Positive outcomes from an immediate and ongoing intervention for child witnesses of intimate partner violence

Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence on Child Witnesses: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Study populations are not healthy individuals followed over time for signs of dysfunction but often those individuals or families that have screened positive for psychological distress, that are in treatment of some sort, or who have required an intervention (Bevan & Higgins, 2002; Israel & Stover, 2009; Lemmey et al., 2001; Moretti et al., 2006; Renner & Slack, 2006; Rosenbaum & Leisring, 2003). However, an increasing number of cohort studies with contemporaneous control groups are appearing in the literature to allow for comparisons (Cannon et al., 2009; Ernst et al., 2007, 2009; Ernst, Weiss, Enright‐Smith, & Hansen, 2008; Peek‐Asa et al., 2007). Only through longitudinal cohort studies of population‐based samples will we truly begin to understand the prevalence of witnessed IPV, the role of gender and type of abuse, and the long‐term consequences of witnessed IPV.…”

Gender Perspective in Research on Interventions in Children with Experiences of Parental Gender-Based Violence: Application of GPIHR Criteria

“…A total of 3418 records were obtained, 89% identified through database searches, 11% other sources ( Figure 1 ). Forty-four records were finally included [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 ]. It should be noted, of 48 records excluded in the last screening phase, 39.6% related to the ambiguity of describing as “parent” the main caregiver of the children who had been assaulted ( n = 10), since the groups of people attacked were a mixture of fathers and mothers ( n = 9).…”

Children Who Witness Violence: What Services Do They Need To Heal?

“…Individual (Ernst, Weiss, Enright-Smith, & Hansen, 2008;Groves & Gannon, 2000), family systems (Groves & Zuckerman, 1997), and group (Peled & Davis, 1995) interventions are helpful for the child witness to violence as parts of the comprehensive intervention matrix. Consistent with the ideas presented above, Groves and Zuckerman (1997) pointed out the need for interventions for parents and other caregivers of children who witness violence in addition to individual level intervention with children.…”

“…For example, at the level of the family and community, it is critical to address the needs of parents and involve other adults in the community who have frequent contact with children and play significant roles in their lives, such as teachers, school nurses, counselors, social workers, and health care professionals providing pediatric and mental health care. A central component of intervention at the individual, family, and community level involves advocating for children's well-being, safety planning, and the right to have basic needs met (Ernst, Weiss, Enright-Smith, & Hansen, 2008;Peled & Davis, 1997), as well as creating "a social climate that makes violence against women and children unacceptable" (Groves, 2002, p. 135). Groves and Gannon (2000) described a model that included multidisciplinary training to foster community awareness and create the environment for collaboration.…”

“…However, in addition to individual treatment, they urged the creation of new models for engaging in systems changes and a hold on these changes, such as holding off on legislation aimed at children who are witnesses to violence until the implications can be thoughtfully analyzed and a plan for evaluation created. Ernst, Weiss, Enright-Smith, and Hansen (2008) evaluated a CWV individual-level intervention program in a large Hispanic city and concluded that intervention including individual and group approaches is important to educate children who witness 554 D. WILLIS ET AL. violence, help them understand that violence is not their fault, and plan for future events in which their safety is compromised (develop safety plans).…”