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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for children and violence
44 results foundAuthor: DeBoard-Lucas, Renee Lynn Title: Children's Understanding of Intimate Partner Violence Summary: There is a clear connection between exposure to interparental aggression and children’s own future episodes of violent behavior. What is significantly less understood is why this pattern develops. The current study used quantitative and semi-structured methods to identify factors that shape children’s understanding of intimate partner violence. Understanding violence was defined as including causal knowledge (Why does violence occur?) and beliefs about the acceptability of intimate partner violence. Factors proposed to predict children’s causal attributions included mothers’ perceived causes of interparental aggression and exposure to different forms of violence, including interparental, parent-child, and neighborhood aggression. Perceived causes of intimate partner violence, mothers’ beliefs about the acceptability of this type of violence, and children’s empathy and perspective taking skills were expected to predict children’s beliefs about the acceptability of intimate partner violence. Mothers’ acceptability beliefs also were expected to moderate the relationship between exposure to violence and children’s own acceptability beliefs. Results suggested that mothers’ and children’s causal attributions were not related and that violence exposure did not predict their causal understanding of intimate partner violence. When children perceived aggression to be committed in self-defense, they found it more acceptable. Few direct relationships were found between violence exposure and children’s acceptability beliefs; however, mothers’ beliefs about aggression significantly moderated these relationships. Findings highlight the importance of context in shaping children’s understanding of intimate partner violence. Details: Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University, 2011. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 3, 2012 at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1127&context=dissertations_mu Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1127&context=dissertations_mu Shelf Number: 124805 Keywords: Children and ViolenceCycle of ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America Title: Violence Against Children in the Caribbean Region Regional Assessment Summary: Worldwide, there has been increasing concern regarding levels of violence generally and in particular the effects of violence on children, our most vulnerable citizens. Violence not only leads to the obvious signs of physical harm when children are victims, but often to long term psychological consequences, whether the children are direct victims, observers of violence or its aftermath, or have family or friends who are victims. Younger children may show regression to more immature behaviour. Long term effects may include the children themselves demonstrating antisocial behaviour and aggression, and poor school achievement with the resultant reduced employability or earning potential. There have been a number of efforts to understand and address the problem of violence related to children: including studies to determine causes and effects, interventions to reduce different aspects of the problem, and legislation, policy and advocacy towards the protection of children from various forms of violence. In the Caribbean, however, these actions have often been uncoordinated and there has been a lack of interdisciplinary feedback on the usefulness and effectiveness of different approaches. This report is an attempt to look at the issue of violence and children in the Caribbean region in a holistic way across many disciplines, and to try to establish the status of this problem and efforts towards its solution. Details: Panama: Child Protection Section UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2006. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2012 at: http://www.uwi.edu/ccdc/downloads/Violence_against_children.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Central America URL: http://www.uwi.edu/ccdc/downloads/Violence_against_children.pdf Shelf Number: 125338 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren and ViolenceChildren, Crimes Against (Caribbean)Exposure to ViolenceVictims of Violence |
Author: Pilnik, Lisa Title: Victimization and Trauma Experienced by Children and Youth: Implications for Legal Advocates Summary: The Safe Start Center, ABA Center on Children and the Law, and the Child and Family Policy Associates recently released a new resource, Victimization and Trauma Experienced by Children and Youth: Implications for Legal Advocates. In this resource, you'll find: Information about the prevalence and impact of victimization and exposure to violence; Practice tips for juvenile defenders, children's attorneys and GALs, judges, and CASAs; Explanations of traumatic stress symptoms and trauma-related assessments and treatments; Descriptions of promising local and state initiatives to address trauma; and, Guidance on policy reforms and other considerations for trauma-informed advocacy. Details: North Bethesda, MD: Safe Start Center, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. Source: Moving From Evidence to Action: The Safe Start Center Series on Children Exposed to Violence, Issue Brief #7: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 126509 Keywords: Child WelfareChild WitnessesChildren and ViolenceExposure to ViolenceJuvenile VictimsVictimizationViolence |
Author: Coy, Maddy Title: Picking Up the Pieces: Domestic Violence and Child Contact Summary: Whilst a minority (one in ten) of parental separations reach family courts in England and Wales as a means of settling disputes over the residence of, and contact with, children (ONS, 2008), domestic violence is the most common welfare issue raised in proceedings (Hunt & Macleod, 2008). Concern about how the family justice system responds to children having contact with fathers who have abused their mothers is not new. Specialist women’s support services have long highlighted that it is problematic to presume that the relationship between a child and abusive parent is unaffected by violence, and that contact proceedings are frequently invoked by perpetrators as a means of seeking to continue to control women and children. A wide range of studies has shown that judicial decisions about contact which fail to take safety into account endanger women and children physically and emotionally (e.g. Radford et al, 1997; Mullender et al, 2002; Harrison, 2008; Thiara, 2010; Thiara & Gill, 2012), and in some cases where courts have allowed unsupervised contact with violent men, children have been killed (Saunders, 2004). Yet a presumption that contact is always in the best interests of the child, combined with an increasing focus on fathers’ rights, casts long shadows over legal judgements, policy frameworks and individual cases. The research on which this report is based examines child contact proceedings as a legal process, to identify if, how and when domestic violence was presented before the court and then factored into judicial decision making. Drawing on in-depth interviews with women who had recently completed, or were currently undergoing, proceedings and a survey of legal professionals, the project built on an existing rich body of knowledge about child contact to highlight specific points where private law Children Act proceedings can enable women to protect themselves and their children, or facilitate perpetrators’ attempts to continue power and control. The recommendations we make highlight where the current legal process could be revised in order to make a significant difference to women and children’s safety and wellbeing. We also point to promising practices that could be integrated into systems and processes. A second aim of the research was to investigate the financial impact of involvement in proceedings for women who may have already been impoverished through financial abuse by their ex-partners and/or the expense of leaving their homes. Access to justice through family law remedies – whether in response to proceedings initiated by violent ex-partners or as a possibility for women to create safety buffers through the protection of court orders – is fundamentally dependent on available and sufficient resources. This is especially topical since reductions in central Government funding for legal aid will mean a reduction in the availability of legal aid for family law cases from April 2013, creating a further barrier to and burden on women. For women from minority communities, who may have fewer socio-economic and social resources, the diminished availability of legal aid has even more acute implications (Thiara & Gill, 2012). While explicitly asking about funding for legal representation, we also explored wider financial impacts here; to what extent preparing for court, attending hearings and facilitating contact affected women’s employment and income. This report is structured through the journey of contact proceedings, beginning from histories of violence and separation and ending with the aftermath. First we present a brief overview of the current evidence base on domestic violence and child contact to contextualise our own research. Details: London: Rights of Women and Child and Woman Abuse STudies Unit (London Metropolitan University), 2012. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2012 at: http://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/pdfs/Policy/Picking_Up_the_Pieces_Report_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/pdfs/Policy/Picking_Up_the_Pieces_Report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 126944 Keywords: Child ProtectionChildren and ViolenceDomestic Violence (U.K.)Family Violence |
Author: Bernard van leer Foundation Title: Community Violence and Young Children: Making Space for Hope Summary: Since 2007, one of my responsibilities at the Bernard van Leer Foundation has been supporting advocacy for young kids in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. During this period we have had some success – new policy, a growing coalition of advocates, and a fourfold increase in public childcare provision. But also during this period, Ciudad Juárez recorded a homicide rate about three times that of 13th-century Holland, and well above many current war zones. So, while we are pleased to see progress, it is hard to fully celebrate. Kids are safer in childcare and parents are less stressed, but they are both still scared. The last issue of Early Childhood Matters was devoted to the topic of domestic violence. This time we turn to the effects of community violence on young children. As the authors in this journal confirm, we know that just growing up around this kind of persistent violence changes the architecture of children’s brains, obstructs their ability to learn and literally makes them sick. For example: • Shonkoff and Fox explain how prolonged exposure to fear in early childhood can impair the development of the pre-frontal cortex and future executive function (page 7). • Guerra et al. describe how exposure can be linked to both mental health problems in young children and physical health such as asthma (pages 8–9). • Sharkey finds significant effects on Chicago preschoolers’ cognition when a homicide had occurred in the last week within 1500 feet of a child’s home (pages 10–12). Complementing these scientific accounts, Nashieli Ramirez’s description from Ciudad Juárez (page 13) looks at the problem through the eyes of young children themselves. She puts a human face on how little people experience these big problems, in the same way that the interview with Beth by Hermílio Santos gives a moving account from a mother’s point of view (page 17). These are important reminders of how young children’s lives are affected by violence on a day-to-day basis even though they themselves are not directly involved. In this vein, Robert Muggah and Helen Mostue explore the development of an index that can give voices like these a more systematic treatment, arguing that such an index would be a better barometer for success than simply counting shootings and killings (page 26). One idea that all of the authors in this issue of Early Childhood Matters seem to share is that violence is contagious – something exemplified by the mapping exercise shared in Elizabeth Ward’s article about Jamaica (page 33). The more we see it in the community, the more we see it at home, and vice versa. But, as Susan Lee points out in an article on her experience with the Advancement Project in Los Angeles, in places with exceptionally high levels of community violence we need to stabilise the situation in order to make families’ lives easier. In her words, ‘before we can expect improved educational and health outcomes, the goal must be to achieve a basic level of safety so that children can learn and thrive.’ What I find most compelling in this series of articles, however, is the sense of hope. Hidden between layers of text describing the gravity of the problem, authors in this journal have shown that there are things that we can do to reduce community violence and to mitigate the effects of this violence on young children. We can get away from what Susan Lee denominates ‘a lethal absence of hope’ and we have results to prove it. • Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan explains how the Scottish police took the lead on a violence prevention strategy that has led to a 50% reduction in gang violence in Strathclyde (page 36). • Yvonne Bezerra de Mello describes a harm reduction strategy for children who have been witness to violence, implemented through 150 schools in Rio de Janeiro, going into detail about the successful recuperation of three young children who experienced extreme levels of post-traumatic stress (page 40). • Susan Lee writes about a programme run by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that has helped reduce homicides by 33% in some of the most violent neighbourhoods of Los Angeles (page 44). • Alicia Lieberman shows evidence from randomised controlled trials of how parent–child psychotherapy has improved child and maternal mental health after exposure to violence, evidence which has informed a Child Development – Community Policing Programme implemented in 16 us sites (page 48). • Charles Ransford recounts the experience of Cure Violence, which has achieved reductions of between 16% and 56% in shootings and killings in Chicago and Baltimore and is now being replicated in South Africa and Iraq (page 54). • Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero of Cali discusses VallenPaz, a strategy that returned 400 families who had been violently displaced to their homes and prevented any further displacement despite the ongoing conflict in the area (page 59). These stories and others like them are the ones that I think we need to help people remember. Explaining the extraordinary impacts on a young child’s brain of just growing up around this kind of violence may get us an extra five minutes of a policymaker’s time, but unless we can offer some semblance of tangible hope then the hard facts will eventually fall on deaf ears. Details: The Hague: Bernard van leer Foundation, 2012. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Early Childhood Matters: Accessed July 1, 2013 at: http://bernardvanleer.org/Community-violence-and-young-children-making-space-for-hope Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://bernardvanleer.org/Community-violence-and-young-children-making-space-for-hope Shelf Number: 129222 Keywords: Children and ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: U.S. Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Title: Report of the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Summary: Exposure to violence is a national crisis that affects approximately two out of every three of our children. Of the 76 million children currently residing in the United States, an estimated 46 million can expect to have their lives touched by violence, crime, abuse, and psychological trauma this year. In 1979, U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond declared violence a public health crisis of the highest priority, and yet 33 years later that crisis remains. Whether the violence occurs in children’s homes, neighborhoods, schools, playgrounds or playing fields, locker rooms, places of worship, shelters, streets, or in juvenile detention centers, the exposure of children to violence is a uniquely traumatic experience that has the potential to profoundly derail the child’s security, health, happiness, and ability to grow and learn — with effects lasting well into adulthood. Exposure to violence in any form harms children, and different forms of violence have different negative impacts. Sexual abuse places children at high risk for serious and chronic health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicidality, eating dis-orders, sleep disorders, substance abuse, and deviant sexual behavior. Sexually abused children often become hypervigilant about the possibility of future sexual violation, experience feelings of betrayal by the adults who failed to care for and protect them. Physical abuse puts children at high risk for lifelong problems with medical illness, PTSD, suicidality, eating disorders, substance abuse, and deviant sexual behavior. Physically abused children are at heightened risk for cognitive and developmental impairments, which can lead to violent behavior as a form of self-protection and control. These children often feel powerless when faced with physical intimidation, threats, or conflict and may compensate by becoming isolated (through truancy or hiding) or aggressive (by bullying or joining gangs for protection). Physically abused children are at risk for significant impairment in memory processing and problem solving and for developing defensive behaviors that lead to consistent avoidance of intimacy. Intimate partner violence within families puts children at high risk for severe and potentially lifelong problems with physical health, mental health, and school and peer relationships as well as for disruptive behavior. Witnessing or living with domestic or intimate partner violence often burdens children with a sense of loss or profound guilt and shame because of their mistaken assumption that they should have intervened or prevented the violence or, tragically, that they caused the violence. They frequently castigate themselves for having failed in what they assume to be their duty to protect a parent or sibling(s) from being harmed, for not having taken the place of their horribly injured or killed family member, or for having caused the offender to be violent. Children exposed to intimate partner violence often experience a sense of terror and dread that they will lose an essential caregiver through permanent injury or death. They also fear losing their relationship with the offending parent, who may be removed from the home, incarcerated, or even executed. Children will mistakenly blame themselves for having caused the batterer to be violent. If no one identifies these children and helps them heal and recover, they may bring this uncertainty, fear, grief, anger, shame, and sense of betrayal into all of their important relationships for the rest of their lives. Community violence in neighborhoods can result in children witnessing assaults and even killings of family members, peers, trusted adults, innocent bystanders, and perpetrators of violence. Violence in the community can prevent children from feeling safe in their own schools and neighborhoods. Violence and ensuing psychological trauma can lead children to adopt an attitude of hypervigilance, to become experts at detecting threat or perceived threat — never able to let down their guard in order to be ready for the next outbreak of violence. They may come to believe that violence is “normal,” that violence is “here to stay,” and that relationships are too fragile to trust because one never knows when violence will take the life of a friend or loved one. They may turn to gangs or criminal activities to prevent others from viewing them as weak and to counteract feelings of despair and powerlessness, perpetuating the cycle of violence and increasing their risk of incarceration. They are also at risk for becoming victims of intimate partner violence in adolescence and in adulthood. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. 256p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf Shelf Number: 129237 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChildren and ViolenceChildren, Crime AgainstCommunity ViolenceFamily ViolenceViolenceViolence Against Children (U.S.) |
Author: Koppensteiner, Martin Foureaux Title: The Effect of Violence on Birth Outcomes: Evidence from Homicides in Rural Brazil Summary: This paper uses microdata from Brazilian vital statistics natality and mortality data between 2000 and 2010 to estimate the impact of in-utero exposure to local violence -measured by homicide rates- on birth outcomes. Focusing on small communities, where it is more plausible that local homicide rates reflect actual exposure to violence, the analysis shows that exposure to violence during pregnancy leads to deterioration in birth outcomes: one extra homicide during the first trimester of pregnancy increases the probability of low birthweight by around 6 percent. Results are particularly pronounced among children of poorly educated mothers, implying that violence compounds the disadvantage that these children already suffer as a result of their households' lower socioeconomic status. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, Institutions for Development, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: IDB Working Paper Series No. IDB-WP-416: Accessed November 1, 2013 at: http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=37872082 Year: 2013 Country: Brazil URL: http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=37872082 Shelf Number: 131582 Keywords: Children and ViolenceHomicidesSocioeconomic StatusViolent Crime (Brazil) |
Author: Houghton, Claire Title: A Review of the Increased Use of CCTV and Video-Surveillance for Crime Prevention Purposes in Europe Summary: This report describes the evolution of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video surveillance from a simple system involving a camera and a video recorder to the sophisticated digital, multi-camera systems, integrating fully functional cameras capable of tracking a person's movements across public space. Most European cities now have extensive CCTV surveillance in private and semi-public space, particularly in the transport and retail sectors, but many countries are following the UK's example and deploying open street CCTV for the purposes of crime prevention in their major cities. While the growth of open CCTV in the Nordic countries has been limited, in other countries, particularly France, Italy and the Netherlands many cities now have open street CCTV systems. The regulation of CCTV in Europe is primarily through the application of data protection law. This has been shown to be uneven in its scope and application. Moreover, CCTV sits uneasily with the Data Protection concept of consent. Consent is implied in the public operation of CCTV and data subjects have not given it freely. Moreover, data is being processed without subject's knowledge and this suggests that regulatory requirements need to be strengthened and extended. Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2009. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2014 at: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2009/apr/ep-study-norris-cctv-video-surveillance.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2009/apr/ep-study-norris-cctv-video-surveillance.pdf Shelf Number: 131825 Keywords: Children and ViolenceClosed-Circuit TelevisionCrime PreventionDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceVideo Surveillance |
Author: Morgan, David Title: Promising Practices to Help Children and Youth who have been Exposed to Violence Summary: Children and youth in challenging contexts, both in Canada and overseas, face common threats to their mental health that can be better addressed when researchers, service providers, practitioners, and communities pool their knowledge, resources, and lessons learned of what works best for improving young peoples' mental health. If these groups continue to work within their occupational and disciplinary boundaries, they will fail to mobilize the full potential of the evidence documented by researchers, the practice-related knowledge of service providers and practitioners, and the local knowledge of communities. The CYCC Network was developed in response to this need and in the summer of 2013, released three thematic knowledge synthesis reports: violence, technology, and youth engagement. Violence against children and youth, in particular, is a complex public health problem that affects communities worldwide, and can lead to potentially devastating consequences for young people and their families if left unaddressed. To tackle this problem, a coordinated effort to share and document best practices for addressing young peoples' mental health needs is urgently needed. Without opportunities to share this knowledge, there is a risk of delivering potentially ineffective interventions that are difficult for young people and their families to access or relate to. Additionally, poorly-researched or evaluated interventions often ignore the structural barriers (e.g. limited access to mental health practitioners, stigma, and a lack of resources to evaluate programs) that shape young peoples' mental health and wellbeing. In light of these challenges, the knowledge synthesis report on violence explores the effective strategies used among children and youth in challenging contexts who have been exposed to violence, in order to help them overcome trauma and feel safe in their families, schools, and communities. Recent years have seen an explosion of new, innovative programs that focus on improving the lives of vulnerable young people through the use of technology. The internet has opened doors of opportunity to reach these children and youth in more effective ways with the information and support they need to lead healthy lives. Today, mobile phones are one of the most prolific mediums through which interventions can be delivered. While the rapid developments made in technology present many opportunities, the expansion of this field has not been accompanied by a comparable level of research and evaluation. There is a need for more evidence to support the use of technology as a means of intervention with children and youth in challenging contexts. In response to this gap, the knowledge synthesis report on technology reviews innovations in technology that are known to be effective in helping children and youth in the most challenging of contexts, to nurture resilience, prevent mental health problems, and build a special place for themselves in the collective life of their communities. Finally, there has been an increasing recognition that youth engagement is central to any best practice or intervention that involves young people. Valuing youth engagement puts the focus on the positive contributions that youth make to programs and their effectiveness. Programs and services that acknowledge the independence and agency of at-risk youth provide opportunity for young people to give feedback on the relevance and appropriateness of the programs that serve them. Additionally, youth engagement can promote a sense of empowerment on an individual level, and facilitate healthy connections between young people and their community. Despite these benefits, however, there remains a gap in our understanding of the implications of engaging vulnerable youth. In order to better understand and optimize youth engagement, different strategies need to be explored that identify their appropriateness for youth living in different challenging contexts, representing all genders and age categories. With these gaps in mind, the knowledge synthesis report on youth engagement explores strategies that have been shown to work in engaging children and youth in challenging contexts as full members of their communities and in ending feelings of disempowerment and abandonment. Ultimately, the three knowledge synthesis reports are interconnected in ways that can help to form a comprehensive strategy for researchers, practitioners, service providers, and communities to address the needs of vulnerable children and youth in Canada and overseas. For example, lessons learned from the violence report can inform programs and interventions that use technology to address the mental health needs of young people in challenging contexts. Similarly, the many innovative examples and lessons learned highlighted in the technology report may be used to inform professionals working with children and youth exposed to violence, through the design and delivery of technology-based programming that is safe, accessible and effective for youth in different contexts. In turn, the youth engagement report showcases important work that can be used to inform both the violence and technology reports with best practices for engaging youth in the design and implementation of programs so that interventions are relevant, meaningful and effective to children and youth in challenging contexts. Details: Halifax, NS: CYCC Network, 2013. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2014 at: http://www.cyccnetwork.org/files/Violence%20Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://www.cyccnetwork.org/files/Violence%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 131835 Keywords: At-Risk YouthChildren and ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceViolence against ChildrenViolent CrimeVulnerable Children |
Author: Guy, Jonathon Title: Early Intervention in Domestic Violence and Abuse Summary: Domestic Violence and Abuse is the first in a series of reports on different aspects of Early Intervention. We chose to focus on domestic violence and abuse in our first report because it is an important cause of long-term problems for children, families and communities. The damaging impacts of witnessing domestic violence and abuse on children can cast a long shadow with inter-generational consequences sometimes leading to a repetition of abusive and violent behaviours. Moreover, domestic violence and abuse is not confined to a small section of the population but highly prevalent with 30% of women having experienced any domestic abuse since the age of 16 and 1.2% of people aged 16-59 having experienced partner abuse involving severe force in the last year. It also comes with immense costs - it is estimated that the overall costs to society of domestic violence and abuse stands at over L15.7bn. There must be more effective ways of preventing domestic violence and abuse and protecting children and families from its long-term effects. The Early Intervention Foundation's (EIF) focus is on the flow of evidence between research, practice and policy, with the goal of driving improvements to children's outcomes and breaking intergenerational patterns of disadvantage and dysfunction. Our approach is characterised by three roles: to assess the evidence of what works, to advise on the best Early Intervention approaches and to advocate for a shift in the culture from late to early intervention. A pre-emptive, early approach not only has the potential to improve the lives of children and families, but also represents an intelligent approach to spending - with possible long term savings as a result. A particular focus of the EIF is on ensuring children and young people have the bedrock of social and emotional skills, resilience and capability they need to function as effective, responsible adults with good levels of autonomy and well-being. In that context Early Intervention refers to the programmes and practices provided to babies, children, young people and their families to help achieve these outcomes. Many such Early Intervention services focus on supporting parenting as a key driver of success. EIF also provides advice to all interested in Early Intervention including practitioners, Local Councils, Schools, Police and Crime Commissioners, Clinical Commissioning Groups, the voluntary sector and Government on the causes of poor outcomes for children and young people and what has been shown to work to tackle these. We are working initially with 20 Pioneering Early Intervention Places including 18 Local Councils and 2 Police and Crime Commissioners across the country to help make Early Intervention a reality on the ground. Domestic violence and abuse is an issue that has been recurrently highlighted by local commissioners as an issue of serious concern and one which requires improved services. Many practitioners are looking at how to identify at risk groups in the population, better equip local workforces and provide more integrated services that respond to domestic violence and abuse alongside other issues that families may be facing. This report is not intended as a systematic and exhaustive review of 'What Works' in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. The purpose of this report is to assess the extent to which evidence on domestic violence and abuse indicates Early Intervention Foundation that it can be an important cause of long term problems for children and families, and the role of Early Intervention in pre-empting this. The report combines our 3 'A's - assessment, advice and advocacy. It assesses a suite of preventative programmes for children and young people, Early Intervention initiatives for families at risk of domestic violence and abuse and perpetrator programmes. It reflects the feedback we have had from our 20 Pioneering Places and wider research to provide advice for local commissioners and others. It goes on to advocate for specific actions and tangible recommendations for government and other agencies. Details: London: Early Intervention Foundation, 2014. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2014 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 131987 Keywords: Children and ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceInterventionsViolence Against Women |
Author: Bhairam, Robin Title: "Clark Kent drives my bus" - a study of safety and risk in public spaces through the narratives of young people Summary: This research explores the complexities of young peoples' personal understanding and experiences of violence and safety in public spaces. The research itself is constructed through establishing the interrelationships between the theories, practices and policies of safety and young people. Working through these links has facilitated an original framework for understanding by accessing data using young people's own experiences and views. There is a significant body of published research exploring young people as offenders but a real absence, especially in the UK literature, of young people as potential victims of violent crime. In particular children's own conceptualisations of risk, safety and victimisation are little understood. This research explores young people's thoughts on exactly this. The empirical research draws upon qualitative data derived from semi-structured interviews with 21 young people aged from 10 to 18 years old taken from a socioeconomically mixed area of London. The findings show that irrespective of age, the young people have constructed a very real understanding of safety and risk. Children, even at a young age have developed a myriad of personal safety strategies that involve awareness of teenagers, locations and individuals who they perceive as guardians. However, these strategies emerge without meaningful reference to police or government policy and are largely embedded in a world far away from those in reach of official community safety agents. This research suggests that there needs to be a move away from portraying young people as 'folk devils' who sit at the heart of many 'moral panics' towards involving them as significant actors and contributors to social policy making by giving them a voice on the political stage. Details: Portsmouth, UK: University of Portsmouth, 2012. 204p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 22, 2014 at: http://eprints.port.ac.uk/11967/1/Robin_Bhairam_Thesis.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://eprints.port.ac.uk/11967/1/Robin_Bhairam_Thesis.pdf Shelf Number: 132732 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren, Crime AgainstMoral PanicsPersonal SafetyPublic Space (U.K.)Victims of CrimeViolent CrimeYoung Adults |
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: Schultz, Dana Title: National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches: Assessing Program Implementation Summary: Children's exposure to violence (CEV) - including direct child maltreatment, witnessing domestic violence, and witnessing community and school violence - can have serious consequences, including a variety of psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Fortunately, research has shown that interventions for CEV can substantially improve children's chances of future social and psychological well-being. Safe Start Promising Approaches (SSPA) was the second phase of a planned four-phase initiative focusing on preventing and reducing the impact of CEV, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). OJJDP selected 15 program sites across the country that proposed a range of intervention approaches, focused on multiple types of violence, included variations in ages and age-appropriate practices, and would be implemented in different settings. Each site participated in a national evaluation, conducted by the RAND Corporation. The evaluation design involved three components: a process evaluation, an evaluation of training, and an outcomes evaluation. This report presents the results of the first two evaluations. It describes the program and community settings, interventions, and implementations of the 15 SSPA programs for the first two years of implementation (through March 2009), as well as the training evaluation results. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010. 292p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2010/RAND_TR750.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2010/RAND_TR750.pdf Shelf Number: 134021 Keywords: Children and Violence Community-Based Initiatives (U.S.) Community-Based Programs Delinquency Prevention Family Interventions Safe Start Promising Approaches |
Author: McLanahan, Sara Title: An Epidemiological Study of Children Exposure to Violence in the Fragile Families Study Summary: A large body of research shows that children raised in low-income families are exposed to more violence than children raised in high-income families, including neighborhood violence, domestic violence and parental violence, also referred to as 'harsh parenting.' Violence, in turn, is known to be associated with children's mental health and human capital development. This report summarizes what we have learned from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study about the prevalence, predictors and consequences of children's exposure to 1) neighborhood violence, 2) intimate partner violence (IPV), and 3) harsh parenting. By identifying violence as a threat to the public's mental health and recognizing the role of mental health challenges in increasing the risk for both victimization and perpetration of violence, the need to address violence in its varied forms becomes clear. Below are some of the over-arching action steps listed in the report that should be considered. Funding more research with diverse populations into the causes of violence Supporting policies to help vulnerable populations access mental health services, prevent violence, and improve cultural competency of mental health care providers Training and hiring more qualified people from vulnerable communities to be counselors and educators Coordinating care across different sectors -- including housing, education and workforce -- to reflect the interconnections between types of violence and the common stressors that increase risk Details: Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2014/rwjf415091/subassets/rwjf415091_1 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2014/rwjf415091/subassets/rwjf415091_1 Shelf Number: 134169 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren and ViolenceChildren Exposed to Violence (U.S.)Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceNeighborhoods and Crime |
Author: U.S. Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American IndianAlaska Native Children Exposed to Violence Title: Ending Violence so Children Can Thrive Summary: Day in and day out, despite the tremendous efforts of tribal1 governments and community members, many of them hindered by insufficient funding, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children suffer exposure to violence at rates higher than any other race in the United States. The immediate and long term effects of this exposure to violence includes increased rates of altered neurological development, poor physical and mental health, poor school performance, substance abuse, and overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system. This chronic exposure to violence often leads to toxic stress reactions and severe trauma; which is compounded by historical trauma. Sadly, AI/AN children experience posttraumatic stress disorder at the same rate as veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and triple the rate of the general population.2 With the convergence of exceptionally high crime rates, jurisdictional limitations, vastly under-resourced programs, and poverty, service providers and policy makers should assume that all AI/AN children have been exposed to violence. Through hearings and Listening Sessions over the course of 2013-14, the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence3 examined the current epidemic of violence and evaluated suggestions for preventing violence and alleviating its impact on AI/AN children. This report presents the Advisory Committee's policy recommendations that are intended to serve as a blueprint for preventing AI/ AN children's exposure to violence and for mitigating the negative effects experienced by Al/AN children exposed to violence across the United States and throughout Indian country. The primary focus of the report is the thirty-one wide-ranging findings and recommendations that emerged from hearings and Listening Sessions. The Advisory Committee also examines the reports of the Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence in 20124 and the Indian Law and Order Commission (ILOC) in 2013,5 and incorporates some of the recommendations from these important reports that most strongly impact AI/AN children exposed to violence. This report contains five chapters: (1) "Building a Strong Foundation"; (2) "Promoting Well-Being for American Indian and Alaska Native Children in the Home"; (3) "Promoting Well-Being for American Indian and Alaska Native Children in the Community"; (4) "Creating a Juvenile Justice System that Focuses on Prevention, Treatment and Healing"; and (5) "Empowering Alaska Tribes,6 Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Attorney General's Office, 2014. 258p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 8, 2014 at: http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf Shelf Number: 134286 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect (U.S.)Child MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceIndians of North AmericaIndigenous Peoples |
Author: Houghton, Claire Title: Voice Against Violence: Young people's experiences of domestic abuse policy-making in Scotland Summary: This study, undertaken from a feminist and children's rights perspective, emerged from the growing body of literature on children's experiences of domestic abuse, the challenges of childhood studies and the opportunities arising out of the changed socio-political landscape of Scotland since devolution. It examines, with children and young people experiencing domestic abuse, their own solutions to improve help for children and young people, their perspectives on real and tokenistic participation in Scotland's policy-making and, their self-defined ethical and participatory standards to make sustained participation possible. Combining innovation in methodology and co-production of new knowledge with children and young people, the researcher contributes the three E's of Enjoyment, Empowerment and Emancipation to ethical principles focussing on safety, and recommends a new ethical approach to consent that recognises children's agency in their own lives and in deciding their own best interests. A Participatory Action Research Process over five years with 9 of the 48 young people, resulted in young people themselves becoming change agents to begin to tackle the issues that emerged from the wider study's qualitative first part, also action-orientated through children's political activism. For example, the lack of help, awareness and stigma attached to domestic abuse was tackled through their production of a public online awareness raising campaign and film; their critique of the previously most revered of services, Women's Aid specialist support, resulted in a multi-million fund and their analysis became the conditions of grant; the lack of respect for and inclusion of young people in policy-making they challenged through defining their terms of engagement which are explored here, sanctioned and legitimised by their emerging 'critical friendship' with Ministers. Unusually the young people participating in the study made a significant impact on Scotland's domestic abuse policy and practice, as well as repositioning children and young people in the democratic process. Details: Coventry, UK: University of Warwick, 2013. 400p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 23, 2015 at: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/59089/1/WRAP_THESIS_Houghton_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/59089/1/WRAP_THESIS_Houghton_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 131823 Keywords: Children and Violence Domestic ViolenceFamily Violence (Scotland) |
Author: Wlodarczyk, Joanna Title: National Survey of Child and Youth Victimization in Poland. Research Report. Summary: 1. Key findings - 71% of teenagers (11 to 17-year-olds) have experienced at least one form of victimization. - More than half of the respondents have experienced peer and sibling victimization, which is the most common category of victimization. The most frequent forms of peer and sibling victimization are peer or sibling assault (41%) and emotional bullying (28%). - More than one in three (34%) teenagers has been abused by known adults. Every fifth young person has experienced psychological abuse by adults (22%), and nearly the same proportion have been physically abused (21%). - 27% of teenagers have fallen victim to conventional crime. The largest proportion of young people have experienced vandalism (21%), while robbery and assault with a weapon have been much less common (8% and 5%, respectively). - 18% of the respondents have witnessed violence at home. - 9% have experienced at least one form of noncontact sexual victimization in most cases these were the less severe forms of sexual abuse: verbal sexual harassment (5,3%) and online grooming (5,1%); 6% of teenagers have fallen victim to at least one form of contact sexual victimization. - 6% of children have experienced neglect. - One in ten teenagers is a poly-victim which means that he or she has experienced 6 or more forms of victimization. Details: Warsaw: Fundacja Dzieci Niczyje (Nobody's Children Foundation), 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2015 at: http://www.canee.net/files/National_Survey_of_Child_and_Youth_Victimization_in_Poland_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Poland URL: http://www.canee.net/files/National_Survey_of_Child_and_Youth_Victimization_in_Poland_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 134996 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect (Poland)Child MaltreatmentChildren and ViolenceChildren, Crimes AgainstRepeat VictimizationVictims of Crime |
Author: Centre for Innovative Justice Title: Opportunities for Early Intervention: Bringing perpetrators of family violence into view Summary: This Report turns the spotlight on perpetrators of family violence. In doing so, it calls for earlier and more proactive intervention - explaining that, while family violence has finally come to attention as a systemic wrong in need of a National Plan, a significant gap exists in our collective response. Equally, while victims of family violence must remain our priority, these victims will also remain at risk unless we step back and widen our gaze. In other words, until we adjust the lens and bring those who use violence and coercion more clearly into view - until we intervene at the source of the problem - the cycle of this violence will simply roll on. This may manifest in assaults against the same or subsequent partners, in the damaging effects we know are experienced by children, in the behaviour of adolescents, or in the tragic escalation that can devastate an entire community. Either way, it will manifest as core business in our courts and as an ongoing drain on our economic and social wellbeing. As one practitioner told the CIJ: "You can't put violent men in a corner and expect them to change. All you'll achieve is another partner, another victim, somewhere down the track." The aim of this Report, then, is to help to bring violent individuals out of this corner and under the scrutiny of a systemic response. In doing so it makes no apologies for its gendered analysis as, while men can be victims of family violence too, this does not change the fact that structural inequality and widespread community attitudes perpetuate violence against women, as well as rigid gendered roles that entrap women and men alike. As many commentators have pointed out, however, men are often written out of the analysis of gendered violence, rendered invisible by descriptions of the violence as if it is a separate entity, rather than something used by an individual with whom the system might intervene. Meanwhile, though "perpetrator accountability" has importantly been flagged as a priority in the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and subsequent Second Action Plan, our understandable focus on responding to increasing demand has prevented the majority of policy responses from engaging in detail with what this concept might actually mean. Despite its epidemic proportions and despite the value of public health analogies, family violence does not sweep invisibly through communities, leaving victims inexplicably in its wake. Instead, family violence consists of controlling, coercive, abusive or violent behavior used by identifiable individuals - ones with whom our legal system can and must engage. What's more, similar threads run through the trajectories of this behaviour that reveal how this engagement might occur. Details: Melbourne: Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, 2015. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2015 at: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/r3qx75qh2913.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: This Report turns the spotlight on perpetrators of family violence. Shelf Number: 135009 Keywords: Abusive MenChildren and ViolenceCycle of ViolenceFamily Violence (Australia)Intimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Guy, Jonathon Title: Early Intervention in Domestic Violence and Abuse - Full report Summary: Domestic Violence and Abuse is the first in a series of reports on different aspects of Early Intervention. We chose to focus on domestic violence and abuse in our first report because it is an important cause of long-term problems for children, families and communities. The damaging impacts of witnessing domestic violence and abuse on children can cast a long shadow with inter generational consequences sometimes leading to a repetition of abusive and violent behaviours. Moreover, domestic violence and abuse is not confined to a small section of the population but highly prevalent with 30% of women having experienced any domestic abuse since the age of 16 and 1.2% of people aged 16-59 having experienced partner abuse involving severe force in the last year. It also comes with immense costs - it is estimated that the overall costs to society of domestic violence and abuse stands at over L15.7bn. There must be more effective ways of preventing domestic violence and abuse and protecting children and families from its long-term effects. Details: London: Early Intervention Foundation, 2014. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135278 Keywords: Abused WivesChildren and ViolenceDomestic Violence (U.K.)Family ViolenceViolence Against Women |
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: Through the NOVA Door: A Process Evaluation of Shelby 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. Shelby County, Tennessee was chosen as one of these sites, and, since 2010, has received over $3 million in federal funding for this initiative. Led by the Shelby County Office of Early Childhood and Youth, the Shelby County Defending Childhood Initiative is known as the Network for Overcoming Violence and Abuse ("NOVA"). The program serves children ages 0-17 who have directly or indirectly been exposed to violence and initially targeted three apartment complexes in the Frayser and Hickory Hill neighborhoods in Memphis. These locations were chosen because of their high concentrations of violent crime and poverty. A major component of the initiative was to place staff in the three target apartment complexes, where staff conducted outreach to children and families in need, and, through case management and advocacy, referred and connected families to necessary services for therapeutic treatment and to organizations that could help them meet other basic needs (e.g., rental assistance). NOVA also created a service delivery model based on a "No Wrong Door" approach where at-risk children or children who have been exposed to violence and their parents in the targeted neighborhoods could receive treatment services as well as support for taking care of their basic needs no matter where their needs are identified. Other components of NOVA's programming included holding two community awareness campaigns. One targeted the professional community-law enforcement, treatment providers, and others who work with children and youth-to let them know about the services available through NOVA. A separate community awareness campaign was created for community members, particularly residents in the targeted apartment complexes and consisted of fairs and community cafes where apartment residents would learn about different topics, such as child abuse prevention and nurturing parenting. In addition, NOVA partnered with the University of Memphis' Department of Social Work to train professionals who work with children on children's exposure to violence. Finally, NOVA contracted with external consultants to create a shared data management system to be used as a trauma surveillance, referral and case management tool by NOVA agencies and others after the Defending Childhood grant ends. NOVA created many opportunities for both children and adults of Shelby County who have been affected by violence, and the collaboration among NOVA's many partner agencies has been one of the initiative's notable successes. However, the strategy of place-based targeted outreach and case management, although successful in helping families in need, may have shifted the focus of the initiative away from addressing children's exposure to violence to a focus on the associated problems of concentrated poverty and housing instability found in the targeted apartment complexes. A place-based approach may be more appropriate for initiatives that address poverty than for ones that have a specific focus on children's exposure to violence. Despite this caution arising from the research on the NOVA program, evidence is insufficient to conclude definitively that a place-based model for addressing exposure to violence could not be strengthened. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Shelby_County.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Shelby_County.pdf Shelf Number: 135969 Keywords: At Risk YouthChildren and ViolenceVictims of ViolenceViolence PreventionViolent Crime |
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: Tackling Urban Inequalities: A Process Evaluation of the Boston Defending Childhood Initiative Summary: The Boston Defending Childhood Initiative centralized the importance of racial/social justice and health equity during planning and implementation in nearly every approach for addressing children's exposure to violence. Specific strategies included funding community health centers to provide treatment for children exposed to violence; funding local community organizations to implement family nurturing programs; creating a youth-led and produced web series to raise awareness about violence; and engaging professionals (e.g., through "learning communities") in long-term training on topics related to trauma-informed care and evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Boston_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Boston_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136025 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren Exposured 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: 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: Porteous, David Title: The Development of Specialist Support Services for Young People who have Offended and who have also been Victims of Crime, Abuse and/or Violence: Final Report Summary: Introduction 1. This report was commissioned to inform the development of support services for young people who have offended and who have prior experience of victimisation, including but not limited to mental, physical and sexual abuse. In 2014, the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime secured $400,000 from the Ministry of Justice Victim's Fund to invest in these services which will be delivered through two London Resettlement Consortia (LRC) areas, each comprising six Youth Offending Services (YOSs), one in North East London, the other in South London. 2. The research involved an online survey and follow up interviews with a sub-sample of YOS professionals, a review of existing research and knowledge on the matter and interviews with seven key informants with specialist knowledge of the issues addressed. Background 3. Existing evidence from academic and applied policy research shows that children and young people are more likely to be victims than offenders and more likely to be victimised than adults, albeit that these comparisons are not straightforward. Furthermore, children and young people known to have offended are more likely to have been a victim of crime, violence and or abuse than young people with no recorded offending history. Many will have emotional and mental health needs and vulnerabilities linked to such traumatic events and when these occur alongside or in the context of other forms of disadvantage and victimisation, young people are particularly vulnerable and find it more difficult to recover from the experience. 4. Children and young people in the youth justice system also have significantly greater speech, language and learning difficulties relative to the general population, are disproportionately likely to have a diagnosed learning disability and to have had a seriously disrupted education. Neurobiological research suggests that traumatic events in early childhood can have a detrimental impact on a range of cognitive and verbal communication skills and may find it difficult to engage productively with treatments that require a certain level of abstract reasoning such as cognitive behavioural therapy. 5. The prevalence and nature of mental health problems relating to crime, violence and abuse varies by ethnicity and gender. Young black males are over-represented in the criminal justice system and in terms of referrals to mental health services made via the CJS. Young women involved in group-related offending are significantly more likely to be victims of sexual assault. 6. There has been growing awareness and recognition of these issues at a policy level in recent times as indicated by the commissioning of the services to be developed in the LRC areas. At the same time, there is concern at a national level about the real term cuts in funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the implications for mainstream service provision. Details: London: Middlesex University, 2015. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/Final%20Report_May18th2015_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/Final%20Report_May18th2015_0.pdf Shelf Number: 137823 Keywords: Children and ViolenceChildren, Crimes AgainstJuvenile OffendersVictim ServicesVictimizationVictims of Crime |
Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Violence, Children and Organized Crime Summary: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presents a regional report on violence and other violations of rights to which children and adolescents fall victim in contexts in which organized crime and violent or criminal groups operate. The report identifies the leading factors that make the Americas the region with the highest rates of violence in the world, and focuses primarily on analyzing how children and adolescents are affected by different forms of violence in their communities, especially acts committed by members of armed groups but also by agents of the State. Conditions of insecurity and violence in the region are significant factors of concern which involve serious violations of people's human rights. The public often associates these situations with adolescents, who are blamed to a large extent for the climate of insecurity experienced by many communities. The focus tends to be on male adolescents from poor and marginal neighborhoods who belong to groups that have traditionally been excluded and discriminated against and who are stigmatized on a daily basis and singled out as "potential dangers to society" who must be brought under control. However, as the IACHR explains in the report, the reality is different from these perceptions and much more complex. Children and adolescents, in fact, represent one of the groups most affected by different forms of violence and rights violations, as well as by the actions of criminal groups and by repressive citizen security policies. The inhabitants of some communities suffer the scourge of violence more intensely. The areas that are particularly hard-hit are the least developed neighborhoods where there is limited access to basic services, a lack of opportunities, and little State presence. These are areas with populations living in vulnerable conditions, in which their rights are not guaranteed due to structural situations of marginalization and social exclusion. These factors facilitate the emergence and expansion of criminal groups and organized crime. In addition, the enormous financial revenues associated with the illegal drug market have contributed significantly to the expansion of criminal groups that compete for this market and its benefits, unleashing spiraling violence due to clashes between criminal groups and State security forces. Easy access to firearms and the large number of guns in the hands of private individuals exacerbate the existing climate of insecurity and violence. In the report, the IACHR observes with concern that the conditions for children and adolescents living in these contexts can be daunting. Many of them experience situations of violence, abuse, and neglect in their homes, communities, and schools, at the hands of adults, their peers, and even the police. The quality of education is poor, and there are many barriers to accessing higher education and access to job opportunities and decent employment. Children and adolescents are often subjected to pressure, threats, or trickery to get them to join these organizations; other adolescents seek out these groups in search of opportunities, recognition, protection, and a sense of belonging, aspects that they would otherwise not be able to find. Once they are within these structures, they are used and exploited by the adults for a broad range of activities, including surveillance, the transport and sale of drugs, robberies, extortions, kidnappings, and other violent activities related to maintaining the interests of criminal groups. Girls and adolescents in particular are the primary victims of sexual violence and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Adults use them as disposable, interchangeable parts of criminal structures - the last link in the chain - with the average age of recruitment 13 years old. State responses to these challenges are primarily based on policies that are strongly focused on aspects of coercive control by security forces and punitive repression through the criminal justice system. The common denominator of security strategies in the region has been the allocation of greater responsibilities to State security forces, along with a progressive militarization of the police and their operations and the participation of the army in citizen security tasks. However, these strategies have not significantly eased the climate of insecurity; on the contrary, many countries have experienced a resurgence of violence, in addition to reported abuses, arbitrary practices, and human rights violations carried out by State security forces. In this report, the IACHR expresses its concern regarding the high rates of arbitrary detentions; excessive use of force and lethal force; cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, even extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances, as well as sluggish investigations and high levels of impunity for these types of acts. Due to the social stigma they face, some adolescents from certain groups of society are often victims of these types of abuses and arbitrary practices. Among the situations it found, the IACHR has observed that the application of the crime of "unlawful assembly" or "conspiracy" or "belonging to a criminal group" has increased the number of arbitrary detentions of adolescents based on their appearance and on the belief that they may belong to a gang or a criminal group, without any evidence that a crime has been committed. Current drug policies have also contributed to an increase in the number of children and adolescents deprived of liberty for drug-related offenses such as micro-trafficking and possession of small quantities. In several countries of the region, adolescents who are poor, of African descent, or members of minorities are over-represented among those detained by the police. The prosecution of crimes of "unlawful assembly" and drug-related crimes has also led to an increase in pretrial detentions and for longer periods, due to an overextended criminal justice system. Meanwhile, States in the region tend to prioritize punitive and retributive responses to adolescent offenders, with incarceration the most widespread measure used. State responses have focused on proposals to reduce the age of criminal responsibility for adolescents, in some cases starting at age 12, and to lengthen prison sentences. In practice, this might mean that they would be locked up for their entire adolescence - a crucial phase for their personal development, growth, and education. Added to this is the fact that detention centers, where conditions are generally alarming in terms of safety, health, and overcrowding, have become factors aggravating adolescents' vulnerability and exposure to violence and crime, which only worsens and reinforces the problem States are seeking to solve. The IACHR reiterates in the report that measures designed to hold adolescents accountable for their actions should be based primarily on a model of restorative justice and socio-educational measures, one whose purpose is to rehabilitate adolescents and reintegrate them into society. In the Inter-American Commission's judgment, current policies seek to show short-term results but do not adequately address structural causes or focus sufficiently on prevention or on social investment programs and promotion of rights. The current policies do not take into account the specific consequences of these environments for adolescents who are in an especially vulnerable and unprotected situation which puts them at risk of being captured and used by organized crime, becoming involved in violent and criminal activities, or becoming victims of such activities. The report concludes with a series of recommendations to the States to address violence and insecurity through comprehensive, holistic public policies that take into account the centrality of human rights and effectively ensure the exercise of rights by children and adolescents. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 2016. 227p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 7, 2016 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/ViolenceChildren2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South America URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/ViolenceChildren2016.pdf Shelf Number: 138593 Keywords: Children and ViolenceCriminal NetworksOrganized CrimeViolenceYouth GangsYouth Violence |
Author: Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention Title: The Optimus Study on Child Abuse, Violence and Neglect in South Africa Summary: The Optimus Study provides the first-ever representative data in South Africa on child maltreatment and exposure to other forms of violence. This research bulletin addresses the lifetime prevalence of violence against children, as reported by 15-17 year old South Africans. These issues were explored both in a household survey and a school survey: in each setting, young people were interviewed about their experiences by trained enumerators, and were also given the opportunity to respond to a small set of questions on a more confidential questionnaire which they completed themselves. The highest reporting rates were obtained from these self-administered questionnaires, particularly in schools. Since violence and abuse are stigmatising and are typically under-reported, it seems that this was the situation in which young people felt most comfortable disclosing their experiences and these rates, therefore, may be the most trustworthy. The study explored several forms of maltreatment (abuse and neglect), and exposure to violence, and most of the figures below are based on the findings from the self-administered questionnaires completed in schools. Details: Rondebosch, South Africa: The Centre, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Bulletin: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/cjcp_ubs_web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/cjcp_ubs_web.pdf Shelf Number: 140791 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChildren and ViolenceFamily Violence |
Author: Henry, Colleen Title: Constructions of Maltreatment: Child Exposure to Domestic Violence and Its Penalization in California Law Summary: Social constructionists argue that human behaviors or conditions only become social problems when they are recognized, labeled, and action is taken against them by a group of people or society. While domestic violence or intimate partner violence has been recognized as a social problem since the 1970s, only recently has child exposure to domestic violence received similar recognition. Through review of changes made to California Law between 1995-2013, policy statements, and case law, this article examines how child exposure to domestic violence is recognized, labeled and acted upon in law, and argues that the recent penal response to child exposure to domestic violence in California Law signals a conceptual shift in what acts and omissions constitute child maltreatment and an expansion of the existing child protection legal framework. Details: Berkeley, CA: University of California at Berkeley, Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, 2016. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: ISSI Fellows Working Papers: Accessed October 20, 2016 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/77b1h378 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/77b1h378 Shelf Number: 140812 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Protection Child Welfare Children and ViolenceDomestic Violence |
Author: Schwartz, Amy Ellen Title: The Academic Effects of Chronic Exposure to Neighborhood Violence Summary: We estimate the causal effect of repeated exposure to violent crime on test scores in New York City. We use two distinct empirical strategies; value-added models linking student performance on standardized exams to violent crimes on a student's residential block, and a regression discontinuity approach that identifies the acute effect of an additional crime exposure within a one-week window. Exposure to violent crime reduces academic performance. Value added models suggest the average effect is very small; approximately -0.01 standard deviations in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. RD models suggest a larger effect, particularly among children previously exposed. The marginal acute effect is as large as -0.04 standard deviations for students with two or more prior exposures. Among these, it is even larger for black students, almost a 10th of a standard deviation. We provide credible causal evidence that repeated exposure to neighborhood violence harms test scores, and this negative effect increases with exposure. Details: Syracuse, NY: Center for Policy Research, the Maxwell School, 2016. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series, no. 195: Accessed November 28, 2016 at: https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/uploadedFiles/cpr/publications/working_papers2/wp195.pdf#page=3 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/uploadedFiles/cpr/publications/working_papers2/wp195.pdf#page=3 Shelf Number: 147916 Keywords: Children and ViolenceExposure to ViolenceNeighborhoods and CrimeViolent Crime |
Author: Guerrero, Gabriela Title: Understanding Children's Experiences of Violence in Peru: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper describes children's experiences of violence at home in Peru, using a lifecourse approach. Violence against children at home tended to increase with age, as children took on more chores (especially in rural areas), and spent more time away from home (in some cases, in urban areas). The chances of being hit by parents increased when children failed in their responsibilities; spending more time away from home also presented potential dangers for children (e.g., being robbed in the community, joining a gang, etc.), and so violence was used as a means to protect them and to prevent them from being led astray. We discuss how living in poverty affects relationships between parents and children. Meeting the basic economic needs of a family is the priority for parents, who then have limited time, energy and resources to devote to their children. We also found that children exposed to violence in the home are also frequently exposed to corporal punishment at school. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_17: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_17.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Peru URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_17.pdf Shelf Number: 144850 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Pankhurst, Alula Title: Understanding Children’s Experiences of Violence in Ethiopia: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This research report explores children's accounts of everyday violence in Ethiopia, and the ways in which factors at individual, family, community, institutional and society levels affect children’s experiences of violence. The report primarily draws on analysis of four rounds of longitudinal qualitative data gathered over seven years, complemented with analysis of cross-sectional survey data from Young Lives. Findings show that violence affecting children – mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse – is widespread, accepted, and normalized. Differing economic activities affect family dynamics and the likelihood of children experiencing violence, which is often linked to the challenges of poverty and the expectation that children will contribute to the household economy. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_25: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_25.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ethiopia URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_25.pdf Shelf Number: 141193 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Huong, Vu Thi Thanh Title: Understanding Children's Experiences of Violence in Viet Nam: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper explores children’s accounts of violence at home in Viet Nam, and the ways in which factors at the individual, family, community and society levels affect their experiences of violence. The paper analyses cross-sectional survey data and qualitative data gathered from Young Lives; it explores what children know about violence, how they experience it, what they think drives violence at home, what they perceive the consequences to be, and finally, the support they find effective in addressing violence. High proportions of children experience violence (mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse). The paper contributes to knowledge about the nature and experience of violence affecting children in resource-poor settings, and concludes with some suggestions for policy, programming and practice. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_26: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_26.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Vietnam URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_26.pdf Shelf Number: 146786 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Morrow, Virginia Title: Understanding Children’s Experiences of Violence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper explores children's accounts of violence in Andhra Pradesh, India, and the ways in which factors at the individual, family, community, institutional and society levels affect children’s experiences of violence. The paper analyses cross-sectional survey data and case studies from longitudinal qualitative data gathered over a seven-year period, from Young Lives. The paper is divided into four sections – a brief background section, study design and methods, findings from the survey, and findings from case studies. Large proportions of children experience violence (mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse) within their families, at school and, to some extent, within their communities. The findings demonstrate how children's experiences of violence change with age and that gender differences within this dynamic process are very distinct. The paper reveals that a child's disapproval of violence does not necessarily influence behaviour in later life, confirming the need for interventions to prevent and tackle violence as children grow up. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_19: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_19.pdf Year: 2016 Country: India URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_19.pdf Shelf Number: 141195 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Pells, Kirrily Title: Experiences of Peer Bullying among Adolescents and Associated Effects on Young Adult Outcomes: Longitudinal Evidence from Ethiopia, India, Peru and Viet Nam Summary: Globally it is estimated that more than one in three students between the ages of 13 and 15 are regularly bullied by peers. Being bullied has been found to have a significant impact on children's physical and mental health, psychosocial well-being and educational performance, with lasting effects into adulthood on health, well-being and lifetime earnings. Most research, including cross-cultural comparative work, has focused on high-income countries, identifying a range of predictors and effects associated with being bullied. Far less is known about bullying in low- and middle-income countries. This paper is a contribution to the UNICEF Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children, which analyses how structural factors interact to affect everyday violence in children’s homes, schools and communities. The results of the multi-country study intend to inform national strategies for violence prevention. We use longitudinal data from the Young Lives study of childhood poverty to address three core questions: Which children are bullied and how at age 15? What is associated with certain groups of children being bullied? Are there long-term associations between being bullied at age 15 with psychosocial indicators (self-efficacy, self-esteem, parent relations and peer relations) at age 19? Key findings: • Indirect bullying, such as measures to humiliate and socially exclude others, is the most prevalent type of bullying experienced at age 15 across three of the four countries, ranging from 15 per cent of children in Ethiopia to 28 per cent in India. • Verbal bullying is also prevalent, affecting a third of children in Peru and a quarter in India. •Physical bullying is the least prevalent form and lower than the other types, with the exception of India where the rate of children experiencing physical bullying is similar to other types of bullying. •Boys are at greater risk than girls of being physically and verbally bullied and girls are more likely to be bullied indirectly. •Poorer children are consistently more likely to be bullied in India and experience some types of bullying (physical, social exclusion and attacks on property) in Viet Nam than their less poor peers. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper 2016-03: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IDP_2016_03.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IDP_2016_03.pdf Shelf Number: 144854 Keywords: BullyingChildren and ViolenceSchool CrimeStudent Bullying |
Author: Moestue, Helen Title: "When Kids Call the Shots": Testing a Child Security Index in Recife, Brazil Summary: The Child Security Index (CSI) is a comprehensive assessment of children's perception of everyday violence. It consists of a digital survey that registers their fears, hopes, thoughts, beliefs and day-to-day experiences. The CSI is an open source application and online dashboard that spatially and temporally maps survey-collected data. The CSI was designed to identify the views of children between 8 and 12 years old, and for younger children through the use of adult proxy informants. It offers a platform to facilitate children's participation in understanding how they experience insecurity. The goal is to shine a light on the scale of the problem in low-income settings. This Strategic Paper describes the first pilot study of the Child Security Index (CSI) and its usage as an open source application to capture children's perceptions on violence. The app was tested in hot spot neighborhoods in Recife, capital city of Pernambuco state in Brazil. The survey collected data showed that the gender and age of respondents were more important explanatory factors than location. Younger children in particular reported lower levels of insecurity in comparison to adolescents and adults. Gender-based differences regarding perceived levels of insecurity in certain spaces, especially public venues, were also noted among teens, with girls expressing more fear of outside spaces than boys. The experience in Recife demonstrated that the CSI as a digital survey app can be used as a rapid security assessment technology which can also be adapted to other research questions and contexts. Details: Rio de Janeiro: Igarapé Institute. 2015. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Strategic Paper 18: Accessed March 4, 2017 at: https://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/AE-18_CSI-Recife_EN-27-11_2.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Brazil URL: https://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/AE-18_CSI-Recife_EN-27-11_2.pdf Shelf Number: 141326 Keywords: Children and ViolenceCrime HotspotsFear of CrimeViolence |
Author: Warrington, Camille Title: Making Noise: Children's voices for positive change after sexual abuse. Children's experiences of help-seeking and support after sexual abuse in the family environment Summary: Overview 1. This study was commissioned by the Children's Commissioner for England and carried out in 2015/16 by staff from the International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, in partnership with the NSPCC. It sought to elicit children and young people's views and experiences of help-seeking and support after child sexual abuse (CSA) in the family environment. 2. The title, and spirit, of the research - 'Making Noise: children's voices for positive change after sexual abuse' - was determined with our Young People's Advisory Group, who have played a critical role throughout the work. It represents our efforts to not only generate new research knowledge, but to simultaneously demonstrate the capacity of children and young people to contribute to enhanced responses to these issues and the importance of challenging the cultures of silence in which abuse and impunity flourish. 3. The research comprised 53 in-depth qualitative interviews with children aged 6 to 19 who were receiving support for experiences of CSA in the family environment. All interviewees were accessed through one of 15 third-sector therapeutic services from across England. This data was supplemented with focus groups (30 participants) and survey data (75 respondents) with more generic cohorts of young people exploring possible barriers to disclosure and service access. 4. The research sought to respond to a recognised gap in evidence from the perspectives of children and young people affected by CSA in the family environment. To our knowledge this study represents data from the largest sample of children and young people in a qualitative study on this issue. 5. The research aims were to improve understanding of participants' experiences of: - recognition, identification and disclosure of CSA in the family environment - help-seeking and support - contact with services as a result of reporting/identification of CSA - care systems, and - criminal justice procedures and to ascertain children and young people's views on how such processes could be improved. Details: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2017. 184p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/UniBed_MakingNoise%2020_4_17.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/UniBed_MakingNoise%2020_4_17.pdf Shelf Number: 145917 Keywords: Child Protection Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Children and Violence Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women, Children |
Author: Nasir, Muhammad Title: Violence and Child Health Outcomes: Evidence from Mexican Drug War Summary: An emerging literature finds that early life exposure to conflict has important effects on subsequent physical and cognitive development. While this literature focuses on large-scale violent events and low intensity conflicts, there is a lack of studies examining high levels of criminal violence. This discrepancy is important as many areas in the world, particularly Central and South America, experience consistently high levels of organized crimes. This study examines whether these health effects also extend to criminal violence setting by focusing on the sharp increase in homicide rates in Mexico since 2007-08. Using sibling fixed effects, I study whether the levels and timing of municipality homicide rates affect children's physical health and cognitive and non-cognitive development in Mexico. The results show a strong effect of in utero exposure (depending on the trimester) on the physical health and cognitive development and no effect on socio-emotional behavior and chronic illnesses. Specifically, an average increase in the homicide rate between the pre-escalation period of 2005-06 and 2009 while in utero reduces both height- for-age Z-scores (HAZ) and cognition (measured by Raven's scores) by 0.08 standard deviation (SD). The results further provide suggestive evidence about maternal stress and prenatal care use as potential channels. Details: Brighton, UK: The Institute of Development Studies - at the University of Sussex , 2016. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Households in Conflict Network: Accessed June 22, 2017 at: http://www.hicn.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HiCN-WP-208.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Mexico URL: Shelf Number: 146346 Keywords: Children and ViolenceDrug WarExposure to ViolenceHomicides |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund Title: Harmful Connections: Examining the relationship between violence against women and violence against children in the South Pacific Summary: Violence against women (VAW) is widely condemned as a fundamental violation of human rights and is recognized as a significant public health problem, causing enormous social harm and costs to national economies (WHO, 2013: 2). It is also widely acknowledged that such violence has an effect on children (Fulu, E et.al., 2013: 5). This report is a literature review that aims to develop a deeper understanding of what is known about the connection between violence against women and violence against children (VAC) in the South Pacific Island countries. It consolidates existing evidence from studies on the intersections between VAW and VAC and focuses specifically on Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga and Vanuatu. The review provided an opportunity to conduct a robust comparative analysis of the data at different levels including country-level analysis. For the purpose of this review, the term 'violence against women' means "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life" (UN, 1993). The review draws from definitions from the United Nations Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children which is used as an overall framework for addressing VAC. The term 'child' refers to "every human being below the age of 18 years" and the term 'violence against children' refers to all forms of physical, mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against a child, by an individual or group, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity" (UNSG, 2006: 6) Details: Suva, Fiji: UNICEF Pacific, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2017 at: https://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/Harmful_Connections(1).pdf Year: 2015 Country: Asia URL: https://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/Harmful_Connections(1).pdf Shelf Number: 148156 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseChildren and ViolenceDhild Abuse and NeglectViolence Against Women, Children |
Author: Know Violence in Childhood Title: Ending Violence in Childhood. Global Report 2017 Summary: For a large proportion of the world's population, life is better than it was 30 years ago. Incomes have risen significantly. Life expectancy has increased. Fewer people are living in extreme poverty. Fewer mothers die in childbirth. The global community has also moved in many directions to make the world a more peaceful place for all. And yet, at least three out of every four of the world's children - 1.7 billion - had experienced some form of inter-personal violence, cruelty or abuse in their daily lives in a previous year, regardless of whether they lived in rich countries or poor, in the global North or the global South. It is unfortunate that a culture of silence surrounds violence. As a result, violence against children is still largely invisible in the development discourse. Violence violates the dignity and rights of children, and robs them of the joys of childhood. Childhood violence also disrupts the formation of capabilities, and imposes huge financial and human costs on individuals and societies. The tide is however turning. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by all but one of the UN member states, has been the inspiration for national governments and others to end violence against children. With ending violence being a clearly articulated priority of the Sustainable Development Goals, we have a unique opportunity to break the cycle of violence, especially for children and women who bear the brunt of it. This Report has marshalled global evidence to show how collaboration and learning across geographies, disciplines and sectors can unite academics, policy makers and practitioners to end childhood violence. The Report finds large gaps in global knowledge and evidence related to different dimensions of childhood violence. It therefore calls for much greater investment in data, research and evaluation to break the silence around violence and to promote public action across the world. Defining and measuring childhood violence is not easy. The Report makes a beginning by using estimated prevalence rates to develop a global picture of violence in childhood. It calls for States to invest in strengthening data systems to report on all forms of violence experienced by children across ages and settings. This Report also calls for global and local actions to promote child rights and prevent violence. It advocates a shift away from seeing violence as a series of discrete episodes towards recognizing that it is a thread running through the everyday lives of children everywhere. Details: New Delhi: Know Violence in Childhood, 2017. 158p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2017 at: http://globalreport.knowviolenceinchildhood.org/ Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://globalreport.knowviolenceinchildhood.org/ Shelf Number: 148271 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceFamily ViolenceInterpersonal Violence |
Author: Miles, Glen Title: Stop Violence Against Us! A preliminary national research study into the prevalence & perceptions of Cambodian children to violence against children in Cambodia Summary: Violence against children is perhaps the greatest of the evils that mankind can commit. Children offer the world hope. Our investment in their lives produces long-term fruit that can break cycles of violence and poverty. This study reveals the sad reality that children in Cambodia have come to accept unacceptable levels of violence in their families and schools. The children's own voices paint a terrible picture of acquiescence to adult violence. They face a daily reality where physical punishment and sexual violence is the norm and to be expected. Without serious attention being paid to this situation, today's children can become the violent offenders of tomorrow. Cultural practices that violate a child's right to safety and protection from abuse are difficult to address. This study clearly shows the validity of listening to children's views. In Khmer culture, children do not commonly speak out. They play an important but silent role in the family and community. But their silence does not condone the violence that they experience and witness. The children show not only remarkable resilience in coping with such abuse, but contribute practical suggestions as to how to deal with it. Their ideas should be given due weight and respect. Tearfund is committed to listening to children and enabling them to play a meaningful role in our development work. Children are not only the ones who know the most about their lives, but also are the building blocks for sustainable, just and equitable development in their communities and society. This research is part of our commitment to ensuring a child's right to participate, as well as recognising that families, communities and governments play a vital role in protecting and nurturing children. The research reveals that Cambodian children still have faith in adults to address the violence that is perpetrated against them. That faith can be fulfilled if their concerns are taken up by all of us who work to improve children's well being. Should we fail in this call, nations such as Cambodia will continually struggle to build a strong civil society where violence is a mere historical footnote. Details: Phnom Penh: Tearfund - Children at Risk Office, 2005. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2018 at: http://tagv.mohw.gov.tw/TAGVResources/upload/Resources/2014/10/Stop%20Violence%20against%20Us!%20Summary%20Report%201.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Cambodia URL: http://tagv.mohw.gov.tw/TAGVResources/upload/Resources/2014/10/Stop%20Violence%20against%20Us!%20Summary%20Report%201.pdf Shelf Number: 117345 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChildren and ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence |
Author: Maternowska, M. Catherine Title: Research that Drives Change: Conceptualizing and Conducting Nationally Led Violence Prevention Research. Synthesis Report of the "Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children" in Italy, Peru, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe Summary: Globally, studies have demonstrated that children in every society are affected by physical, sexual and emotional violence. The drive to both quantify and qualify violence through data and research has been powerful: discourse among policy makers is shifting from "this does not happen here" to "what is driving this?" and "how can we address it?" To help answer these questions, the MultiCountry Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children - conducted in Italy, Viet Nam, Peru and Zimbabwe - sought to disentangle the complex and often interrelated underlying causes of violence affecting children (VAC) in these four countries. Led by the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti with its academic partner, the University of Edinburgh, the Study was conducted by national research teams comprised of government, practitioners and academic researchers in each of the four countries. Drawing on human-centred principles, the Study used an iterative approach which put national ownership and co-creation at its core. Government partners were actively engaged as co-researchers and all data analysis was conducted in-country by government statisticians. Facilitating and prioritizing national meaning-making through dialogue and joint analysis and synthesis of findings was also a key part of the Study design. Each national team used a common process involving three separate components, all of which build on existing data and research: a systematic literature review of academic and 'grey' literature (such as research reports) including both quality quantitative and qualitative research, secondary analyses of nationally representative data sets and an initial mapping of the interventions landscape. Analysed together, these sources of information helped build initial hypotheses around what drives violence in each country. Two key frameworks were applied to the analysis in this Study: 1) a version of the socio-ecological model, which helps to understand the dynamic relationships between factors at the micro-, meso-and macro-levels, and 2) an age and gender framework, which recognizes that a child's vulnerability and ability to protect herself from violence changes over time with her evolving capacities. Through these lenses, common themes emerged across contexts. Guided by findings from the four countries highlighting the dynamic and constantly changing and/or overlapping domains that shape violence in children's lives, this Study moved beyond understanding the risk and protective factors for violence affecting children, which are often measured at the individual, interpersonal and community level. In doing so, it demonstrated how patterns of interpersonal violence are intimately connected to larger structural and institutional factors-or the drivers of violence. The structural drivers of violence identified across the four country sites, representing high (Italy), upper middle (Peru), lower middle (Viet Nam) and low income (Zimbabwe) settings, include: rapid socio-economic transformations accompanied by economic growth but also instability; poverty; migration; and gender inequality. The institutional drivers of violence, such as legal structures, ineffective child protection systems, weak school governance and harmful social and cultural norms, often serve to reinforce children's vulnerabilities. Drivers are rarely isolated factors and tend to work in potent combination with other factors within a single level as well as between levels of the social ecology that shapes children's lives. While some drivers can lead to positive change for children, in this study, these factors or combinations of factors are most often invisible forms of harm in and of themselves While VAC is present in every country, the analyses also show how violence conspires unevenly to create and maintain inequalities between and within countries. The institutions and communities upon which children and their families depend are changing social entities with many interdependent parts. The type of violence in any one or multiple settings may vary depending on a variety of risk or protective factors and/or by age and gender. One of the most important findings is that violence is a fluid and shifting phenomenon in children's lives as they move between the places where they live, play, sleep and learn. Identifying and addressing unequal power dynamics - wherever they may occur in the home, school or community - is of central importance to effective violence prevention. The research also shows how behaviours around violence are passed through generations, suggesting that the social tolerance of these behaviours is learned in childhood. Data across countries also shows how violence is intimately connected to how relationships are structured and defined by power dynamics within and among families, peers and communities. These findings, along with learning from the study process, led to the development of a new child-centred and integrated framework, which proposes a process by which interdisciplinary coalitions of researchers, practitioners and policymakers can understand violence affecting children and what can be done to prevent it. Using data to drive change, our proposed Child-Centred and Integrated Framework for Violence Prevention serves to situate national findings according to a child's social ecology, making clear how institutional and structural drivers and risk/protective factors together shape the many risks and opportunities of childhood around the world. KEY POINTS: - Unpacking the drivers of violence at the structural and institutional levels, and analysing how these interact with risk and protective factors at the community, interpersonal and individual levels is critical to understanding how violence affects children. It is this interaction between drivers and risk/protective factors that delineates how, where, when and why violence occurs in children's lives. - Focusing solely on the types of violence and the places where it occurs - as is commonly done in large-scale surveys and some qualitative studies - will only provide part of the picture of a child's risk of violence. - The role of age and gender as childhood unfolds over time is also essential to understanding violence. - Qualitative inquiry and analysis should be further promoted within the field of violence prevention - on its own or as part of a mixed-methods approach - to ensure meaningful data interpretation of the social world, including the webs of interactions and the concepts and behaviours of people within it. - Research that engages and empowers stakeholders can contribute to a common strategy for building and sustaining political will to end violence affecting children. - The way the study was conducted - led by national teams and using existing literature and data - provided a relatively low-cost and human-centred alternative model to costly surveys that assess the scope of violence without examining the drivers that determine it. - Moving forward, violence prevention research should continuously and critically examine the ways in which we count and construct the complex social phenomenon of violence affecting children: placing recognition of process and power at the heart of our research endeavours. Details: Florence, Italy: UNICEF, Innocenti Office of Research, 2018. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2018 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Drivers-of-Violence_Study.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Drivers-of-Violence_Study.pdf Shelf Number: 153883 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Violence Children and Violence Crime PreventionViolenceViolence Against ChildrenViolence PreventionViolent Crime |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "I Don't Want my Child to be Beaten": Corporal Punishment in Lebanon's Schools Summary: Lebanon's Education Ministry has banned corporal punishment in schools since the 1970s, and the penal code allows no defense for the crime of assault by school staff against students. Yet because of a lack of accountability, the ban on violent discipline is often disregarded. Based on the cases of 51 children, and interviews with NGO staff, teachers, and government officials, "I Dont Want My Child to Be Beaten": Corporal Punishment in Lebanon's Schools finds that students at both public and private schools suffer humiliating insults, hair-pulling, and beatings with rulers and other objects. Parents said that their complaints about violent abuse were rebuffed or that they received little or no information as to how they were handled. Syrian refugee children may be particularly vulnerable to abuse and afraid to complain, as the majority lack legal residency in Lebanon. The report urges the Education Ministry, which launched a comprehensive child protection policy in 2018, to take concrete steps to enforce the ban on corporal punishment and ensure all teachers are trained in positive discipline. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2019. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2019 at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/05/13/i-dont-want-my-child-be-beaten/corporal-punishment-lebanons-schools Year: 2019 Country: Lebanon URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/lebanon0519_web2.pdf Shelf Number: 156161 Keywords: Child MaltreatmentChildren and ViolenceCorporal PunishmentSchool DisciplineViolence Against ChildrenViolence in Schools |