde Hauch and Ask ElklitIntroduction 57Children and Trauma 58Stalking as a Form of Domestic Violence That Impacts Children’s Well-Being 62The Consequences of Parental Stalking: Findings from the Danish Research 64Living Alongside the Stalked Mother 64Risks for the Children 65Conclusions 67Note 69References 69Part 2 Challenges in Identifying Children’s Needs for Help 735 Factors Preventing Children from Receiving Help: Barriers of the Service System and Gaps in Professional Expertise in the Cases of Ex-Partnership/Parental Stalking and Coercive Control 75Birgitta Vinkka, Anna Nikupeteri, and Merja LaitinenIntroduction 75Data and Methods 77Qualitative Survey 77Data Analysis 79Results and Discussion 79Barriers of the Service System 79Gaps in Expertise 85Conclusion 89Note 92References 936 Challenges in Identifying the Child’s Experiences and Assessing Adverse Consequences of Stalking from the Child’s Perspective: Insights from the Finnish Practice 97Eveliina Nilosaari, Salla Kaikkonen, Tiina Arpiainen, and Minna GomanIntroduction 97Identifying the Social Boundary Conditions for Helping the Child 98Ensuring the Importance of Listening to the Child’s Experiences and Views 100The Importance of Risk Assessment 102Managing the Challenges of the Service and Legal Systems 106Conclusion 110References 111Part 3 Encountering Ex- Partner Stalking from the Child’s Perspective 1137 A Child Perspective on Risk Management for Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking in Sweden 115Susanne Strand, Åsa Källström, and Martina VikanderIntroduction 115How Children are Affected by IPV and Stalking 117Perpetrators Impact on Children 118The Risk Principle: Conducting Risk Assessment for Violence 119Assessing and Managing Risk for IPV and Stalking in Sweden 120The Need Principle: Creating a Risk Management Strategy in Collaboration 122The Responsivity Principle: Victim and Perpetrator Cooperation 123The RNR-Based RISKSAM Model 124Risk Assessment’s Effect on Children 125Risk and Vulnerability Factors for Children 125Protective Factors for Children 125Risk Management and Children 127Conclusion 128References 1298 Best Practices and Working Methods for Children and Young People: The Finnish Experience of Supporting a Child’s Coping 135Eveliina Nilosaari, Salla Kaikkonen, Pirjo Ervasti, and Minna GomanIntroduction 135Supporting the Child’s Safety and Coping 136A Child-Focused Safety Plan 139Home Safety 139Safety of the Immediate Environment 141Self-Regulation of Alertness Levels 143Safe Relationships 144Other Factors to Consider When Drafting a Safety Plan 145Model for Enabling Contact Based on Strong Support 145The Purpose and Content of the Strong Support-Based Contact-Enabling Model 146One-on-One Work with Parties Engaged in or Exposed to Stalking 147Practices Related to Supervised Contact between the Child and the Parent 148Cooperation between Professionals 149Possibilities and Challenges of the Contact-Enabling Model 149Conclusion 151Note 152References 1539 Conclusions and Future Directions: Promoting Children’s and Young People’s Rights in Ex-Partner Stalking 155Merja Laitinen, Anna Nikupeteri, and Heng Choon (Oliver) ChanReferences 159Index 161