Info about Intervention/Prevention of Relational Abuse/Neglect

[Kizzie]

Jaffe, P. (2018). Children exposed to domestic violence: Current issues in research, intervention, prevention, and policy development. Routledge.

[Kizzie]

Holmes, C., Levy, M., Smith, A. et al. A Model for Creating a Supportive Trauma-Informed Culture for Children in Preschool Settings. J Child Fam Stud 24, 1650–1659 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-9968-6  Also https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10826-014-9968-6

Abstract The all too common exposure of young children to traumatic situations and the life-long consequences that can result underscore the need for effective, developmentally appropriate interventions that address complex trauma. This paper describes Head Start Trauma Smart (HSTS), an early education/mental health cross-systems partnership designed to work within the child's natural setting—in this case, Head Start classrooms. The goal of HSTS is to decrease the stress of chronic trauma, foster age-appropriate social and cognitive development, and create an integrated, trauma-informed culture for young children, parents, and staff. Created from a community perspective, the HSTS program emphasizes tools and skills that can be applied in everyday settings, thereby providing resources to address current and future trauma. Program evaluation findings indicate preliminary support for both the need for identification and intervention and the potential to positively impact key outcomes.

[Kizzie]

Cook, A., Morton, S., & Henderson, F. (2023). Interrogating assumptions about the relationship between service providers and recipients: Learning from a new service for survivors of In Care Abuse. Evaluation and program planning, 97, 102260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102260

Abstract

Understanding the dynamic relationship between service providers and the people who use their services is key to effective evaluation. This paper presents a practical approach to embedded evaluation that can be used by services to interrogate assumptions about relationships. The approach includes a simple framework for developing theories of change that centres relational aspects of the change process. This framework is complemented by a structured approach to surfacing risks and assumptions. Using the example of the evaluation of Future Pathways, a new and ground breaking service provided to people who experienced abuse or neglect as children In Care in Scotland, the paper describes how this approach was used in practice. Focusing in on assumptions identified by the service around trust, the paper describes the process undertaken to interrogate these assumptions through data collection with people using the service and staff. This process led to rich learning to support the development of the service as well as the identification of new elliptical assumptions. The paper concludes by sharing reflections on the learning from this work for the wider evaluation community highlighting the need for evaluators to take a relational approach to interrogating assumptions about relationships.

[Kizzie]

AP News, June 2021, UN experts call on Holy See to do more against child abuse

GENEVA (AP) — Independent human rights experts working with the United Nations have urged the Vatican to do more to stop and prevent violence and sexual abuse against children, citing "persistent allegations of obstruction and lack of cooperation" from the Catholic Church, the U.N. human rights office said.

The four experts, in a letter dated April 7 but only made public on Monday, faulted efforts by the church "to protect alleged abusers, cover up crimes, obstruct accountability of alleged abusers, and evade reparations due to victims." In general terms, the experts alleged bids were made by some church members to undercut efforts in national legislatures to prosecute child sex offenders, and cited lobbying attempts to limit how long former child victims can report the crimes after they become adults. The experts said the violations had allegedly been committed over decades in many countries with tens of thousands of victims.

"We note with great concern the apparent pervasiveness of child sexual abuse cases and the apparent systematic practice of covering up and obstructing the accountability of alleged abusers belonging to the Catholic Church," the experts said. The four experts are working under various mandates from the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council. Though they do not work for the United Nations or speak for the world body, they do receive some administration support from the U.N human rights office.

The Vatican didn't immediately make any public comment about the letter. It has been heavily criticized by abuse victims in many countries over failing to discipline or remove bishops or other members of the hierarchy implicated in cover-ups of allegations.

[Kizzie]

Clinical Assessment & Treatment: Identifying ACEs and risk of toxic stress to inform treatment in California, USA

Bravo to CA, USA! GPs are now screening for ACEs as part of regular exams! 

Clinicians routinely gather information from patients about their medical history, family history, and any specific health concerns during the primary care visit. Incorporating ACEs and toxic stress into the conversation involves reviewing the patient's ACE screening results, asking about protective factors – including toxic stress mitigation strategies – that may be present, and taking note in the physical exam of any neurologic, endocrine, metabolic, or immune findings that could be associated with ACE-Associated Health Conditions.

If you go to the site you'll see their motto is "ACES - screen, treat, heal."  This is a huge step forward in prevention, intervention and treatment of trauma related symptoms.  Let's hope other states and countries for that matter follow the lead of CA.

[Kizzie]

Kaitlin Fondren, Monica Lawson, Ruth Speidel, Christina G. McDonnell, Kristin Valentino, Buffering the effects of childhood trauma within the school setting: A systematic review of trauma-informed and trauma-responsive interventions among trauma-affected youth, Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 109, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104691
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740919308588)

Abstract
Exposure to trauma during childhood is highly prevalent. This review seeks to evaluate the current state of the literature in regard to trauma-informed care within the school setting. A number of models have been put forth to describe broad trauma-informed approaches integrated within school systems, which incorporate trauma-sensitive care and practices within the broader structure of an organization. The goal of this paper was to systematically review papers detailing relevant interventions to the provision of trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practices within schools. Using a three-tiered system of service delivery as our organizing framework (where the level of support increases across tiers depending on the student's individual needs), the research that has evaluated the efficacy of trauma-informed interventions is reviewed. Results indicated that much of this work has been exclusively conducted within one level of a three-tiered system that comprises a trauma-informed approach to the school setting. Although there is a foundation of research on interventions applied within specific tiers, few studies have sought to integrate the tiers to test the effectiveness of a fully trauma-informed model within the educational system and most that have integrated the three tiers do not include statistically rigorous evaluations of program effectiveness, such as randomized control trials. A basic model for trauma-informed schools with considerations for intervening directly with students is provided as well as recommendations for future research, which is necessary to inform clear, specific models for fully integrated trauma-informed schools.

[Kizzie]

From the US Centres for Disease Control:  CDC: Childhood Trauma Is A Public Health Issue And We Can Do More To Prevent It By Rhitu Chatterjee 2019.  The agency points to the need for efforts at every level: state, community, family and individual.

Excerpt:

Schuchat noted that positive childhood experiences and relationships are known to buffer against the stress of trauma and strengthen resilience. "It might be a parent, it might be a teacher, it might be a neighbor, but having a stable, reliable person in your life can help you at that individual level with resilience," said Schuchat. "That stability and nurturing will help you when you have a stress or a difficult problem [because you] have an outlet and a reliable way to process it and seek help if you need to."

In fact, supportive, nurturing relationships and environments for both children and families are at the heart of prevention, according to the report, which describes six approaches to prevention. Those approaches include strengthening economic support for families, helping parents and youth better handle stress, as well as improved access to primary care to screen, identify and address childhood trauma when it occurs.

Physicians have an important role in mitigating the effects of childhood trauma, Schuchat noted. "Clinicians are busy and may or may not incorporate ACEs into their practice, but we think it's very important that they do." For example, pediatricians can screen parents and children for childhood trauma and practice trauma-informed care, so as to address the potential health effects of trauma. "There are various programs that can be used in primary care offices or [by] pediatricians," said James Mercy, the director of the CDC's division of violence prevention, and an author of the new report. "These provide ways that these offices can organize their efforts around identifying and intervening around child maltreatment and other adversity."

[Kizzie]

Resilience - https://kpjrfilms.co/resilience/about-the-film/

The child may not remember but the body remembers.

Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.