Welcome to the Winter issue of the Safe Start Center e-Newsletter. Our goal is to raise awareness of programs and resources that help communities implement evidence-based practices to address the effects of family and community violence on children. In this issue, we feature the Winter 2008 issue of Best Practices in Mental Health, a special issue on the process and outcome evaluation of the Safe Start Demonstration Project from 2000-2006. As always, we’d like to hear from you! To tell us about your program or to learn more about the national Safe Start initiative and the Safe Start Center, please e-mail us at info@safestartcenter.org or visit our Web site at www.safestartcenter.org.
Updates
Current news related to the impact of exposure to family and community violence on children and their families
From the Field
Spotlight on a community initiative to prevent and reduce the impact of domestic and community violence on children
Research to Practice
Using research to guide service delivery and policy
Featured Resource
A publication, video, curriculum, or other resource that supports evidence-based practice for children exposed to violence
Online Resources/Publications
Print and media resources for professionals and families
Resources/Available in Spanish
Related Links
Contact Us
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San Diego County Updates Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Protocol
California, March 2008
A multi-agency committee recently completed the 2008 update to the San Diego County "Domestic Violence and Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Protocol." The original protocol was developed in 1990 and updated in 1998. The 2008 revision specifically addresses children exposed to domestic violence and the removal of firearms from domestic violence incidents. The document is signed by over twenty San Diego law enforcement agency leaders including police chiefs, the sheriff, the district attorney, the city attorney, the probation chief, and numerous military and border patrol agencies. The State of California Attorney General’s Office developed a template for communities to use in developing a local protocol. For a copy of the San Diego protocol, email your request to sfts@doj.ca.gov or download a copy of the Statewide Law Enforcement Protocol for Children Exposed to Violence.
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Complex Trauma Speaker Series
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Winter 2008
The schedule for the current webinar series is available on the NCTSN Web site. All presentations are free of charge, and begin at 2:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Pacific) and last 90 minutes. Participants may listen to presentations via telephone or the Web. Web-casts are available for viewing live or anytime after the live presentation. On February 21, John Briere, Ph.D. discussed Comprehensive Assessment of Complex Trauma. On March 31, Joseph Spinazzola, Ph.D. will discuss Treatment Planning for Complex Trauma: Conceptualization and Core Components. On April 17, Cheryl Lanktree will discuss Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma (ITCT) with Children: Core Principles. Visit the NCTSN Web site for the audio archive or to register.
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California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
The Clearinghouse has added a new fact sheet for Child Welfare professionals and reviews of secondary prevention (parenting, family services) and domestic violence/intimate partner violence programs. Also added: reviews of approaches used at several Safe Start sites, including Child Parent Psychotherapy for Domestic Violence, Project SUPPORT, and Kids’ Club; the San Diego Family Justice Center; and Child Witness to Violence Project. The San Diego Family Justice Center and Child Witness to Violence Project are also reviewed. Visit the “What’s New” page for the latest additions to the Clearinghouse.
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Responding to Teen Victims of Dating Violence
Office of Victims of Crime Providers Web Forum, February 2008
On February 27, 2008, OVC sponsored a Web Forum Guest Host Session on “Responding to Teen Victims of Dating Violence” hosted by Mitru Ciarlante, Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime's Teen Victim Initiative, and Barri Rosenbluth, Director of Safe Place's Expect Respect Program. View the discussion online.
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Building Healthy Teen Relationships - Call for Proposals
Family Violence Prevention Fund, April 2008
Preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) begins with ensuring that young people’s first relationships are healthy ones. The Building Healthy Teen Relationships program will support the creation and evaluation of comprehensive community-based models of prevention that aim to decrease relationship violence and increase positive, protective relationship skills. Up to eight grants will be awarded for a period of up to 48 months. Each grant award will be up to $250,000 per year, with a maximum award of $1 million for the full grant period. Application deadline is April 16, 2008. View the RFP.
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26th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 20-23, 2008
Sponsored by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, this conference will focus on the future of Indian child welfare and how each of us, tribal leaders, ICW workers, and other stakeholders, share the important responsibility in continuing this work. Workshops and presentations feature innovative strategies to effectively meet the needs of children and families through strong, collaborative partnerships. Access conference information.
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National Forum on Children, Families and the Courts: Planning for the Future
Philadelphia, PA, April 30-May 2, 2008
Hosted by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), this is a multi-disciplinary, national forum that focuses on domestic relations and family law issues. Topics include the latest research in child development, dependency, divorce, visitation and child custody; problem solving to provide alternatives to families in crisis; managing high-conflict cases including those where domestic violence is indicated; matching families and children with the appropriate services; and best practices in dependency, divorce and custody. Access conference information.
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Safe Start Portland, Oregon
Portland Safe Start is a collaboration between the Gresham County Child Welfare Office and domestic violence advocates. The goals of the collaboration are to improve the response of the child welfare system to children who are victims of child abuse and who witness domestic violence, and to reduce the impact on children ages birth to 6 of co-occurring child abuse and exposure to domestic violence. Domestic violence advocates and child welfare staff are co-located in the child welfare office, and work together as a team to provide families with safety planning, referral to and advocacy for other needed services, and accompaniment to court, team decision meetings, and other child welfare meetings. The advocates also provide consultation and technical assistance to child welfare workers and others in the child protective service system regarding domestic violence issues and system responses.
Together, the domestic violence and child welfare staff develop a collaborative case plan that jointly addresses domestic violence and child abuse and neglect issues. The team includes a parent-child specialist, who provides interventions to the mother-child dyad with the goal of reducing the impact of the exposure to violence. These interventions include home visits, parenting education, and coaching for mothers who need additional parenting support.
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Implementation Research: A Synthesis of the Literature
Dean L. Fixsen, et al., 2005
In this review of the literature, written for the National Implementation Research Network, the authors examine the current state of the science of implementation, and identify factors necessary to succeed in implementing innovative programs and practices in mental health, social services, juvenile justice, education, early childhood education, employment services, and substance abuse prevention and treatment systems. Topics include community readiness, core implementation components, external influences, fidelity, evaluation, and policy and research recommendations. Download the document.
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Best Practices in Mental Health: Special Issue on the Safe Start Demonstration Project
Vol. 4, No. 1, Winter 2008
This Special Issue reviews research findings from the five year national process and outcome evaluation of the Safe Start Demonstration communities, as well as the innovative research projects designed and executed by six of the demonstration sites. The articles offer practical evidence-based solutions to many challenges confronted by practitioners who work with children who have been exposed to violence and their families. Access the Safe Start Center Web site for article abstracts and ordering information.
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ONLINE RESOURCES/PUBLICATIONS |
The Effects of Childhood Stress Across the Lifespan
J.S. Middlebrooks and N.C. Audage NC, 2008
This report, written for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, documents the link between 'toxic' stress and short- and long-term negative health effects. Quoting findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, the authors present evidence showing that toxic stress in childhood can lead to health problems later in life including alcoholism, depression, eating disorders, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. The focus of this report is the stress caused by child abuse, neglect, and repeated exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). Prevention strategies are outlined within a social ecological model considering the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community and societal factors. Download the report.
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Cost Benefit Analysis of Interventions with Parents
Department of Children, Schools and Families, London, England 2007
In this report, the authors review outcome studies and cost-benefit analyses of specific US and UK programs designed to positively effect development of preschool children by increasing positive parental characteristics (income, employment, education, family structure) and parental behavior (discipline, involvement). The focus is on programs in the areas of welfare to work, parent education, and general interventions such as home visiting, Healthy Families, and Parents as Teachers. The authors conclude that these programs alone are not sufficient to promote child development, and call for studies of combined approaches such as center-based and parenting education, and programs focusing on father involvement. They also cite U.S. evidence that suggests the greatest benefits will come from programs targeting lower income, at-risk families. View the report.
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Reducing Maternal Depression and Its Impact on Young Children
National Center on Children in Poverty, January 2007
Low-income mothers of young children experience particularly high levels of depression, often in combination with other risk factors. This policy brief examines how depression affects parenting and child outcomes; its occurs in combination with other parental risks, like post-traumatic stress disorder; and strategies to prevent negative consequences for parents and their young children. Download the brief.
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Children Left Behind: What Happens After Immigration Raids?
Chapin Hall, November 2007
With enforcement of immigration laws by Immigration and Customs Enforcement expected to intensify, including more large-scale worksite raids, the panelists in this audio conference consider who is responsible for protecting affected children and what policies and procedures could alleviate the negative consequences on young people. Access the audio conference.
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Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America's Children
Urban Institute and National Council of La Raza, October 2007
This report is based on a study of three communities that experienced large-scale worksite raids within the past year: Greeley, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska; and New Bedford, Massachusetts. The authors detail the impact of these raids on the well-being of children, and provide specific recommendations to help mitigate the harmful effects on children. View the report.
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Keeping Children Safe When Parents Are Arrested: Local Approaches That Work
California Research Bureau, July 2007
Four California communities have developed protocols to coordinate the response by child welfare services and law enforcement when parents are arrested. These communities are now seeing lower trauma rates, fewer children taken into formal custody by child welfare, lower child welfare costs, and increased good will between law enforcement, parents, and the community. This report is by the California State Library and Research Bureau. View the report.
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Audio Recording: Racial Disparity in the Child Welfare System
Urban Institute, January 2008
On January 10, Thursday's Child public policy forum in Washington DC explored the issue of racial disparity in the child welfare system. The topic was a recent Chapin Hall study on foster care admissions that found African-American infants are nearly three times more likely than white infants to be placed in foster care. A panel of child welfare administrators discussed initiatives being implemented in New York City and Washington, DC to reverse the trend. Access the audio recording.
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Racial Disparity in Foster Care Admissions
Fred Wulczyn and Bridgette Lery, 2007
This study by Chapin Hall addresses the issue of entry rate disparities in the U.S. foster care system between African American and white children. The study is based on children first placed in foster care between 2000 and 2005, from 1,034 counties in states that contribute to the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive. The data shows that both placement and disparity rates are highest for infants. Disparity generally decreased over time because the placement rate for white children increased while the rate for black children declined. However, disparity increased for teens. Rates of entry declined in urban areas at the same time placement rates in rural counties increased. The data also shows that disparity tends to be lower in counties with a larger proportion of African American residents, children in poverty, female-headed households, and residents with less than a high school education. Download the report.
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Measuring Social Disparities: A Modified Approach to the Index of Child Well-Being for Race-Ethnic, Immigrant-Generation, and Socioeconomic Groups with New Results for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics
Foundation for Child Development, January 2008
In this report, the authors focus on quality of life for all American children. It is the first analysis of how child and youth well-being has changed among Black, Hispanic, and White children from 1985-2004. Key findings include: 1) Black, Hispanic, and White children experienced overall improvements in the quality of life; 2) Black and Hispanic children were advantaged compared to White children in the emotional/spiritual domain; 3) Gaps in family economic well-being narrowed for both Black and Hispanic children as parental employment and health insurance coverage increased, and 4) the overall well-being of the highest group, White children, is still substantially below the best that the U.S. has ever achieved on these measures and levels of well-being currently experienced by international peers. Download the report.
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Supporting Families, Nurturing Young Children: Early Head Start Programs in 2006
E. Hoffmann and D. Ewen, December 2007
This policy brief, written for the Center on Law and Social Policy, analyzes the 2006 Program Information Reports data for the Early Head Start program, serving children under age 3 and pregnant women. Since 2004, more Early Head Start children and pregnant women received dental exams; more pregnant women had health insurance; and more pregnant women received mental health services. As in previous years, teacher education levels increased, but salaries remained stagnant. Also, more Early Head Start children are in informal care outside program hours. View the Brief.
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Preschool: First Findings from the Third Follow-up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort
National Center for Education Statistics, October 2007
This is the first report from the third wave of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study of a nationally representative sample of children born in 2001. The children were about 4 years of age at the time of the report. The authors discuss child well-being, child care arrangements, and assessment data on language, literacy, mathematics, and fine motor skills. One of their findings shows that proficiency in number and shape recognition varied by socioeconomic status: 40 percent of children from low SES families were proficient compared to 87 percent of children from high SES families. View the report.
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Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care: Policy Framework Summary
Rachel Schumacher, et al., January 2008
This policy framework, developed collaboratively by CLASP and Zero to Three, presents four key principles of supports that all babies and toddlers in child care need, as well as 15 recommendations that state child care licensing, quality, and subsidy policies should address. The framework draws on the expertise of more than a hundred policymakers, researchers, and advocates. Next steps for the project include an online resource that builds on the framework to provide research-based rationales for each recommendation and a set of policies that may help states move toward that goal. View the document.
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Promoting Court Capacity to Improve Outcomes for Abused and Neglected Children
S. Robison, May 2007
Written for the National Conference of State Legislators, this report outlines strategies for state legislators to raise public awareness of the court’s role in the lives of vulnerable children and families, and strengthen the collaboration between courts and the child welfare system. Information is provided about the role of the courts, a child’s journey through the child welfare system, and opportunities for collaboration. Examples of legislative action taken at the State level are provided. View the report.
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Helping St. Louis Families: A Guide for Court Professionals on the Co-Occurrence of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse/Neglect
Lauren Litton, 2007
This Guide, written for the St. Louis County Greenbook Initiative, contains recommendations developed by a coalition consisting of domestic violence organizations, the Missouri Department of Social Services, The Family Court of St. Louis County, and other key partners. Over the past six years, these agencies analyzed current policies and procedures in co-occurrence cases and ways to address existing challenges. The Guide is intended to serve as a framework to assist attorneys, judges, social service providers, and volunteers working with families in co-occurrence cases. Download the guide.
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Financing Mental Health Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families
Congressional Testimony by Janice Cooper, October 2007
In her statement to Congress, Janice L. Cooper, Ph.D., Director of Child Health and Mental Health at the National Center for Children in Poverty, lists the challenges to mental services under the proposed new Medicaid rules. Her testimony includes a discussion of the impact on services, provider qualifications, interagency collaborations, developmentally appropriate services, and evidence-based practices. Her testimony includes a list of states using state and federal funds to support evidence-based practices and family and youth involvement. View the testimony.
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Improving the Management of Family Psychosocial Problems at Low-Income Children’s Well-Child Care Visits
The Commonwealth Fund, Sept. 2007
Many of the 28 million U.S. children who live in low-income families are exposed to housing insecurity, inadequate parental education, and parental substance abuse. These factors are associated with higher rates of behavioral, developmental, and learning problems. In this study, the authors placed a screening tool for caregivers in pediatricians’ waiting rooms, consisting of problems for which community resources were available. A community resource book was placed in the exam rooms. The researchers found that caregivers who filled out the survey were more likely to discuss family psychosocial problems with the pediatrician, and were more likely to receive a referral for services. View a summary of the study.
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Neighborhood Support Index
Child Trends, September 2007
This Fact Sheet describes the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health, in which Child Trends used parents’ responses to six questions to construct a Neighborhood Support Index. The findings show that low-income children (below 200 percent of poverty) are less likely than other children to live in supportive neighborhoods. View the fact sheet.
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What About Me? Coping With the Abduction of a Brother or Sister
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, May 2007
Written by siblings of children who have been abducted, this guide contains information to help and support children of all ages when their brother or sister is kidnapped. Contents include what children can expect in terms of the feelings they may experience, the events that may occur from day to day, and the things they can do to help themselves feel better. In addition, there are activity pages for children of all ages, including those who are too young to read. Written in child-friendly language. Access the Guide.
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Crime in Schools and Colleges
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2007
This study reviews crime in schools and colleges from 2000 through 2004, based on reports to the FBI by law enforcement agencies. It examines characteristics of offenders and victims, such as age, sex, race, nature of the offense, relation to victim of the offender, weapon used, etc. View the report.
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Primer Hands On—Child Welfare
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI), 2007
This Primer is based on the premise that child welfare can provide leadership in engaging partners (including families) to build strategic alliances and provide wraparound services that meet individualized needs. The curriculum incorporates a case method approach using system-building scenarios, peer exchange and teamwork, and ongoing support to build a network of system of care strategists. Training materials include a skill-building curriculum, trainer's notes, PowerPoint slides, and access to a network for peer support and technical assistance. The training is designed for 2 full days, but can be individualized. Access the curriculum.
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Child Welfare Services for Families Experiencing Family Violence - Training Participant Manual
Georgia Department of Human Resources, April 2007
This training manual focuses on practical applications of knowledge about the co-occurrence of family violence and child abuse. Topics include addressing denial as a coping mechanism, lethality assessment, child and perpetrator assessment of domestic violence, family safety plans for child and victim. Aspects of the training are based on Georgia statutes, but can be adapted to other States. Access the training manual.
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Improving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Systems of Care: Building the Infrastructure: A Guide for Communities
Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, Children's Bureau (DHHS), 2007
The Children's Bureau's Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care recently published a new guide for communities seeking to improve child welfare outcomes through systems of care. The guide outlines definitions, goals, activities, personnel, and expected outcomes for the components of the infrastructure needed to support systems of care. Access the systems of care resource library and this guide.
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Justice Department Releases '05 Intimate Partner Violence Data
Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 2007
New data show that partner violence and domestic homicide remain devastating problems in this country. Although there has been an overall decline in incidence in the last decade, advocates call for increased action to keep women and children safe. For more information, visit the Family Violence Prevention Fund Web site.
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RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN SPANISH |
Para Nuestros Niños
National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics, March 2007
Infant/toddler programs have demonstrated limited benefits in the area of language development for children from low socioeconomic immigrant families not proficient in English. This report recommends strategies for addressing educational and language needs of young children from Hispanic families. Recommendations include increasing access to high quality early childhood education; increasing the number of Spanish-speaking teachers and language acquisition specialists; and conducting studies leading to evidence-based education strategies to strengthen their language and literacy development. Available in English and Spanish. Download the report.
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The Safe Start Center e-Newsletter is distributed by the Safe Start Center under Contract No. GS-10F-0285K with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Information and points of view in this newsletter do not imply endorsement by OJJDP, OJP, DOJ, or the Safe Start Center.
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