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Abstract
There are approximately two million military connected children in the United States (Department of Defense [DoD], 2015a). In order to practice competently with this population, social workers need to understand how the unique characteristics of military life shape their experiences and their access to services. While research has noted the importance of cultural competence to understanding and practice in cases of child sexual abuse cases, there currently are no studies that specifically examine child sexual abuse cases in the cultural context of the military. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative case study is to fill this gap in the literature by describing the processes for responding to child sexual abuse cases in military communities and identifying characteristics of military life that impact the experience of child sexual abuse for military children and families as well as the community response to these cases. Civil-military relations theory is the lens used to examine the coordinated community response. Data were collected in the form of in-depth interviews with 15 experienced military and civilian professionals and supplemented by data from observations and documents. Based on a thematic analysis of the data, the findings of this study suggest that frequent moving of military personnel and families has an impact on the disclosure, reporting, and investigation of child sexual abuse cases as well as the continuity of services and collaboration. The discipline and control that characterizes military culture also impacts the course of these cases. Findings also suggest that the civil-military cultural gap impacts interagency collaboration . Implications for social work practice, education, and future research are discussed.