Citation

Drotar D, Flannery DJ, Day E, Friedman S, Creeden R, Gartland H, McDavid L, Tame C, McTaggart MJ. Clin. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2003; 8(2): 187-203.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1359104503008002004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Children’s exposure to violence, their psychological response to the violence, and their participation in a community-based intervention service were described. This article describes the provision of mental health services and the process evaluation for the initial phase of the program (1999-2000). A large number (N = 1739) children were referred to the program over a 17.5-month period for mental health intervention immediately after witnessing and experiencing a range of violent acts, the majority of which (N = 1355) involved domestic violence. A majority of referred children and adolescents (N = 946) directly witnessed such violence, and the majority of those who were old enough to provide self-report indicated that they perceived the event as a direct threat to their safety. Many of these children and adolescents also reported high levels of trauma symptoms. The majority of children (N = 1117) who were referred to the program participated. The findings underscore the feasibility of developing mental health services to meet the needs of children who are exposed to violence, especially family violence, at a critical time following violence exposure.

VioLIt keywords:
Exposure to Violence
Witnessing Violence Effects
Community Based
Intervention Program
Witnessing Spouse Abuse
Witnessing Violence Effects
Children of Battered Women
Partner Violence
Violence Against Women
Spouse Abuse Effects
Domestic Violence Effects
Domestic Violence Intervention
Witness Treatment
Treatment Program
Mental Health Treatment
Child Adjustment
Child Mental Health
Child Witness
Juvenile Adjustment
Juvenile Mental Health
Juvenile Witness
Witness Adjustment
Emotional Adjustment
Psychological Victimization Effects