Children who witness violence: what services do they need to heal?
Children are witnesses to violence far too often in their daily lives. To elicit information on the needs of children and adolescents living in the United States who have witnessed violence in their homes, neighborhoods, or communities, we held focus groups with mothers who have survived interpersonal violence and whose family included child witnesses to violence (CWV), professionals who work with families affected by violence, and with adolescents who have witnessed violence. Based on four separate focus group discussions held in Massachusetts, involving a total of 45 participants, recommendations for screening, programming, and the development of healing interventions are offered to mental health professionals.
Willis
Danny
D
Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA. danny.willis@bc.edu
Hawkins
Joellen W
JW
Pearce
Carole W
CW
Phalen
Jaime
J
Keet
Meredith
M
Singer
Cristen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008404:Massachusetts; D008602:Mental Healing; D012947:Social Work; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*