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.
ITCT-A and CII’s Three Rs
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
CII achieves this mission by offering a strategic, interrelated set of services and supports that
contribute to CII’s organization-wide outcomes
READINESS
for success in school,
work, and life
Safety and stabilization
Reduced adverse affects of
trauma
Improved functioning
Healthy relationships
Goal-directed behavior
Educational/occupational achievement
Ability to envision a positive future
RECOVERY
RESILIENCY
from adverse childhood
experiences
and prevention
Ability to cope with past, present
and future adversity
Connection to a strong, stable
support system
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 some
L.A. middle schools
have been victims
or witnesses of
violent crime1
referrals to Child
Welfare Services
are made every
month in L.A.
County, primarily
for allegations of
neglect or abuse2
of children in foster
care in California
live in L.A. County3
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)
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
Responding to Domestic Violence:
CII’s “Whole Person” Approach
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.
Impact of Exposure to Domestic
Violence on Children and Adults
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Depression
Substance abuse
Behavioral problems
Anxiety
Traumatic grief
Suicidal ideation
Nightmares
Academic/Job difficulties
Poor relationships
Problems with attachment
And 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%
How does DV Impact Children?
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”
“I have seen my father get arrested”
(step-father, mother’s boyfriend, etc.)
• 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
84% of children
reported witnessing
the perpetrator
being 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.
• [email protected]
Follow me:
• @LeslieAnneRoss