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.• lross@childrensinstitute.org

Follow me:• @LeslieAnneRoss