Activist Dialogues: How Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Impact Women of Color and Their Communities (pdf)

This report offers an analysis and recommendations to address the impact of domestic violence and child welfare systems in communities of color. Six culture-specific organizations were partnered with to create a multi-dimensional analysis for this report. The Dialogues section offers analysis and describes some of the common findings and issues, while the Recommendations section addresses these issues. Thus, critiques and system changes go hand in hand, and are offered in the spirit of constructive engagement and strengthening communities

Adaptation Guidelines for Serving Latino Children and Families Affected by Trauma

"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."

American Indians and Crime (pdf)

"Reports rates and characteristics of violent crimes experienced by Native Americans and summarizes data on Native Americans in the criminal justice system."

Child Abuse and Accidents in Black Families: A Controlled Comparative Study

This study identified significant socioeconomic factors that increased the stress in families. Controlled comparative samples of children were used and matched on the basis of race, SES and age.

Child Abuse Incidence and Reporting by Hospitals: Significance of Severity, Class, and Race

The study summarizes the data collected from a study that measured the variation in treatment and child protection cases reported by hospital workers. Findings suggested that race, the income and living situation of the family, alleged offender responsible for the child abuse, as well as the degree and type of abuse that occurred were all factors that dictated whether or not a hospital filed a report with child protection on behalf of the child's safety.

Domestic Violence Toolkit Identifying and Responding to the Needs of African and Other Migrant Women Experiencing Domestic Violence in Ireland (pdf)

A toolkit to aid African victims of domestic violence in Ireland. It contains information about support services for all types of domestic violence and culturally specific approaches unique to African migrants. The toolkit also addresses emerging issues facing African migrants in Ireland.

Ethnic differences in circumstances of abuse and symptoms of depression and anger among sexually abused Black and Latino boys

"The present study was designed to examine the extent to which ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse would be related to psychological outcomes and whether the relationship of ethnicity to psychological outcomes would be independent of ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse."

Examining Child Maltreatment and the Impact of Race in Receipt of Child Welfare Services in the United States (pdf)

This document examines the rates of child maltreatment in the United States and whether these rates differ by race, ethnicity and income level.

Expanding Solutions for Domestic Violence and Poverty: What Battered Women with Abused Children Need from Their Advocates

This paper was originally delivered as a talk at the Violence Institute of New Jersey, June 21, 2000. This paper discusses the links between the abuse of women and the maltreatment of their children and the connection between domestic violence and poverty.

Forging New Collaborations Between Domestic Violence Programs, Child Welfare Services and Communities of Color (pdf)

This report summarizes the dialogues from the Women of Color Network (WOCN) focus groups on domestic violence and child welfare. Over one hundred (100) domestic violence and sexual assault activists of color participated in these focus groups. The report includes a set of recommendations and highlights from their conversations regarding issues and barriers for battered women with children from communities of color.

Helping Young Children Affected by Domestic Violence: The Role of Pediatric Health Settiings (pdf)

This paper is part of series of paper that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper addresses importance of pediatric health care and mental health care in addressing domestic violence.

Learning from Experiences of Battered Immigrant, Refugee and Indegenious Women with Child Protection Services to Inform a Dialogue Among Domestic Violence Activisits and Advocates (pdf)

This document introduces voices of battered immigrant, refugee and indegenious women who were also involved in Child Protection Services. The document explores how community approach can enhance the physical, spiritual and mental health of individuals, families and communities and how this concept can be well utilized for policy and practice for social services.

Police in the Lives of Young Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (pdf)

This paper is part of series of paper that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper explores the important roles the police officer can play in assisting children and families experiencing domestic violence.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Sri Lankan University Students as a Consequence of Their Exposure to Family Violence

"A study on the association between exposure to family violence during childhood and adolescence and adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings indicate that the more participants witnessed and experienced family violence, the more they exhibited PTSD symptoms. Findings also indicate that participants’ exposure to family violence explains a significant amount of the variance in their PTSD over and above the variance that can be attributed to their sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, number of siblings, and family’s socioeconomic status) and to their perceptions of the environment and functioning of their families. The limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed."

Returning Children Home: Clinical Decision Making in Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect

Interesting findings from this study conclude that race, type of injury (physical or non-physical), as well as class are all significant characteristics that determined whether or not a child was removed from the home and placed with a foster family.

Security Begins at Home (pdf)

The Kosova Women’s Network released the country’s first study on domestic violence, called Security Begins at Home. The report highlights key points such as: what the citizens of Kosovo perceive as domestic violence, the forms and consequences of domestic violence, citizens' response to ending it, and the legal and institutional gaps in addressing it.

Shattered Hearts: The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women and Girls in Minnesota (pdf)

A groundbreaking report released by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) highlights the alarming and pervasive sex trafficking of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota. The first comprehensive report of its kind, it highlights risk factors for victims that include poverty, a disproportionate number of American Indian homeless, high incidences of overall sexual assault, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and pervasive multi-generational trauma.

The Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls in West and Central Africa and the UNICEF response (pdf)

"This first-of-its-kind study by UNICEF on the situation of war-affected girls and women in the region highlights innovative programmes being implemented with partners to address the impact of conflict, and recommends how UNICEF can more proactively champion the rights of girls - particularly adolescent girls."

The Prevalence and Circumstances of Child Sexual Abuse among Latina Women

"This study examined the prevalence and circumstances of child sexual abuse in a community sample of Latina women, 18 to 50 years of age. Chi-square tests of independence and t-test procedures were used to assess the prevalence, characteristics of the victim, assault, perpetrator, disclosure, and long-term effects. One in three Latina women reported incidents of sexual abuse, regardless of acculturation or citizenship status. More than one third of the women also experienced revictimization, with more than 80% of initial incidents occurring from the age of 7 years. Treatment implications and community-based interventions for Latina survivors of child sexual abuse are discussed."

The Role of Young Adolescents' Perception in Understanding the Severity of Exposure to Community Violence and PTSD

"This study seeks to (a) identify and measure the lifetime exposure to community violence of 137 African American and Latino middle school students from a low income neighborhood and apply numerical weights to each violent event; (b) examine the relationship between the objective severity of child self reported violence exposure and the child's subjective perception of the most bothersome event; and (c) examine the relationship between child's exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

Victim Services: Promising Practices in Indian Country (pdf)

This monograph describes promising practices for meeting the needs of victims of violence and domestic and family abuse in Indian Country. Each of the 12 program summaries includes a description of the program’s activities, keys to its success, basic demographic data (e.g., service area and population), and contact information.

Violence During Pregnancy in Jordan: Its Prevalence and Associated Risk and Protective Factors

"This study estimates the lifetime prevalence of physical violence during pregnancy and examines risk and protective factors among women (N = 390) attending reproductive health clinics in Jordan. A high frequency of quarreling, the husband's use of alcohol, attitudes supportive of a woman's duty to obey her husband, infrequent communication between the respondent and her family, and exposure to violence as a child increased the risk of violence. Consanguinity (marriage to a blood relative) and higher education levels were protective against violence during pregnancy."

Violence in the Lives of Children (pdf)

"This data brief from Child Trends reviews data on the types of violence experienced by U.S. children, including exposure to violence through media to abuse by parents and peers. Differences by age, gender, and race/ethnicity are discussed along with priorities for filling gaps in the data that is available on this topic."

Working with Young Children and Their Families: Recommendations for Domestic Violence Agencies and Batterer Intervention Programs (pdf)

This paper is part of series of papers that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper addresses the way to offer support and safety for children while maintaining safety, autonomy and choide for battered women.