responding to domestic violence:
DESCRIPTION
Responding to Domestic Violence: CII ’ s Integrated Wellness Approach to Group Treatment for Adult Survivors and Their Children. Leslie Anne Ross, Psy.D. Children ’ s Institute, Inc. ITCT-A and CII’s Three Rs. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Responding to Domestic Violence: CII’s Integrated Wellness Approach to Group
Treatment for Adult Survivors and Their Children
Leslie Anne Ross, Psy.D. Children’s Institute, Inc.
Safety and stabilizationReduced adverse affects of trauma Improved functioning
Ability to cope with past, present and future adversity Connection to a strong, stable support system
Healthy relationships Goal-directed behaviorEducational/occupational achievement Ability to envision a positive future
RECOVERY from adverse
childhood experiences
READINESS for success in school, work,
and life
RESILIENCYand prevention
CII achieves this mission by offering a strategic, interrelated set of services and supports that contribute to CII’s organization-wide outcomes
CII helps children in Los Angeles’ most challenged communities heal from the trauma of family and community violence, build the confidence and skills to break through
the barriers of poverty, and grow up to lead healthy, productive lives
ITCT-A and CII’s Three Rs
Many children in Los Angeles grow up in extremely difficult circumstances, facing abuse, neglect, poverty,
and violence in their families and communities
of children in foster care in California
live in L.A. County3
referrals to Child Welfare Services are made every month in L.A.
County, primarily for allegations of neglect or abuse2
of children in some L.A. middle schools have been victims
or witnesses of violent crime1
33%up to 90%
Source: 1) Stein, B.D., Jaycox, L.H., Kataoka, S.H., Rhodes, H.J., & Vestal, K.D. 2003. “Prevalence of child and adolescent exposure to community violence.” Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 6(4), 247-264; 2) County of Los Angeles, Department of Children and Family Services. (February 2011); 3) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010); California Department of Social Services and University of California, Berkeley (2011); Needell et al (2011)
13thousand
Children & DV
•Children living with domestic violence often have complicated feelings about their parents
•Domestic violence affects every child. However, each child reacts in a different way
•Children often worry that they are responsible for the violence in their homes
This treatment approach is:A model that works to resolve the impact of domestic violence and develop skills that support resilience, coping and wellness.
The focus of the curriculum is: On strategies that have been tested across multiple years in
diverse settings with mothers and children in domestic violence shelters and outpatient facilities.
The methods used involve:Somatic, affective, wellness, and cognitive processes that are integrated to support whole person learning.
Responding to Domestic Violence: CII’s “Whole Person” Approach
Impact of Exposure to Domestic Violence on Children and Adults
Posttraumatic stress disorderDepressionSubstance abuseBehavioral problemsAnxietyTraumatic griefSuicidal ideationNightmaresAcademic/Job difficultiesPoor relationshipsProblems with attachmentAnd Systems of Meaning
ERIN DV Families: Children
72% of the clients had children
Percent of homes that had children ages:• 4.6% of clients were pregnant at
the time of the abuse
• Infants: 13%• 1-2 years: 23%• 3-4 years: 20%• 5-7 years: 26%• 8-10 years: 17%• Teens ages 11-18 years: 24%
20% of DV Children Ages 5-10 Meet Diagnostic criteria for PTSD
20% of DV Children Ages 5-10 report: “I do things to hurt other people”
40% of DV Children Ages 5-10 report:“I think about dying or being dead”
How does DV Impact Children?
“I have seen my father get arrested”(step-father, mother’s boyfriend, etc.)
84% of children reported witnessing
the perpetrator being arrested by
police
• More than ½ of all children and adolescents witnessed police coming to their home
• 33% of children and 51% of adolescents have witnessed their father be arrested by police
MOTHERS – Prior Trauma
• Sexual abuse as a child: 40%• Sexual assault as an adult: 24%• Physical abuse as a child: 32%• Physical assault as an adult: 44%• 37% of women witnessed their father hit their mother
as a child• 47% of women witnessed their parents constantly
arguing• 40% of women had parents who also hit their siblings
Resources & Contact Information
Children’s Institute Inc.• www.childrensinstitute.org
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)• www.NCTSN.org
A Thousand Joys• www.athousandjoys.org
Leslie Anne Ross, Psy.D.• [email protected]
Follow me:• @LeslieAnneRoss