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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for children exposed to violence
26 results foundAuthor: Development Services Group Title: Protective Factors for Populations Served by the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. A Literature Review and Conceptual Framework Summary: This report reviews literature on protective factors for populations served by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). It offers a foundation for the development of a protective factors framework that is applicable to children, youth, and families receiving ACYF-funded services. The report: „« Reviews the literature and evidence pertaining to protective factors for children, youth, and families targeted by ACYF-funded initiatives; and „« Develops a protective factor framework for these in-risk populations that may be used to inform and guide practice and policy. Findings from this report provide information about protective factors for in-risk populations of primary concern to ACYF. Evidence pertaining to protective factors for general populations of children and youth is not reviewed. Therefore, protective factors found in systematic reviews of general child and youth populations may not appear in the studyˇ¦s findings. The review focused on five key population groups who have experienced traumatic or otherwise adverse events and can be considered in-risk. For in-risk children and youth like those served by ACYF, the issue is not so much prevention of a problem, but coping with or transitioning through one or more existing problem situations. For purposes of this review, the following populations are considered separately and collectively and are referred to as in-risk or ACYF populations. Infants, children, and adolescents who are victims of child abuse and neglect; Runaway and homeless youth; Youth in or transitioning out of foster care; Children and youth exposed to domestic violence; and Pregnant and parenting teens. While the developmental stage represented within these in risk populations is an important consideration, the scope and number of studies in this review did not provide sufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the salience of protective factors for different developmental stages. The one exception to this trend was for adolescent populations. A majority of studies examined protective factors among children and youth over the age of 12. In contrast, few studies assessed protective factors for infants, toddlers, or children under 12 years old. Details: Washington, DC: Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Childrenˇ¦s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, 2013. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: http://library.childwelfare.gov/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/Blob/89144.pdf?w=NATIVE('SIMPLE_SRCH%20ph%20is%20''Protective%20Factors%20for%20Populations%20Served%20by%20the%20Administration''')&upp=0&rpp=25&order=native('year/Descend')&r=1&m=1 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://library.childwelfare.gov/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/Blob/89144.pdf?w=NATIVE('SIMPLE_SRCH%20ph%20is%20''Protective%20Factors%20for%20Populations%20Served%20by%20the%20Administration''')&upp=0&rpp=25&order=native('year Shelf Number: 132210 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Child Abuse and Neglect Child Protection (U.S.) Children Exposed to ViolenceRunaways |
Author: Willman, Alys Title: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: What is the World Bank Doing, and What Have We Learned? A Strategic Review Summary: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is the most egregious manifestation of gender inequality. At least 35% of the world's women have experienced some form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and numerous men have been victimized as well. Even in contexts of open warfare, the scale of injuries and deaths due to SGBV far eclipses that seen on the battleground. SGBV involves a range of perpetrators and takes many different forms, from workplace harassment, domestic and intimate partner violence, to sexual violence, female genital mutilation, sex-selective abortion, trafficking, and in the most extreme cases, femicide. The impacts of such violence extend far beyond the individual survivors, affecting households, communities and spanning across generations. They can range from physical injuries, to psychological trauma and loss of livelihood or employment. Economically, survivors of SGBV not only have reduced short-term income potential, they may have immediate and long-term medical expenses or have injuries that reduce long-term income and productivity. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2014 at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Shelf Number: 132737 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFemicideGender-Based ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Shewe, Paul A. Title: Safe From the Start Year 12 Report: 2001 - 2013 Summary: This evaluation report reflects the assessment and service provision activities for 4,350 children predominantly ages 0 to 6 exposed to violence, along with their caregivers, who sought treatment at the 11 Illinois sites participating in the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority's Safe From the Start (SFS) program between July 2001 and June 2013. Treatment services could include individual child and adult therapy, family therapy, family support services, psycho-education, and case management. The objectives of the evaluation were to: - Identify the characteristics of children exposed to violence; - Identify the types of violence that children are exposed to; - Assess the impact of violence on young children; - Identify risk factors for children at the individual, family and community level; - Identify the characteristics and experiences of caregivers of young children exposed to violence; - Document the identification and referral process of children exposed to violence; - Document the types of services children and their caregivers receive; and - Assess the impact of service provision for young children and their caregivers. Details: Chicago: Chicago, IL: Interdsciplinary Center for Research on Violence at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 2013. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2014 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Safe_From_the_Start_Evaluation_Report_050614.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Safe_From_the_Start_Evaluation_Report_050614.pdf Shelf Number: 132774 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren Exposed to ViolenceFamily InterventionsTreatment Programs |
Author: Gilad, Michal Title: The Young and the Helpless: Re-Defining the Term 'Child Victim of Crime' Summary: Children are the most highly victimized segments of our society. The victimization of children is estimated to be the most costly public health and public safety problem today. Despite the urgency of the problem, and the proliferation of literature and policy proposals pertinent to childhood victimization, thus far, no significant efforts have been made to design a coherent definition to the term 'child victim of crime.' Existing definitions fail to account for the distinct developmental needs of children, and the unique effect of crime on children. The result of this lacuna is a colossal failure of our legal system to protect the most vulnerable and impressionable group, our children. It also leads to wasteful and inefficient utilization of public funds, and compromises public safety. This article provides a comprehensive framework, that bridges theory and practice, to develop an innovative evidence-based definition to the term 'child victim of crime'. Implementation of the proposed definition will enable the protection and treatment of millions of children crippled by crime, who currently fall beyond the boundaries of narrow policies designed for adults and unsuitable for children. It will also help improve public safely, and save invaluable public resources. Details: Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania School of Law, 2014. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: U of Penn Law School, Public Law Research Paper No. 14-23 : Accessed September 15, 2014 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Papers.cfm?abstract_id=2467182 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Papers.cfm?abstract_id=2467182 Shelf Number: 133322 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild VictimizationChild Victims (U.S.)Child WitnessesChildren Exposed to Violence |
Author: Campo, Monica Title: Children affected by domestic and family violence: A review of domestic and family violence prevention, early intervention and response services Summary: This report sets out the findings of research into domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention, early intervention and response for children aged 0-8 years. The research was commissioned and funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. It contributes to the development of the knowledge base on DFV prevention, early intervention and response strategies and the needs of children, and supports the implementation of aspects of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children (National Plan) and the NSW Government's It Stops Here: Standing Together to end Domestic and Family Violence in NSW (It Stops Here) strategy. We acknowledge the need for holding perpetrators, not women and children, accountable for DFV, and the necessity of ongoing primary prevention of DFV addressing men, however as the key focus of this report is on prevention, early intervention and response strategies for children, it is beyond the scope of this report to engage in a detailed discussion of perpetrator programs or primary prevention activities targeting men. However, there is a further study, also commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services, and undertaken by a team overseen by Professor Moira Carmody at the University of Western Sydney, that focuses on prevention targeting men and boys. The research had two areas of focus: synthesising the literature on the impacts of DFV on children, and on the evidence for primary prevention and early intervention strategies for children aged 0-8 years; and identifying best practice approaches for primary prevention, early intervention and response for children aged 0-8, and identifying the extent to which these needs are met within existing DVF primary prevention, early intervention, and response approaches in Australia. The research took place in conjunction with two other studies; a study examining DFV prevention initiatives for at-risk women, also conducted by AIFS, and a study that focused on primary prevention initiatives for men and boys. The latter study was conducted by a team at the University of Western Sydney led by Professor Moira Carmody. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2014. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0014/300623/PDF-6_Final_Report_Children_affected.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0014/300623/PDF-6_Final_Report_Children_affected.pdf Shelf Number: 134020 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceEarly Intervention ProgramsFamily Violence (Australia)Violence Against Women |
Author: Roguski, Michael Title: Former Family Violence Perpetrators' Narratives of Change Summary: The voices of perpetrators have largely been absent from research into family violence. In response, the Glenn Inquiry sought to gather the voices and experiences of family violence perpetrators to better understand what motivates positive change, and what can sustain this change to ensure that family violence perpetrator interventions are successful in supporting perpetrators to refrain from engaging in family violence. Kaitiaki was contracted to carry out research with former family violence perpetrators with the specific aim to explore and understand: - possible contribution between early childhood exposure to family violence and adulthood family violence - what led former perpetrators to acknowledge that family violence is unacceptable and choosing to desist from re-offending - factors that may have contributed to delaying acknowledgement that family violence is unacceptable - supports that assisted former perpetrators to change attitudes and behaviours that contributed to family violence - what has led to the individual's sustained dissidence from engaging in family violence - from former perpetrators' perspectives, what systemic changes might be required to prevent family violence Details: Wellington, NZ: Kaitiaki Research and Evaluation, 2014. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2015 at: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/Former_Family_Violence_Perpetrators_Narratives_of_Change.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/Former_Family_Violence_Perpetrators_Narratives_of_Change.pdf Shelf Number: 134440 Keywords: Abusive MenChildren Exposed to ViolenceFamily Violence (New Zealand)Treatment Programs |
Author: Swaner, Rachel Title: Protect, Heal, Thrive: Lessons Learned from the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program Summary: In order to address the high prevalence of children's exposure to violence, eight sites around the country were selected by the Department of Justice for the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program. This national initiative aims: 1) to prevent children's exposure to violence; 2) to mitigate the negative impact of such exposure when it does occur; and 3) to develop knowledge and spread awareness about children's exposure to violence, both within and beyond the chosen pilot sites. The eight demonstration sites were tasked with developing and implementing comprehensive strategies that could include both universal and targeted prevention programs; case management and treatment interventions for children who had been exposed to violence; community awareness and education; and professional training designed to increase the knowledge of children's exposure to violence, trauma-informed care, and the use of proven evidence-based or promising treatment practices. Part of the evaluation of the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program, this report is a cross-site synthesis of implementation strategies, lessons learned, and promising practices in six of the eight sites: Boston, MA; Chippewa Cree Tribe, Rocky Boy's Reservation, MT; Cuyahoga County, OH; Grand Forks, ND; Rosebud Sioux Tribe, SD; and Shelby County, TN. This mixed-method study included three primary data collection methods: 1) multiple site visits involving interviews with key stakeholders and observations of meetings or events at each site; 2) quarterly site implementation reports tracking quantitative program outputs; and 3) document review of important planning documents, program records, and other materials. The Defending Childhood sites made decisions about their strategies using their own needs assessments; discussions among their collaborative bodies; and informal evaluations of implementation feasibility. Program models vary greatly by site; however, general themes and lessons emerged as all of the sites worked to tackle children's exposure to violence. Based on the identified findings and lessons, this report provides 58 distinct recommendations, which sub-divide into recommendations for: (1) other jurisdictions, (2) tribal sites, (3) funders, (4) technical assistance providers, and (5) evaluators who may be studying similar initiatives. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248882.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248882.pdf Shelf Number: 135856 Keywords: Children and Violence Children Exposed to Violence Defending Childhood InitiativeDelinquency Prevention |
Author: Jensen, Elise Title: Building a Safer Tomorrow: A Process Evaluation of Grand Forks County Defending Childhood Initiative Summary: Safer Tomorrows, the Grand Forks Defending Childhood Initiative, was unique in its implementation of universal prevention programming in Grand Forks County schools, extending to all students (pre-kindergarten through high school) in public, private, and rural schools. The programs addressed multiple forms of violence (e.g., bullying, dating violence); strategies for preventing violence; fostering healthy positive relationships with others; and improving personal social-emotional health. Other components of Safer Tomorrows included trauma-informed treatment for children exposed to violence; community awareness strategies tailored to the local sports culture; and training of professionals on topics related to children's exposure to violence and trauma. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Grand_Forks_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Grand_Forks_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136023 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren Exposed to ViolenceDefending Childhood InitiativeDelinquency Prevention |
Author: Swaner, Rachel Title: "We Have the Power to Stop the Violence": A Process Evaluation of Cuyahoga County's Defending Childhood Initiative Summary: As part of the U.S. Attorney General's Defending Childhood Demonstration Program, eight sites around the country were funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office of Violence Against Women to use a collaborative process to develop and implement programming to address children's exposure to violence in their communities. Cuyahoga County, Ohio was chosen as one of these sites, and, since 2010, has received over $3 million in federal funding for this initiative. Led by the Witness/Victim Service Center at Cuyahoga County's Department of Public Safety & Justice Services, the Cuyahoga County Defending Childhood Initiative (CCDCI) created a streamlined screening, assessment, and service system implemented county-wide for children ages 0-18 who have been exposed to violence and are experiencing trauma symptoms. Smaller initiative components included two targeted evidence-based/promising prevention programs (Adults and Children Together; Families and Schools Together) in high-risk neighborhoods; community awareness and education campaigns; and professional training activities. The county-wide system for treating children who have been exposed to violence represented a system-level reform that was unique to the Cuyahoga County Defending Childhood Initiative. The first step in the system focuses on identification and screening. A short, one-page screener was created for children seven years of age and younger (completed by the caregiver) and for children eight years of age and older (completed by the child). The Juvenile Court and the Department of Children and Family Services are the primary screening agencies. If a child screens as having been exposed to violence or trauma, it leads to a referral to a newly created Central Intake and Assessment office for a full assessment, the second step in the system. If the child screens positive on the full assessment, the child is then referred to the final step in the system: appropriate evidence-based treatment services such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Parent Child Interaction Therapy, administered by a CCDCI contracted agency. Although there were barriers and challenges to implementation for each program component, the CCDCI can be potentially viewed as a model for a countywide streamlined screening, assessment, and service system to systematically address children's exposure to violence. The high level of detail and sophistication in many of the strategies in Cuyahoga County could provide other cities with a clear roadmap and guidance for replication. However, it is unknown whether or not Cuyahoga County's strong preexisting service infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and local research capacity may be found in comparable cities. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Cuyahoga.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Cuyahoga.pdf Shelf Number: 136024 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren Exposed to ViolenceDefending Childhood InitiativeDelinquency Prevention |
Author: Ayoub, Lama Hassoun Title: Love One Another and Take Care of Each Other: A Process Evaluation of the Rocky Boy's Children Exposed to Violence Project Summary: As part of the U.S. Attorney General's Defending Childhood Demonstration Program, eight sites around the country were funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office of Violence Against Women to use a collaborative process to develop and implement programming to address children's exposure to violence in their communities. The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana was chosen as one of these sites, and, since 2010, has received nearly $2 million in federal funding for this initiative. Led by the Chippewa Cree Division of Human Services, Rocky Boy's Children Exposed to Violence Project (RBCEVP) is informed by a commitment to culture as prevention; that is, that reconnecting youth and families with the Chippewa Cree language, culture, and traditions will influence children's exposure to violence on the reservation. One of the primary components of the RBCEVP is advocacy and case management. The RBCEVP staff several domestic violence/sexual advocates and child advocates. The advocates provide crisis intervention services, court and medical advocacy, development of safety plans, referrals to treatment and other providers, and can also provide traditional healing ceremonies. The child advocates also work with children in child abuse or neglect cases and build strong relationships with the children they serve. Another major component of the project is community awareness and education. The RBCEVP utilized a variety of approaches to community awareness to spread the message about children's exposure to violence and about the resources that are available to children and families. Community awareness was accomplished through publications and printed materials, radio announcements and advertisements, as well as numerous events such as community summits, family fun nights, and awareness walks. Other components of the project include professional training for local partners as well as prevention work with youth in schools, including leading and supporting student groups in the local schools and holding summer youth camps for at-risk youth. Addressing children's exposure to violence comes with many challenges. In addition, the RBCEVP had many facilitators that helped their work, including a strong history of collaboration among partner agencies and a commitment by tribal elders to the cause. The stories and experiences of the individuals exposed to the RBCEVP indicate that their efforts have had some impact on the community, regardless of whether not that impact can be measured. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Rocky_Boy_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Rocky_Boy_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136163 Keywords: At-Risk YouthChildren and ViolenceChildren Exposed to ViolenceCrisis Intervention |
Author: Australia. Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Title: Domestic violence in Australia Summary: In 2013, the World Health Organisation found that more than one third of all women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and that these findings show it is a 'global public health problem of epidemic proportions requiring urgent action'. In Australia, women are over-represented in intimate partner homicides. 89 women were killed by their current or former partner between 2008-10 which equates to nearly one woman every week. However, in 2015, the statistics to date shows that this number is increasing with two Australian women killed by domestic violence each week. Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) notes that data from the 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey shows that one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence and Australian women are most likely to experience physical and sexual violence in their home at the hands of a male current or ex-partner. The most commonly reported reason for seeking assistance from specialist homelessness services was domestic and family violence. A study of Victorian women demonstrated that domestic violence carries an enormous cost in terms of premature death and disability. As VicHealth stated: 'It is responsible for more preventable ill-health in Victorian women under the age of 45 than any other of the well-known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking'. In addition, more than one million children in Australia are affected by domestic violence which can leave them with serious emotional, psychological, social, behavioural and developmental consequences. The committee acknowledges that the cost of domestic and family violence is great in terms of lives lost, the effects on children, physical and mental health, employment, risk of homelessness and financial security. The economic cost is also substantial with a 2009 study by KPMG finding that violence against women, including domestic violence, cost the nation $13.6 billion and this was expected to reach $15.6 billion in 2021-22 if steps were not taken. The committee heard there are a broad and complex range of social and personal factors that can contribute to the incidence and severity of domestic and family violence. These include gender inequality, social norms and attitudes as well as exposure to violence, social isolation, relationship conflict, income, divorce or separation and the use of alcohol and drugs. The committee is particularly concerned by the statistic that alcohol is involved in up to 65 per cent of family violence incidents reported to police (see chapter 10). The terms of reference referred to the prevalence of domestic violence as it affects vulnerable groups including 'women living with a disability' and 'women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds'. The committee recognises these are not the only vulnerable groups which also include culturally and linguistically diverse, non-English speaking new and emerging migrant communities, people experiencing mental health issues, people in same sex relationships, transgender and intersex persons. The committee recognises that there is no silver bullet to stop domestic and family violence. Rather, a coherent, strategic and long term effort by all levels of governments and the community is required to take effective action. The committee heard the areas which will make a real difference are: - understanding the causes and effects of domestic violence (chapters 1 and 2) - the need for cultural change which involves prevention work to change attitudes and behaviours towards women (chapter 6); - a national framework and ensuring ongoing engagement with stakeholders (chapter 3); - early intervention measures (chapter 7); - effective data collection to ensure programs and policies for women, their children and men are evidence-based (chapters 4 and 5); - coordination of services (chapter 8); - more information sharing between stakeholders (chapter 8); - better legal responses/enforcement to hold perpetrators to account (chapter 9); - sufficient and appropriate crisis services (chapter 8); and - providing long term support to victims of domestic and family violence (chapter 10). Work in these areas is underway and it will take time to see the effects of this work flow through. The long term nature of this challenge is recognised in the National Plan to reduce Violence against Women and their Children which spans the period 2010-2022. Over the course of the inquiry the committee spoke to many people working in the sector, policy and law makers, victims, as well as people in the community who have been appalled at the unacceptable toll domestic and family violence has taken in women and children's lives. The committee was heartened by their view that there is the beginning of a genuine shift in attitudes on violence and also the will to fund, educate and resource the programs, services and victims of domestic and family violence. Details: Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2015. 208p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/resources/senate_finance_and_public_administration_references_committee/56741-domestic_violence_in_australia.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/resources/senate_finance_and_public_administration_references_committee/56741-domestic_violence_in_australia.pdf Shelf Number: 136572 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceHomicidesIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Swaner, Rachel Title: An Outcome Evaluation of the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program Summary: The National Institute of Justice funded the Center for Court Innovation to evaluate the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program. The evaluation produced a series of reports on six of the program demonstration sites, as well as a cross-site report that synthesizes implementation strategies, lessons learned, and recommendations. This outcome evaluation presents the results of three distinct research strategies to assess the impact of local sites' community awareness campaigns, trainings offered to professionals, and treatment and prevention strategies related to children's exposure to violence. Results of the community survey point to potential positive impacts, including increased community understanding of what actions are considered violence at the non-tribal sites, and increased community awareness of the Defending Childhood Initiative and available services at the tribal sites. Results of the professional practices survey indicate that after attending a Defending Childhood-sponsored training, professionals' knowledge about children's exposure to violence, evidence-based practices, and vicarious trauma and self-care increased. Additionally, agencies reported incorporating more trauma-informed practices to treat children who have been exposed to violence. There were no changes in indicators for exposure to violence at school, home, and in the community before and after the implementation of the Defending Childhood Initiative. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Defending%20Childhood%20Outcome%20Evaluation.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Defending%20Childhood%20Outcome%20Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 137200 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren Exposed to ViolenceDefending Childhood InitiativeDelinquency Prevention |
Author: New Zealand. Ministry of Social Development Title: Adult gang members and their children's contact with Ministry of Social Development service lines Summary: The harm inflicted by gangs is a serious issue in New Zealand. We have a complex gang problem that spans social, economic and justice issues. Almost half of the serious offences committed by gang members are family violence-related. A high proportion of gang members' children experience multiple incidents of abuse or neglect. Adult gang members and their children's contact with Ministry of Social Development service lines seeks to quantify the scope and scale of the societal impact of adult gangs in New Zealand as it relates to contact with the Ministry. The report establishes baseline figures on how many known adult gang members, and how many of their children, come into contact with the Ministry of Social Development's service arms, and the types and estimated total costs of contacts that occur. This report, as a first step, gives a much more comprehensive picture of the social costs associated with gang members. There is further opportunity for government agencies to work more collaboratively to address the social harms noted throughout this report. Most notably, there would be an added benefit in incorporating further social sector data to enhance the profile we have of gang families. Key findings Profile of known adult gang members as at July 2014 - Most (86 per cent) of the 3,960 known adult gang members were patched, with the other 14 per cent being prospects. Patched members and prospects were all male. - The two largest adult gangs, the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, accounted for two-thirds of all known adult gang members in New Zealand as at July 2014. - Over three-quarters of adult gang members were Maori, 14 per cent were European and eight per cent were Pacific peoples. - Adult gang members' ages were spread with 20 per cent being in their twenties, 29 per cent in their thirties, 31 per cent in their forties and 17 per cent in their fifties. The average age of gang members was nearly 40 years. Welfare assistance received by gang members - Nine out of every ten gang members have received main benefits. - Ninety-two per cent (3,627) of the total 3,960 known gang members received main benefits from MSD at some stage between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2014. - The 3,627 gang members spent on average 8.9 years on a main benefit (not necessarily continuously). Over half the time was receiving job seeker-related benefits and nearly a quarter of the time was receiving health or disability-related benefits. - Eighteen per cent of all gang members had received a main benefit for a total of over 15 years, whereas 13 per cent received main benefits for two years or less, and eight per cent had not received main benefits at all. - As at the end of 2014, the gang members had been paid an estimated total of $525 million in welfare assistance - The total cost of all main benefits paid to the gang members between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2014 was estimated to be $382m. - Over the same period, an estimated $143m was paid to the gang members in supplementary benefits (e.g. Accommodation Supplement) and ad-hoc payments (e.g. hardship assistance). - In total, an estimated $525m in welfare assistance was paid to the gang members, an average of around $132,000 per person. - Over 7,000 dependent children were included at some point in time in benefit spells with the gang member cohort - Over half (59 per cent) of all gang members had benefit spells that included a total of 7,075 dependent children. These children spent an average of 2.8 years included in benefit - most commonly in either sole parent-related or job seeker-related benefits. - A total of 1,393 children spent more than five years included in benefit with a gang member, including 319 who spent more than 10 years included in benefit. - Nearly 40 per cent of the children of gang members were first included in benefit before their first birthday. - One per cent (32) of the 3,055 gang members who have received a main benefit in the last five years have been prosecuted for welfare fraud. Gang members as the perpetrators of abuse or neglect of children - Over a quarter of adult gang members were recorded by Child, Youth and Family as the alleged perpetrators of abuse or neglect of children - Of the total 3,960 known gang members, 27 per cent (1,056) were recorded by Child, Youth and Family as being the alleged perpetrators of substantiated abuse or neglect of children (noting limitations around the completeness of historical data). - Most commonly this was emotional abuse of children, recorded for 21 per cent of all gang members. Six per cent of gang members were recorded as being the alleged perpetrators of physical abuse of children, and two per cent for the sexual abuse of children. Seven per cent of gang members were recorded as having allegedly neglected children. - The 1,056 gang members were recorded as the alleged perpetrators in a total of 4,944 substantiated findings involving 2,953 distinct children. The relationship of the gang member to the victim in these 4,944 findings was recorded as the parent in 77 per cent of cases, and as the step-parent or mother's partner in 15 per cent of cases. In three per cent of findings, the gang member was recorded as some other relative to the victim, and in two per cent of cases had a non-familial type of relationship to the victim. Gang members' children known to Child, Youth and Family - Analysis was carried out on whether gang members' children had ever had contact with the Care and Protection or Youth Justice service arms of Child, Youth and Family. - Sixty per cent of the 5,890 children of gang members known to Child, Youth and Family have been abused or neglected. - A total of 3,516 children of gang members were recorded as being the victims of abuse or neglect that had been substantiated on investigation by Child, Youth and Family. This is 60 per cent of the total 5,890 known children of gang members. - Of the total 5,890 known children of gang members, 44 per cent were emotionally abused, 28 per cent were neglected, 13 per cent were physically abused and four per cent were sexually abused in terms of substantiated findings. - The alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect of gang member's children was more often recorded as the child's mother than the gang member father. However, caution should be taken with this finding as the relationship was not recorded for 20 per cent of cases. - Nearly a quarter of the children of gang members aged 10 years or older had youth justice involvement with Child, Youth and Family. - Of the total 5,890 known children of gang members, 3,372 were aged 10 years or older at the time of this analysis. Of these 3,372 children, 23 per cent (762) had at least one referral to Child, Youth and Family for a Youth Justice Family Group Conference (FGC). Estimated costs to Child, Youth and Family associated with gang members - The estimated lifetime-to-date total cost to Child, Youth and Family from the adult gang members and their children was at least $189 million. - We estimate the direct and indirect costs of the 3,960 known gang members lifetime-to-date contact with the Child, Youth and Family service arms was in the vicinity of $58m. This is likely to be an under-estimate due to data limitations. Estimated costs cover both the care and protection and youth justice areas. - We estimate that the direct and indirect costs to Child, Youth and Family of the 5,890 known children of gang members was in the vicinity of $131m, making an overall estimated total of $189m. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2016. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2016 at: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/research-on-gangs-and-their-cost/ Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/research-on-gangs-and-their-cost/ Shelf Number: 138168 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren Exposed to ViolenceFamily ViolenceGang ViolenceGangs |
Author: Save the Children Title: Childhood Under Siege: Living and dying in besieged areas of Syria Summary: This report aims to shed light on the terrifying reality of life and death that is being endured by people - particularly children - in besieged areas of Syria, and show the urgent need for the international community to take action. Save the Children and partners have conducted 22 focus groups with 126 mothers, fathers and children living in besieged areas of Syria, as well as 25 extensive interviews with local aid groups, doctors, teachers and individuals. These discussions painted a picture of enormous suffering and injustice, of sick children dying while the medicine they need is on the other side of a checkpoint, and of children forced to eat animal feed or leaves just a few kilometres from warehouses of food. Freezing families unable to get fuel rip the stuffing from mattresses in search of something to burn, while children hide in fear of the shelling and barrel bombs - large metal barrels filled with explosives and dropped indiscriminately - that continue to pound the trapped population. Doctors operate without electricity and basic equipment, and schools move underground in a desperate attempt to keep children safe from the blasts. Details: Washington, DC: Save the Children, 2016. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2016 at: http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/CHILDHOOD%20UNDER%20SEIGE%20REPORT-%20EMBARGOED%20UNTIL%207PM%20EST%20MARCH%208-SM.PDF Year: 2016 Country: Syria URL: http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/CHILDHOOD%20UNDER%20SEIGE%20REPORT-%20EMBARGOED%20UNTIL%207PM%20EST%20MARCH%208-SM.PDF Shelf Number: 138711 Keywords: Child ProtectionChildren Exposed to Violence |
Author: U.S. National Institute of Justice Title: Compendium of Research on Children Exposed to Violence (CEV) 2010-2015 Summary: Introduction to CEV Compendium Children may experience violence in many settings, including at home, in school, online or in neighborhoods, and in many forms, such as bullying or harassment by peers, domestic violence, child maltreatment and community violence. For the purposes of this compendium, studies have been included if they relate to the topic of children exposed to violence broadly defined. Studies funded under NIJ's CEV solicitation are included as well studies funded in other portfolios if they relate to the topic. The Teen Dating Violence studies are also included in the VAWA Compendium, which is publically available. This compendium only includes studies funded from 2010 forward. Where final reports are a vailable in print, a NCJ number will be listed. All NCJ numbers listed herein can be searched through the "Library/Abstracts" link on the National Criminal Justice Reference Center (NCJRS) home page, https ://www.ncjrs.gov. A search by NCJ number will yield an abstract of the final report as well as an Adobe PDF link to a copy of the final report or go to the publisher's website. Final reports may also be found through a search by Author, Title or Subject. The abstracts included in this document are presented as provided by the grantees in their research proposals and have not been edited. Details: Washington, DC: NIJ, 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249940.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249940.pdf Shelf Number: 140022 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceViolence Against ChildrenViolent Crime |
Author: Australian Human Rights Commission Title: Australian study tour report - Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women 2012 Summary: From 10-20 April 2012, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, including its causes and consequences, Ms Rashida Manjoo, undertook a study tour in Australia. The study tour was co-hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Government (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)). The objectives of the study tour included: - gathering information on violence against women, its causes and consequences, from government and non-governmental organisations, including women's organisations; - gathering information on culture and violence against women in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and - identifying strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and its causes, and remedy its consequences. Although the Special Rapporteur had highlighted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities as a particular focus of her visit, the study tour was structured to enable her to meet a cross-section of organisations and individual women. The tour encompassed meetings with the Federal Attorney-General, federal, state and territory government representatives, service providers, business representatives, academics and community representatives, including representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from both urban and rural areas, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women with disability, women of diverse sex, sexuality and/or gender, young women, and older women. In the course of the study tour, 27 roundtables, meetings and site visits were held across four states and territories, including: - Sydney, New South Wales - Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia - Alice Springs, Northern Territory - Melbourne, Victoria - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Key issues Violence against women as a human rights issue - The failure to articulate violence against women as a human rights issue was a common concern in discussions. - The National Plan recognises the right to live safe and free from violence and this should also inform the implementation of the National Plan. - Where governments fail to address the issue in human rights terms it can lead to an inappropriate and inadequate response by government and state agencies with long-term social and economic consequences. -It was frequently noted that discrimination against women is a cause and consequence of violence against women. The risks of 'mainstreaming' and the need to ensure specificity and intersectionality in plans, programs and services addressing violence against women - 'Mainstreaming' violence against women programs results in a formal rather than substantive equality approach to program design and content. - Men's programs can often divert essential resources from critical women's services. - Integrating the specific needs of women with disability, women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or migrant and refugee communities into plans, programs and services aimed at the prevention and redress of violence against women is essential to effective outcomes. - The lack of recognition of the impact of intersectional discrimination based on sex, race, disability, and sex/gender identity on violence against women, often undermines the utility or effectiveness of plans and programs aimed at reducing violence. - The absence of integration of the role and impact of cultural, political, social historical and inter-generational trauma in understanding and addressing violence against women leads to simplistic justifications of violence and one-size-fits-all formulations of programs that lack requisite cultural and psychological training components. Effective program design and service delivery require comprehensive consultation, adequate funding, appropriate coordination and regular monitoring and evaluation - The disconnection between government plans, programs and projects aimed at preventing, addressing and reducing violence against women and the needs of women 'on the ground' is a manifestation of: " an inadequate meaningful and effective consultation with women, particularly in the implementation of the National Plan; - a lack of dedicated, sustainable resources and funding models for both preventative and response based services (which recognise the long-term, protracted nature of the crisis rather than short-term, quick-fix approaches); - a lack of service providers transferring skills and building capacity within communities who are well-positioned to deliver effective services; and - a lack of regular monitoring and evaluation of programs, in particular the lack of independent monitoring and evaluation of the National Plan, and of service providers to inform programs; this is exacerbated by the lack of disaggregated data and analysis. - Although many state governments have developed impressive integrated (cross-departmental) models to address and prevent violence against women, there was a concern around the lack of coordinated implementation of the National Plan, within and across governments. - In the absence of the Council of Australia Governments (COAG) first three-year implementation plan, the execution of the National Plan to date has been ad-hoc and implemented without adequate consultation. - The need for governments across all jurisdictions to demonstrate their leadership to addressing violence against women and fully commit to the effective implementation of the National Plan was repeatedly noted. - There is a need for central focal points within government to address violence against women and ensure cross-departmental or integrated development of programs. For example: - the lack of adequate housing and homelessness arose as a constant issue, especially within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: dire over-crowding exposes children to violence and alcohol/substance abuse and early sexualisation due to lack of privacy; limited opportunities for learning and playing exist; refuges meet a limited short-term need, but are unable to effectively provide follow-up services; - workplace/industrial relations and health departments need to work collaboratively on the long-term impact (physical and emotional) of domestic violence in workplaces; and - the lack of gender-specific correctional facilities gives rise to women prisoners (often victims with a history of domestic violence) being held in maximum security prisons with male prisoners leading to an increased risk of abuse. Impacts of violence against women on children - Although the study tour had a specific focus on women experiencing violence, the immediate and long-term impact of violence on children - both as victims and observers - was a key issue of discussions. Educational initiatives (the development of healthy and respectful relationships) were seen as important, but the urgent need to address impact meant that crisis services were under considerable and increasing pressure and prevention strategies are, consequently, under-resourced. Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2017 at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/UNSRVAW%202012%20Web%20Version.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/UNSRVAW%202012%20Web%20Version.pdf Shelf Number: 145155 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceFamily ViolenceGender-Based ViolenceHuman RightsIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: UNICEF Title: A Child is a child: Protecting children on the move from violence, abuse and exploitation Summary: Millions of children are on the move across international borders - fleeing violence and conflict, disaster or poverty, in pursuit of a better life. Hundreds of thousands move on their own. When they encounter few opportunities to move legally, children resort to dangerous routes and engage smugglers to help them cross borders. Serious gaps in the laws, policies and services meant to protect children on the move further leave them bereft of protection and care. Deprived, unprotected, and often alone, children on the move can become easy prey for traffickers and others who abuse and exploit them. Alarming numbers of children are moving alone Many children move alone and face particularly grave risks. In parts of the world, the number of children moving on their own has skyrocketed. On the dangerous Central Mediterranean Sea passage from North Africa to Europe, 92 per cent of children who arrived in Italy in 2016 and the first two months of 2017 were unaccompanied, up from 75 per cent in 2015. At least 300,000 unaccompanied and separated children moving across borders were registered in 80 countries in 2015-2016 0- a near five-fold increase from 66,000 in 2010-2011. The total number of unaccompanied and separated children on the move worldwide is likely much higher. Specific reasons motivate children to undertake journeys alone. Many seek to reunite with family members already abroad. Others pursue their families' aspirations for this generation to have a better life. Perceptions of the potential benefits of children moving, especially to certain destinations, filter through social networks. Other factors include family breakdown, domestic violence, child marriage and forced conscription. Without safe and legal pathways, children's journeys are rife with risk and exploitation Whatever their motivation, children often find few opportunities to move legally. Family reunification, humanitarian visas, refugee resettlement spots, and work or study visas are out of reach for most. But barriers to legal migration do not stop people from moving, they only push them underground. Wherever families and children desperate to move encounter barriers, smuggling in human beings thrives. Smugglers range from people helping others in need for a fee to organized criminal networks that deliver children into hazardous and exploitative situations. Once children and families place their fates in the hands of smugglers, the transaction can readily take a turn towards abuse or exploitation - especially when children and families incur debts to pay smugglers' fees. Europol estimates that 20 per cent of suspected smugglers on their radar have ties to human trafficking - they help children cross borders, only to sell them into exploitation, sometimes akin to contemporary forms of slavery. Some routes are particularly rife with risks. In a recent International Organization for Migration survey, over three-quarters of 1,600 children aged 14-17 who arrived in Italy via the Central Mediterranean route reported experiences such as being held against their will or being forced to work without pay at some point during their journeys - indications that they may have been trafficked or otherwise exploited. Traffickers and other exploiters thrive especially where state institutions are weak, where organized crime abounds, and also where migrants become stuck and desperate. Details: New York: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 2017. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2017 at: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_A_child_is_a_child_May_2017_EN.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_A_child_is_a_child_May_2017_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 145948 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationChildren Exposed to ViolenceHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingMigrant ChildrenOrganized CrimeUnaccompanied Children |
Author: Kaspiew, Rae Title: Domestic and family violence and parenting: Mixed methods insights into impact and support needs: Final report Summary: The Domestic and Family Violence and Parenting program is an extensive mixed method project that examines the impact of inter-parental conflict (IPC) and domestic and family violence (DFV) on parenting and parent-child relationships. It makes a unique contribution by bringing together evidence on a diversity of Australian populations, life-course stages, and experiences of IPC and DFV. The research captures the experiences and impacts on fathers, mothers, and children at varying ages and stages of development and independence. This has enabled identification of important issues that are shared or differ across gender and family structure. The results illustrate the impacts of IPC and DFV that affect a large number of families, as well as the experiences of those who have undergone highly challenging and traumatic circumstances. The research findings have significant police and practice implications at a range of levels, including: - Women who engage with services against a background of DFV have a number of complex material and psychosocial needs. - If women are not already engaged with a specialist DFV service, then such a referral is usually necessary. - It is likely that women and their children are experiencing ongoing abuse unless contact with the perpetrator has ceased and other safety measures to prevent abuse are available (e.g. being legally permitted to live at an undisclosed address to prevent stalking). - Women may need assistance and referral in relation to financial and housing needs, including being informed about the availability of Financial Wellbeing and Capability services and Financial Counselling. - Women and their children may be experiencing physical and emotional consequences from DFV and abuse and may need long-term therapeutic assistance. - Mothers may need referrals to programs and services that will support the restoration of parenting capacity from a perspective of understanding the dynamics of DFV, including programs that offer services to mothers and children together. Children may also need assistance separately. - Where relationships between fathers and children are being maintained, fathers may need referral to services in relation to parenting. Where this is occurring, the wellbeing and safety of children need to be monitored. - Service providers should be alert to the fact that their services and other types of services and agencies may be used in a pattern of systems abuse. Staff, including legal professionals, should be trained to recognise this and provide appropriate advice and referrals where this is occurring. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2017. 228p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2017 at: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Parenting_Horizons_FINAL.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Parenting_Horizons_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 146480 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceParentingViolence Against Women |
Author: Forda, Julian D. Title: A Study of the Impact of Screening for Poly-victimization in Juvenile Justice Summary: Research over the past decade has identified a sub-group of traumatized youths who have had extensive exposure to multiple types of victimization, interpersonal violence, and loss. These poly-victims are at risk for involvement in delinquency, and if they become involved in juvenile justice they have more severe emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and school problems than other justice-involved youth (Ford, Grasso, Hawke, & Chapman, 2013). Screening for mental health problems by staff or clinicians has become a standard practice in most juvenile justice programs, with the standard practice being universal screening of all youth at the point of system intake. While further referrals for services should be guided by screening results, such referrals are usually at the discretion of the staff/clinician. However, there is no validated tool or procedure to screen for poly-victimization with justice-involved youth. This project therefore was designed to test the feasibility of and validate a poly-victimization screen with youth in juvenile detention facilities. The project's specific aims were as follows: Aim 1: To conduct a quasi-experimental study of the effectiveness of poly-victimization enhanced screening (PVE) in increasing the identification of traumatized juvenile justice-involved youth. Aim 2: To test the effectiveness of PVE in reducing subsequent adverse legal outcomes: (a) number and severity of juvenile offenses, (b) extent of justice involvement. Aim 3: To determine if the outcomes associated with PVE are independent of youths' age, gender, race/ethnicity, and previous legal history. Details: Farmington, CT: University of Connecticut Health Center, 2017. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250994.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250994.pdf Shelf Number: 146797 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren Exposed to ViolenceRepeat VictimizationTrauma |
Author: Kavanaugh, Guadalupe E. Title: Inter-Generational Benefits of Improving Access to Justice for Women: Evidence from Peru Summary: Domestic violence is a major concern in developing countries, with important social, economic and health consequences. However, institutions do not usually address the problems facing women or ethnic and religious minorities. For example, the police do very little to stop domestic violence in rural areas of developing countries. This paper exploits the introduction of Women's Justice Centers (WJCs) in Peru to provide causal estimates on the effects of improving access to justice for women and children. These centers offer a new integrated public service model for women by including medical, psychological and legal support in cases of violence against women. Our empirical approach uses a difference in difference estimation exploiting variation over time and space in the opening of WJC centers together with province-by-year fixed effects. Exploiting administrative data from health providers, district attorney offices and schools, we find that after the opening of these centers, there are important improvements on women's welfare: a large reduction in domestic violence, feminicides and female hospitalizations for assault. Moreover, using geo-coded household surveys we find evidence that the existence of these services increase women's threat points and, therefore, lead to household decisions that are more aligned with their interests. Using administrative data on the universe of schools, we find large gains on human capital for their children: affected children are more likely to enroll, attend school and have better grades in national exams, instead of working for the family. In sum, the evidence in this paper shows that providing access to justice for women can be a powerful tool to reduce domestic violence and increase education of children, suggesting a positive inter-generational benefit. Details: Unpublished paper, 2017. 84p, Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3022670 Year: 2017 Country: Peru URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3022670 Shelf Number: 148860 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceFemicideViolence Against Women |
Author: Forty, Rachel Title: Using family court data to explore links between adverse family experiences and proven youth offending Summary: Risk factors linked to adverse family experiences such as family conflict, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect are some of the strongest predictors of youth crime. This report presents analysis conducted to explore proven youth offending rates of those in contact with the family justice system as a child. It has a specific focus on children that have been named in a public law case, where the local authority has intervened to protect their welfare. Findings from this analysis are associations and do not necessarily represent causal links between contact with the public law system and offending, nor can they tell us about the direction of any relationship. This analysis, conducted by Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Analytical Services, uses linked data, matching extracts from the Police National Computer (PNC) and the family justice case management database (FamilyMan) for the first time. An evidence review of the related international literature was also conducted to place the results within the wider research context. This project is part of a broader programme of work to link large-scale administrative datasets from both within the department and across government, drawing out further insights on the drivers and patterns of offending behaviour to inform policy development and practice. Key findings - Those in contact with the public law system were more likely to offend and commit multiple offences between the ages of 10 and 17 than those of the equivalent age group in the general population. They also, on average, started offending earlier than offenders of the same age in the general population. - Findings from the evidence review suggest that the link between offending and public law may be explained to a large extent by shared risk factors, including family poverty and parental neglect or abuse. - Wider evidence indicates that when children have been taken into local authority care, placement type and instability have been linked to higher offending rates. There is, however, concern about unnecessary criminalisation of children in care homes and this may explain, in part, the higher offending levels for this group. - Results from this analysis suggest that children in contact with the public law system in their early teenage years for the first time were more likely to offend than those who were involved at any other age. - Wider evidence indicates that maltreatment and going into care as a teenager may have a stronger association with youth offending than maltreatment or care only experienced in childhood. Young people's offending may also be affected by the type and instability of the care placement experienced. That said, teenagers can have preexisting issues with offending that may have influenced placement decisions. - Results suggest that for females in their early teenage years, contact with the public law system was linked to a greater increase in likelihood of offending, prolificacy and violent offending than for males. However, young males in contact with the public law system still have a higher likelihood of offending than females of the same age. International research indicates that experience of out-of-home placement can be more strongly linked to offending for females. Details: London; Ministry of Justice, 2017. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary 2017 : Accessed march 8, 2018 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653037/using-family-court-data-to-explore-links-between-adverse.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653037/using-family-court-data-to-explore-links-between-adverse.pdf Shelf Number: 149325 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceFamiliesFamily CourtsFamily ViolenceJuvenile OffendersYoung Adult Offenders |
Author: Backbone Collective Title: Seen and not Heard: Children in the New Zealand Family Court. Part One - Force Summary: Six months ago, Backbone released a report about how women who have experienced violence and abuse in their relationships are treated by the New Zealand Family Court. Our concluding remarks in that report were: 'With over 500 women saying that the New Zealand Family Court makes them and their children less safe, leaves them with multiple crippling health conditions and prevents them from rebuilding their lives (and those of their children) - surely those in authority will listen now?' Since then Backbone has made repeated calls for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Family Court. But sadly, those in authority haven't listened - or if they listened they took no action. We hoped that in writing and releasing the first report the Family Court would be open to the service user feedback we were providing. However, we fear that there has been backlash for some women as they have spoken out about dangerous practices happening in their own cases. Backbone decided to conduct another survey on the Family Court - this time to find out how the Family Court responds to children when they and their mothers have experienced violence and abuse. Through this latest survey we have collected a rich and powerful set of data that is deeply troubling. What we discovered is that children fare very poorly when the Family Court is involved in their lives. Many mothers go to the Family Court for protection upon leaving an abusive partner, some get taken to the Family Court by the abuser, and some are involved in CYFs/MVCOT proceedings. Regardless of their pathway into the court we can now see that the impact on their children is overwhelmingly negative. Not only are the survey results cause for grave concern, but they take the system failures that we identified in our first Family Court report to a whole new level. All of the children in the survey have experienced violence and abuse - by seeing, hearing or knowing about the abuse of their mothers and/or by also being directly physically, sexually and/or psychologically abused. In 95% of cases the abuser was the child/ren's father. We were told about a complex array of trauma these children had suffered from the violence and abuse prior to separation. We were told about the many fears the children had about having contact with their abusive father post separation - with good justification based on the ranges of things mothers described happening at his house. In more than half the cases either the children or their mother told professionals working in the Family Court about the worries they had at the abuser's house but in the majority of cases those worries were not reported accurately to the Court or taken into consideration when care and contact orders were made. Most children are ordered into unsupervised care and contact with the abuser but the range of care arrangements is vast. However, of incredible significance is that when we compared how much time the Family Court is ordering children into care and contact with abusers against how much time the children say they WANT to spend with him - there is a big difference. Children want control over how much time they spend with the abuser and many want no contact at all. We were told that 54% of the children are being forced into care and contact arrangements that they do not want. These 'forced' children are significantly more worried about what happens at the abuser's house (sexual, physical and psychological safety issues) than children who were not forced. Similarly, we looked at the children who refused to attend care and contact visits with their abusive father - they had almost the same levels of worry as the 'forced' children. Therefore, the million-dollar question is why would the Family Court order/force children into the care of abusers with a known history of violence and abuse, when the children are scared of them and have told professionals working in the court that they feel unsafe when alone in the care of their abusive father? It appears that the Family Court is making care and contact orders in the absence of best practice in violence and abuse cases. For example, only 2.2% of mothers told us a risk assessment to determine the risk of dangerousness and lethality had been undertaken in their case. To be making care and contact orders for children who have experienced violence and abuse without any evidence based risk assessment is clear evidence of system failure - the Family Court is out of step with international best practice and the New Zealand Government's position on this: 'The government is committed to reducing family violence, keeping victims safe, and managing perpetrators more effectively so all New Zealanders can live free from violence. We know that identifying risk, intervening earlier and in a more coordinated way is critical to achieving this.'2 In the absence of any risk assessment the Family Court is characterising mothers who raise genuine safety concerns for their children as 'parental alienators'. Both this and our earlier Family Court survey found that professionals in the Family Court use 'parental alienation' or similar terms in nearly half of all cases. Children are not being believed about their experiences of violence an abuse, evidence of it occurring is being disregarded in the court and mothers are being blamed for their children's fears for their safety. Unfortunately, in many cases, the care and contact orders result in terrible health impacts for these children. We were told about a range of health impacts mothers attribute to Family Court proceedings and orders, including physical, psychological, social and behavioural impacts. The list of health impacts mothers detailed are heartbreaking. We found that the health of children of Māori mothers is impacted worse in some areas and this definitely requires further investigation. Backbone also found that the Family Court deems only a very small percentage of abusive men as unsafe to have contact with their children (or step children). Men who are most likely to be designated 'unsafe' by the Family Court are men with a Protection Order against this partner or a previous or subsequent partner, who have been charged with assaulting their child/ren physically or sexually or where the abuser was a step-father. For most of the 63 children involved in these cases the Family Court has ordered that they have no contact at all with the abuser, although some have supervised contact. Surprisingly we found that even though the fathers/step fathers of these 63 children are clearly very dangerous and these children have been exposed to some serious violence and abuse before their parents separated, once they separated and when protected appropriately by the Family Court, these children appear to have had far fewer damaging health impacts that those children whose abusive father was deemed as being 'safe' by the Family Court. Backbone is firmly of the view that the New Zealand Family Court is acting contrary to the legislation which should guide the way we respond to children. The Care of Children Act 2004 says that children MUST be protected from violence. Why then are hundreds of children being ordered by the Family Court directly into violent situations? These children are suffering at the hands of a largely tax payer funded system. These children are being ordered into dangerous situations by the very agencies and institutions that have been set up and funded by the state to protect them. New Zealand now has a new Government and Backbone's 1100 members hope they will see that constitutionally a Royal Commission of Inquiry is the only mechanism that can safely, effectively and fully investigate the practices of the Family Court. There is simply too much to lose by remaining silent on the issue of child safety in New Zealand. We rank the worst in the Western World in terms of violence against women statistics and child abuse and neglect. If we don't start improving the way we respond to these social problems we will only compound the damage done. Details: s.l.: The Collective, 2017. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2018 at:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/5a3171c59140b743f5abbe36/1513189837189/Seen+and+not+Heard+Children+in+the+Family+Court+%281%29.pdf Year: 2017 Country: New Zealand URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/5a3171c59140b743f5abbe36/1513189837189/Seen+and+not+Heard+Children+in+the+Family+Court+%281%29.pdf Shelf Number: 149531 Keywords: Child ProtectionChildren Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily CourtsFamily ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Crockett, Rachel Title: Assessing the Early Impact of Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) in London Summary: Background The failure of agencies to work together effectively to safeguard children and young people has been highlighted in numerous serious case reviews of child protection cases. The Munro Review of Child Protection (2011) recognised the key role of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) in fostering multi agency working and the same year the London Safeguarding Children Board (London SCB) began to roll out Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) in boroughs across the city. There are now 26 MASH operating in London. They follow a model developed by the LSCB in Devon and focus on the point at which child protection referrals are initially received. Aims and methodology A review of the implementation of this method of multi-agency working and its impact on safeguarding services to children was carried out in five London boroughs in order to assess how effectively it is being put into practice. One of the boroughs investigated had a relatively established MASH and the other four boroughs developed their MASH teams over the course of the review allowing the collection of data both pre- and 2 months post implementation. A mixed methods approach was used including: pre implementation MASH site visits, a pre and post implementation snapshot audit of referrals to MASH, a pre and post implementation qualitative interview study of MASH professionals and a post implementation qualitative interview study of referrers to MASH. A number of challenges were encountered in the collection of data from the five boroughs including delays to the implementation of MASH which reduced the time available for data collection and the difficulty of finding times when professionals were free to participate in interviews. These difficulties meant that amendments had to be made to the data requested and collected and to some of the analyses conducted. Findings The findings from this review provide early evidence that the MASH approach has the potential to address some of the issues highlighted in serious case reviews in the past. MASH appears to facilitate more effective multi-agency working and there are signs that the professionals working together in MASH teams were developing their own MASH culture as distinct from single agency cultures. This demonstrates the potential for improvement in partnership communication and information sharing. The benefits of this improvement are already being felt in some of the boroughs under review. One of the most significant findings was the reduction in turnaround time of referrals to safeguarding services at all levels of risk (RAG (Red, Amber, Green) Ratings). The mean turnaround time for cases initially assessed as level 3 (high or complex needs) nearly halved from two and a half days to slightly over one and a quarter days and the turnaround time for referrals initially assessed as level 2 (low to vulnerable) halved from more than four and a half days to less than two and half days. Professionals interviewed pre implementation had questions about how MASH Professionals interviewed pre implementation had questions about how MASH would work, but in general people felt it would bring benefits to safeguarding. It was expected that this form of multiagency working would lead to a better mutual understanding of the various roles involved in child protection and that faster information sharing would lead to more effective decision-making. Professionals interviewed post implementation were generally positive about MASH working and the impact on services to children. There was evidence that more children were receiving services appropriate to their needs following referral. The main areas of concern arose from heavy workloads, poor staffing levels and frustrations with inadequate information technology resources. The introduction of MASH has necessitated structural changes and a shift in cultural attitudes. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that at such an early stage in their development, some boroughs perceived themselves as being more operational than others and the site visits found a degree of variation in the ways they met the five core elements of the MASH model. These core elements of the London MASH were based on elements of the first MASH which was set up in Devon. Both MASH professionals and those referring to MASH recognised that further work was needed to educate professionals (such as those responsible for making safeguarding children referrals) about the role and responsibilities of MASH. Many professionals outside of the MASH team appeared to be unfamiliar with the MASH process which could result in a reluctance to provide information when requested, particularly information that was regarded as confidential. Furthermore, some non social care or police professionals within the MASH teams felt somewhat marginalised and complained of a failure to fully utilise their skills and experience, feeling that they were only used to provide information and did not take part in discussions or make decisions about children. Referrers to MASH complained about the failure to communicate feedback about the outcome of referrals. Details: London: University of Greenwich; London Councils, 2013. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 23, 2018 at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachel_Crockett/publication/263341817_Assessing_the_Early_Impact_of_Multi_Agency_Safeguarding_Hubs_MASH_in_London/links/00b7d53a99f7eed709000000/Assessing-the-Early-Impact-of-Multi-Agency-Safeguarding-Hubs-MASH-in-London.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachel_Crockett/publication/263341817_Assessing_the_Early_Impact_of_Multi_Agency_Safeguarding_Hubs_MASH_in_London/links/00b7d53a99f7eed709000000/Assessing-the-Early-Impact-of-Multi-Agency- Shelf Number: 149557 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Protection Children Exposed to ViolenceInteragency Cooperation Partnerships |
Author: Hsiao, Celia Title: Reducing violence in South Africa: From research to action Summary: Preventing and reducing violence in South Africa must be a national priority if the country is to realise the development goals set by the National Development Plan 2030. Violence exacts an enormous cost - both directly and indirectly - and will undermine and hamper efforts to reduce poverty and inequality and to grow the economy. In December 2017 South Africa joined 15 Pathfinding countries under the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. Being a Pathfinding country commits South Africa to realise the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 16.2: to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children. It also commits the country to ensuring that all sectors - government, civil society and the private sector - work together to end violence against children. But ending violence experienced by children requires us also to end violence against women. Not only is this important because it will reduce children's exposure to violence, but also because violence against women is a human rights violation that impacts negatively on the society in which children are raised. Details: Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2017. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief, Accessed April 9, 2018 at: https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/plicybrief108-v2.pdf Year: 2017 Country: South Africa URL: https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/plicybrief108-v2.pdf Shelf Number: 149735 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceCrime and DevelopmentCrime PreventionEvidence-Based ProgramsSocioeconomic Conditions and CrimeViolenceViolent CrimeViolent Prevention |
Author: Taylor, Annabel Title: Impact of the experience of domestic and family violence on children: What does the literature have to say? Summary: The report summarises key findings from meta-analyses of the literature related to the impact of exposure to domestic and family violence on children and young people. It summarises Australian and international findings on the impact on physical health, psychology and behaviour, and the parent-child relationship, and also looks at research into recognising children's agency and strengths. One finding is that, though children exposed to domestic and family violence can be affected in many ways, there are also a significant number of children who show resilience and competency in the face of violence. Details: Mackay QLD: Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, 2019. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2019 at: https://noviolence.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Impact-of-the-experience-of-domestic-and-family-violence-on-children.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://noviolence.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Impact-of-the-experience-of-domestic-and-family-violence-on-children.pdf Shelf Number: 155058 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic Violence Family Violence |
Author: Koppensteiner, Martin Foureaux Title: Violence and Human Capital Investments Summary: In this paper, we investigate the effect of student exposure to homicides on their educational performance and human capital investments. Combining a number of large geo-referenced administrative datasets from Brazil, we estimate the effect of exposure to homicides in the public way on these outcomes. Using within-school and within-corridor estimates, we show that violence in the surroundings of schools has a detrimental effect on school attendance and on standardised test scores in math and Portuguese language and increases dropout rates. We construct measures of student exposure to homicides on their way from home to school and find that exposure on the school path increases dropout rates substantially. Exceptionally rich data on student- and parent-reported aspirations and attitudes towards education allow us to explore the channels underlying these effects. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), 2019. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 12240: Accessed May 4, 2019 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp12240.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Brazil URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp12240.pdf Shelf Number: 155623 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceEducation and Crime Homicides Human Capital Violent Crime |