Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience

Children who experience family violence are at heightened risk for a multitude of physical, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Fortunately, research has revealed several evidence-based ways to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population across child-serving systems. This manuscript highlights the collaborative efforts in Arkansas to pair policy changes designed to support children impacted by family violence with investments in supports necessary to ensure the success of policy changes. Specifically, this manuscript highlights initiatives designed to support children with histories of trauma exposure, including family violence, across key child-serving systems including child welfare, behavioral health, and early care and education. More specifically, three trauma-informed initiatives are described that paired policy changes with implementation supports: child welfare system training in trauma-informed care; expulsion prevention efforts for children ages birth to 5, particularly those with experiences of trauma; and Medicaid-related infant mental health certification requirements intended to emphasize evidence-based mental health care services. Processes, successes, and lessons learned are discussed.