Welcome to the December 2008 issue of the Safe Start Center e-newsletter. In this issue, we feature the Safe Start Promising Approaches program at the Institute for Family-Centered Services in Broward County, Florida, which provides 3 levels of intensive in-home services for children exposed to violence and their families. We also feature the latest resource from the Greenbook initiative and a resource for serving Latino children and families affected by trauma. We value your feedback. Please send an e-mail to 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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Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) Call for Presentation Proposals
Submissions due January 26, 2009
FVPF is accepting proposals to present at the Fifth National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence to be held in October 2009 in New Orleans. Submissions are due January 26, 2009. Access the FVPF Web site for more information.
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23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment
Chadwick Center for Children and Families
January 26-30, 2009
Knowledge-building workshops on evidence-based and informed practice and real world solutions for professions who deal with all forms of trauma to children and families. Topics include medicine, law, investigation, mental health treatment, child welfare, interviewing, domestic violence, prevention, Child Advocacy Centers, leadership, and research. Special tracks feature offender intervention and cross cultural subjects. A special week-long course on Investigation of Child Sexual Exploitation will be offered. Access the conference materials.
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Funding Opportunity: Adaptations of Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Engage Fathers in Child Maltreatment Prevention
Letter of intent due December 29, 2008
Approximately $400,000 will be available in fiscal year 2009 to fund 2 awards through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funding will support research on effective strategies for engaging fathers and male caregivers in evidence-based parenting programs that may prevent child maltreatment. The estimated funding date is prior to August 31, 2009. The letter of intent is due December 29, 2008 and the application is due February 23, 2009.
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New Program Areas in Promising Practices Network
RAND Corporation
The list of outcome areas on the Promising Practices Network Web site now includes child abuse and neglect as well as cross-systems involvement and collaboration. Information for each program includes a program overview, key evaluation findings on specific outcomes, and funding sources. You can access these resources at www.promisingpractices.net.
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KIDS COUNT Data Center Adds County and Community-Level Data
Annie E. Casey Foundation
The KIDS COUNT Data Center allows users to compare data by State or city (50 large cities), or by topics such as poverty, youth risk factors, population and family characteristics. Additional data is now available at the county and community-levels. The Data Center compiles information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other agencies. View the site.
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NASP 2009 Annual Convention
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Boston, MA
February 24–28, 2009
The National Association of School Psychologists will host their 2009 Annual Convention from February 24 through 28, 2009. Topics include mental health, early identification and interventions, behavior assessment systems and recent developments in child assessments, and best practices. View details of the convention.
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Mayors' Action Challenge for Children and Families
This challenge calls for mayors across the nation to take action and achieve at least 1 of 4 goals for children and families. Each child must have: (1) opportunities to learn and grow, (2) a safe neighborhood to call home, (3) a healthy lifestyle and environment; and (4) a financially fit family in which to thrive. The 86 participating mayors are listed with their respective goals. Other information and resources are provided. Visit the National League of Cities Web site.
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Journal of Public Child Welfare Call for Papers
Submissions due September 1, 2009
The Journal of Public Child Welfare is looking for papers to publish in a special issue on child welfare practices among immigrant children and their families. Manuscripts are encouraged that address the needs and experiences of immigrant children involved in the child welfare system, promising practices, training and workforce initiatives to improve cultural competence, the child welfare response to worksite enforcement raids, and analyses of state and/or federal policies that affect outcomes for immigrant children and families. View the call for papers.
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CWLA 2009 National Conference
Child Welfare League of America, Washington, DC
February 23-25, 2009
The Child Welfare League of America will host their annual conference in Washington, DC from February 23 through 25, 2009. Workshops topics include early childhood, mental health, children of incarcerated parents, advocacy, foster care, kinship care, prevention and early intervention, and trauma-informed care. View details of the conference.
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Immigration, Child Welfare, and Borders Forum
Migration and Child Welfare National Network (MCWNN), San Antonio, Texas
January 26-28, 2009
The Immigration, Child Welfare, and Borders forum will take place at the University of Texas at San Antonio from January 26th through 28th of 2009. The conference is co-sponsored by the American Humane Association, Annie E Casey Foundation, Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services, and many other members of the MCWNN. Public child welfare representatives will provide information about best practice with immigrant families in border communities. For more information, e-mail American Humane at CWMN@americanhumane.org.
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American Humane Announces a Call for Abstracts
Submissions due February 17, 2009
The Children’s Division of American Humane announces a Call for Abstracts for the journal Protecting Children. This issue, dedicated to Innovations in Child Welfare, will be published in the spring of 2010. The deadline for abstract submission is February 17, 2009. Contact Ingrid Porter at ingridp@AmericanHumane.org for additional information.
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AMCHP Annual Conference: Launching Maternal and Child Health: Opportunities for a New Era
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Washington, DC
February 21-25, 2009
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs will host their annual conference in Washington, DC from February 21 through 25, 2009. Topics include state and local advocacy, children and youth with special health care needs, cultural competence, and system building. View details of the conference.
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Safe Start Pompano, Florida
The Pompano Safe Start program is based at the Institute for Family-Centered Services, Inc. (IFCS), which serves families in Broward County, Florida. Safe Start staff provide comprehensive, family-centered services to children from birth to 8 years of age and their families who are exposed to domestic or community violence.
The Institute provides three levels of services that focus on creating a safe and stable environment for young children through consistent, supportive interactions with a primary caretaker in the family’s home. All levels of care implement experiential therapy with young children at home or at an alternate location of the family’s choosing, in a context that allows the primary caregiver to take charge and learn about the child’s needs. The program also provides around-the-clock crisis intervention for the duration of services at all three levels.
The three levels of service are:
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Project Support: Higher functioning families receive crisis intervention and stabilization, information on the impact of violence on child development, parenting skills training, child and family assessments, and linkages with community supports as needed. This intervention is provided for 3-5 hours per week over a period of 4-6 weeks, depending on need. |
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Project Foundation: Families struggling with multiple stressors, who require education on child development, safety planning, and crises intervention, as well as families with children who display high levels of depression, developmental delay, or other problems receive a more intensive intervention. Crisis intervention and stabilization, parenting skills training, and linkages with community supports are offered for 5-7 hours a week over a period of 2-3 months. Additionally, services focus on working with the non-offending parent (or both parents when safety is ensured) to discuss gender roles and responses to violent experiences. These services are provided in support groups that meet over a 4-6 month period. |
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Project Hope: Families struggling with multiple stressors who are willing to attend to their co-parenting relationship are offered the same services as families in Project Foundation, focusing on cycle-of-violence interactions. |
Visit the Safe Start Center Web page for contact information.
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Lessons Learned From the Domestic Violence Community
The Greenbook Initiative, November 2008
Effective Interventions in Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice, known as the Greenbook, was published in 1999 by the Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in collaboration with other experts. It provides guidelines for child welfare, domestic violence service providers and family courts to work together more effectively to serve families experiencing violence, and served as the foundation for the work of the Greenbook demonstration communities. The new video clips present interviews with domestic violence advocates in the Greenbook demonstration sites about lessons learned in their communities over the six years of the initiative. View the video clips and download resources.
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Adaptation Guidelines for Serving Latino Children and Families Affected by Trauma
Chadwick Center for Children and Families, Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego, December 2008
This document was created by experts in the fields of child trauma research, clinical practice, policy and cultural diversity to serve as a resource for anyone who works with Latino families who have experienced traumatic events. There are 12 priority areas covered ranging from micro issues (assessment and provision of therapy) to macro issues (organizational competence and policy). Each one includes an overview of the priority area, recommendations for improving practice based on that priority area, and additional resources for further information. Portions of these guidelines are geared for advocates and therapists, while other priority areas are designed for program administrators and policy makers. Download the entire document or each priority area individually.
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ONLINE RESOURCES/PUBLICATIONS |
OJJDP’s Court Coordination Program Promotes the Delivery of Services to Children in Need
OJJDP NEWS @ A Glance, November/December 2008
In 2005 the Court Coordination Program funded five pilot sites to hire a court coordinator to ensure that children appearing before the juvenile court receive comprehensive services to meet their needs. A cross-site evaluation of the data is expected in January 2010. This article provides a brief description of several pilot sites and an example of how the program helped a child in foster care to achieve stability. Access the article.
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Ten Key Findings from Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives
K. Martinson and D. Nightengale, February 2008
This brief discusses key findings from five major demonstration programs that were developed and implemented during the 1990s and early 2000s. The authors identify common themes and successes and challenges across the projects. They conclude that in most states and localities, the relationships between child support, employment programs, and community-based fatherhood programs need to be strengthened to turn fathers’ interest in becoming more emotionally and financially involved in the lives of their children into a reality. Download the brief.
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Healthy Marriage and the Legacy of Child Maltreatment: A Child Welfare Perspective
T. Conway and R. Hutson, May 2008
The twelfth in a series on Couples and Marriage Research Policy, this brief explores how childhood experiences, specifically child maltreatment and involvement with the child welfare system, impact the potential for a healthy, lasting marriage. The author also offers recommendations for addressing the unique needs of couples in which one or both partners have experienced childhood maltreatment. Download the brief.
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Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention Through the Lens of Cost-Benefit: A Manual for Domestic Violence Prevention Practitioners (and the State and Local Policy-Makers They Present to)
Transforming Communities Technical Assistance Training and Resource Center, 2006
This manual was published by Transforming Communities, a California-based organization creating sustainable community-based approaches to preventing violence against women and girls. The authors provides a step-by-step approach to understanding how cost-benefit thinking can be applied to domestic violence prevention in order to persuade funders and policy makers of the need for programs. Contents include descriptions of specific prevention programs and their impact using a cost-benefit perspective, as well as guidance in building tools to strengthen and justify your prevention program to obtain funding and support. View the manual.
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Working Together To Ensure Safe Communities
U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), 2008
The COPS Office's Community Partnerships CD provides community members and law enforcement professionals the information they need to build a working partnership to address crime and public safety issues in their communities. The CD includes concise, easily accessible resources that describe real-world best practices and success stories. View the CD.
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Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research Part I: Law Enforcement
A. Klein, April 2008
This is the first part of a three-part series published by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service presenting the practical implications of current domestic violence research for criminal justice personnel. This publication focuses on research implications for law enforcement officers and what the findings mean for daily law enforcement tasks. For example, responding officers and investigators should be alert to possible sexual abuse as well as physical abuse in domestic violence cases, and officers should always inquire about prior unreported assaults for evidence of the primary aggressor and additional charges that may be filed. View the publication.
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Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research Part II: Prosecution
A. Klein, April 2008
This publication is the second in the series by the National Criminal Justice Reference, focusing on the implications of research for prosecutors' policies and procedures. Topics include whether arrest is the best response, perpetrator and victim characteristics, risk for reoffending and homicide, whether prosecution of offenders deters reabuse, and whether batterer intervention programs prevent reabuse. According to the research, prosecution deters domestic violence if it imposes appropriate intrusive sentences, including supervised probation and incarceration. View the publication.
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Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research Part III: Judges
A. Klein, April 2008
The third publication in the National Criminal Justice Reference Service series focuses on the implications of research for judges' policies and practices. Topics include the recidivism rate, the characteristics of recidivists, characteristics of abusers at highest risk for killing their partners, whether prosecution and sentencing of offenders deters recidivism, whether aggressive prosecution and sentencing increases the demand for trials, and appropriate sentences for convicted batterers. View the publication.
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The Epidemiology of Trauma and Trauma-Related Disorders in Children and Youth
J. Fairbank, Winter 2008
This publication reviews general population studies, disaster research, child maltreatment studies, and special population studies that report the prevalence of PTSD in children, adolescents, and young adults. It includes a brief discussion of the cumulative adverse effects of traumatic stress experienced from infancy through adolescence. View the publication.
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Sexually Assaulted Children - National Estimates and Characteristics
Finkelhor et al., 2008
This bulletin provides information on the estimated number and characteristics of children who were sexually assaulted in the United States in 1999, based on interviews with victims and their families. It also presents statistical profiles of these children, including their demographic characteristics, according to the Second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART-2.) View the bulletin.
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The Girls Study Group - Charting the Way to Delinquency Prevention for Girls
Zahn et al., October 2008
The Girls Study Group, convened by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), conducted a study to determine the cause of delinquency and increased arrests among female adolescents, factors that influence delinquency, and effective programs in preventing girls’ delinquency. This first bulletin provides an overview of the key findings presented in each of the remaining six bulletins in the series. View the Bulletin.
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Working with Children Towards a Healthy & Non-Violent Future
National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, 2008
In this online publication, the authors present strategies for working with children younger than 13 years of age in programs designed to foster healthy attitudes and behaviors and prevent violence against women. Topics include tools to support secondary prevention efforts that teach skills to enhance safety for children who may already have been victimized or exposed to violence; a discussion of child development; and how to utilize this knowledge when implementing primary prevention strategies. View the online publication.
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Developmental Status and Early Intervention Service Needs of Maltreated Children
J. Losby et al., April 2008
In this report, published by the Institute for Social and Economic Development, the authors analyze findings from the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study and the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. They provide information about the developmental status and early intervention service needs of children under age three who are substantiated for maltreatment. Topics include: 1) the extent to which maltreated children have developmental problems or are subject to factors associated with poor developmental outcomes; 2) the services maltreated children might be eligible for and ones they receive through the child welfare systems; 3) case characteristics, such as child welfare setting, that impact the effect of developmental services; and 4) existing barriers to services. View the report.
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Adopted Children with Special Health Care Needs: Characteristics, Health, and Health Care by Adoption Type
M. Bramlett, October 2008
This research brief, published by the National Center for Health Statistics, presents information on adopted children with special health care needs, using data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. The authors grouped survey categories and compared findings by adoption type, i.e., foster care adoptions, international adoptions, and domestic private adoptions. Findings provide a descriptive profile of adopted children with special health care needs; explore ways in which adopted children with special health care needs are similar to and different from other children with special health care needs; and describe their health status, health conditions, and health care access and utilization across adoption types. View the research brief.
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Child Well-Being as Human Capital
F. Wulczyn, 2008
In this paper, published by Chapin Hill, the author explores how general principles of child development intersect with the emerging interest in child well-being as an outcome for children in the child welfare system. According to the author, well-being is similar to the idea of human capital in that it embeds multiple dimensions, such as education, physical health, and behavioral health, into a single construct. Services have to be designed with this context in mind, to adequately examine risk factors and their relative effects on development. View the paper.
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Best Interest Determination for Refugee Children: An Annotated Bibliography of Law and Practice
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/ Migration and Refugee Services, October 2008 (revised)
This publication describes resources about key laws and guidelines for caring and planning for vulnerable refugee children. The authors identify three publications which provide background for practitioners to understand key issues for making decisions about the fates of unaccompanied and separated children. View the bibliography.
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Current-Generation Youth Programs: What Works, What Doesn't, and at What Cost?
Megan K. Beckett, 2008
This publication by the RAND Corporation evaluates costs and benefits of youth programs that were offered at times when students were not in school and were listed on the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy or the Promising Practices Network on Children, Families, and Communities Web sites. The author analyzes the ways in which these programs impacted at-risk youth in areas such as academic achievement and social behaviors. Download the document.
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You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Written by five survivors of child abductions, this publication provides information to help child abduction survivors cope with their experiences and begin the journey toward a better future. It is the third in a series of OJJDP publications that assists families coping with abduction. Download the publication.
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RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN SPANISH |
Conexiones: Ayuda a los Padres de Crianza Para Hablar con los Ninos Sobre la Violencia Contra la Mujer (Connect: Helping Caregivers Talk to Children About Violence Against Women)
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Connect is a mini-magazine for foster parents and kinship caregivers that provides information on meeting the needs of children who have been exposed to domestic violence and are in the child welfare system. The first 2 issues of Connect are now available at the FVPF online store in English and Spanish (shipping fee applies). Access the FVPF bookstore and select Children and Domestic Violence.
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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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