2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book: State Profiles of Child Well-being (pdf)
This 20th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book provides national and state-by-state information and statistical trends on the conditions of America’s children and families. The book reports on indicators of educational achievement, economic well-being, and health, among others. The book also ranks states on a composite indicator of child wellness, aggregating measures such as infant mortality rate, graduation rates, and children in poverty.
A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice
Written for new child protective services (CPS) caseworkers, professionals working with children and families, other professionals and concerned community members, this manual addresses the definition, scope, causes, and consequences of child abuse and neglect. It presents an overview of prevention efforts and the child protection process from identification and reporting through investigation and assessment to service provision and case closure.
A Family Resource Guide on International Parental Kidnapping (pdf)
Presents practical and detailed advice about preventing international kidnapping and increasing the chance that children who are kidnapped or wrongfully retained will be returned. It provides descriptions and realistic assessments of the civil and criminal remedies available in international parental kidnapping cases, explains applicable laws and identifies both the public and private resources that may be called upon when an international abduction occurs or is threatened, and prepares parents for the legal and emotional difficulties they may experience.
A National Resource Directory & Handbook Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (pdf)
"This directory brings together many of the currently available resources and initiatives related to child sexual abuse prevention, providing descriptions of organizations, programs, projects and a wide range of resources. Also features category indices, resource bibliographies, and highlights related research and key stakeholders."
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."
Addressing Gender-based Violence: UNFPA Strategy and Framework for Action (pdf)
"This report identifies the particular areas where action is most urgently needed and proposes general policy frameworks for combating gender-based violence. The proposals, which focus on reducing gender inequality and discrimination, are aimed at UNFPA's overarching goal of eliminating violence against women and girls. The report critically examines existing policy frameworks, and suggests where future efforts need to be concentrated. "
Beyond Child Labour, Affirming Rights (pdf)
Beyond Child Labour shows how UNICEF and its major partners are working to end child labour, a cause of poverty.
Bringing the Greenbook to Life: a Resource Guide for Communities (pdf)
"This guide is designed for communities seeking to develop interventions that will improve their responses to families suffering both domestic violence and child maltreatment."
Building Academic Capacity and Expertise in the HEALTH EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE (pdf)
This report was created from the Proceedings from a Pre-Conference Symposium at the Family Violence Prevention Fund which offers a blueprint on advancing professional health education from a perspective on the health effects on violence and abuse.
Building Capacity in Child Welfare Systems: Domestic Violence Specialized Positions (pdf)
"The report seeks to assist policymakers and practitioners in developing specialist positions that are tailored to the circumstances of their communities and states. We offer observations about initial expectations for these positions and the evolution of the positions over time. We also set forth composite examples of each of the major types of specialized positions and lay out the components of each, including responsibilities, auspices and settings, competencies, and funding sources. By doing so, we highlight different approaches to improving understanding 2 of domestic violence and strengthening the likelihood of achieving safety for non-offending parents and their children."
Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities: Statistics and Interventions (pdf)
"This 2008 brief report presents statistical information on maltreatment-related fatalities of children including who are the victims and perpetrators and how communities often respond. "
Child abuse, child pornography and the internet (pdf)
This report seeks to determine to what extent the internet facilitates sexually abusive behavior in individuals. The report also discusses the role that child pornography can play in stimulating individuals with sexual interest in children to go on committing real life offences against children. The author concludes by proposing ways to increase protection for children using the internet and reduce the amount of child pornography being posted on the internet.
"Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSRs) evaluate public child welfare systems to determine how well they achieve safety, permanency, and well-being in difficult situations of neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and co-existing domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues, poverty, and community violence. This guide can help stakeholders develop effective (Program Improvement Plans) PIPs for achieving safety, permanency, and well-being in domestic violence cases, and to identify or anticipate related technical assistance needs."
Child Maltreatment 2006 Report (pdf)
"The latest Child Maltreatment annual report reports statistical data from the states on reports of maltreatment, characteristics of the children involved and their perpetrators, fatalities tied to maltreatment, and services provided to prevent maltreatment or to address the consequences of maltreatment."
Child Protection Information Sheets (pdf)
"This booklet comprises 14 information sheets which highlight how child protection is crucial to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Covering different forms of abuse, these sheets also outline how to build a protective environment for children and what UNICEF is doing on the ground to protect children."
Child Trafficking for Sexual Purposes Report (pdf)
End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT International) released a report in November 2008 on the global problem of child sex trafficking. The report sums up progress countries have made since passing laws to combat child sex trafficking. Finally, the report highlights key lessons learned and discusses six recommendations to improve strategies and policies.
"This report presents findings from the National Juvenile Online Victimization (N-JOV) Study describing arrests and characteristics of offenses and offenders for Internet-related sex crimes committed against minors."
Children Abducted by Family Members: National Estimates and Characteristics (pdf)
This document summarizes findings from the Second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART–2). The series offers national estimates of missing children based on surveys of households, juvenile residential facilities, and law enforcement agencies. It also presents statistical profiles of these children, including their demographic characteristics and the circumstances of their disappearance.
This handbook is for domestic violence specialists and trainers in police departments. It is designed to increase the understanding of children’s exposure to domestic violence by officers responding to these situations.
This 26-page resource helps educators understand how violence affects children at different ages, what teachers may see in the classroom, teaching strategies, handling parent-attended events, and supporting students who disclose.
Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Common Misconceptions vs. Current Findings (pdf)
"This fact sheet provides information about children who demonstrate developmentally inappropriate or aggressive sexual behavior. It addresses some common myths about this population and provides findings from research on the issue."
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices from 1999 til present
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: 1999
This report discusses the status of internationally recognized human rights in various countries.
Developmental Repair: A Training Manual (pdf)
Washburn Center for Children has recently completed a training manual on Developmental Repair – the treatment framework that has been developed and implemented in their Day Treatment Program under the clinical leadership of Anne Gearity PhD, LICSW. It is an intensive treatment model for working with young children who have experienced complex trauma and present with aggressive and disruptive symptoms.
Developmental Status and Early Intervention Service Needs of Maltreated Children (pdf)
"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."
DID YOU KNOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH? (pdf)
A tri-fold patient safety card which contains a checklist to assess safety, healthy/unhealthy relationships, and children's exposure to violence. The card also provides resources and information on how to get help.
Domestic Violence Against Women in Albania (pdf)
"This qualitative report examines the prevalence of domestic violence in Albania, including forms of domestic violence and complicating factors."
Domestic violence laws in Australia
The report analyzes domestic violence legislation in all Australian States and Territories and in New Zealand in order to assist the Australian Government’s National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. The report notes gaps and overlaps between State and Territory domestic violence protection orders and the Family Law Act 1975.
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.
Don't Turn Your Back On Girls: Sexual Violence Against Girls In Haiti (pdf)
A comprehensive report on sexual violence against girls in Haiti released by Amnesty International in late November of 2008. Over half of the 105 rapes reported in Haiti by the end of November were committed against girls under the age of 18, according to one of the few organizations in the country which collect rape statistics. The report includes findings on rape as a political weapon, the role of discrimination and poverty, and the state’s response.
Eliminating Violence against Children (pdf)
"Jointly produced by UNICEF and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, this handbook describes measures parliamentarians can take to end violence against children: they can legislate, oversee government activities, allocate financial resources and, as leaders in their nations and communities, raise awareness of issues."
Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies
"A Final Report of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force to the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking of State Attorneys General of the United States. The scope of the Task Force's inquiry was to consider those technologies that industry and end users - including parents - can use to help keep minors safer on the Internet."
EVALUATING CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS’ RESPONSE TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (pdf)
"With funding from OJJDP, researchers have now completed a four-site evaluation of CACs that, for the first time, contrasts them with comparison communities that did not have a CAC. This Bulletin presents an overview of the results. It examines how CACs affect forensic interviewing, child victim disclosures about abuse, children’s receipt of medical exams and mental health services, prosecution and conviction of offenders, removal of children from their homes, and family satisfaction with child abuse investigations."
Family Violence: Clinical Guidelines for Nurses
These guidelines are designed to provide current information about family violence and to address prevailing myths; to provide clear direction to nurses in a variety of settings; and to raise the awareness and comfort level of individual nurses as we deal with this complex issue.
Guide to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (pdf)
"A guide to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child related to children in armed conflict. It describes the context surrounding its adoption, efforts supporting its objectives, key provisions and the legislative processes involved for signature and ratification or accession."
A new report from the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) contains case descriptions of each attack that includes sexual assault. The report notes that because crimes committed against homeless persons often go unreported, the actual numbers of non-lethal attacks is likely much higher. Rapes and sexual assaults also tend to go unreported. The report recommends that state legislatures add homeless persons as a “protected class” to hate crime legislation, and encourages police trainings so law enforcement officers will better understand homelessness and how to prevent hate crimes.
Healing the Invisible Wounds: Children's Exposure to Violence A Guide for Families (pdf)
"This booklet helps parents and other caregivers understand the potential impact of exposure to violence on the development of their children, and provides practical suggestions for supporting the healing process."
Health Care Costs Associated with Violence in Pennsylvania (pdf)
"Reports the impact of violence in Pennsylvania including interpersonal violence (homicide, aggravated assault, rape) domestic violence (partner, child and elder abuse) and self-directed violence (suicide and attempted suicide)."
Helping Children Affected by Domestic Violence (pdf)
This is a comprehensive document about children who have been exposed to domestic violence and is supplemented with specific interventions that have shown to help palliate the impact.
Helping Children Cope with the Stresses of War: A Manual for Parents and Teachers (pdf)
"A tool for parents and teachers in helping children cope with the stresses of war and other forms of systematic violence. This book provides illustrative drawings by children portraying experiences of stress. Guidelines on handling problematic behaviors with which children of various ages respond to stress are also provided."
How to obtain U Interim Relief: A Brief Manual for Advocates Assisting Immigrant Victims of Crime (pdf)
This manual provides U Visa information for advocates who assist victims of crime, including domestic violence. The author outlines the definition, requirements, and application process for U Visa Interim relief and also offers information on obtaining permanent residency and derivative status for family members.
Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Treatment Foster Care (pdf)
The guide highlights valuable information, references, resources, and tools for implementing Evidence-based Practices (EBPs) in Treatment Foster Care (TFC) service settings. The Resource Guide identifies specific models, interventions, and tools that TFC providers can use to deliver effective services to the children, youth, and families in their care. It also provides “how-to” information to help TFC providers successfully implement desired EBPs in their programs.
"This report from the FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention provides and overview of a range of prevention strategies that have been found to have some evidence of being able to preventing child abuse and neglect. "
Man to Man: A Guidebook to Men in Abusive Relationships (pdf)
This is a 50-page easy to read book with personal accounts and a few basic exercises to get men started working on change and reinforce domestic violence counseling. The book has five small chapters including: Facing the Facts. But I'm not Abusive!; It's Not My Fault!; What Can I Do about Abuse?; and How Do I Change?
Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Handling Cases of Forced Marriage (pdf)
"This report lists warning signs and appropriate actions for teachers and other school employees to take when they suspect a forced marriage of a child is imminent. The report also contains guidelines for police officers, health care professionals, and social workers, and provides general information on good practices when caring for victims of forced marriage."
New Directions from the Field: Victims Rights and Services for the 21st Century
Deals with victims rights and services in the business environment, and contains a section on workplace violence and provides practical advice for the business community on assisting the victims of workplace violence. This is a full-text online book.
Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later (pdf)
"This second groundbreaking national survey of 1,500 youth aged 10 to 17 documented their use of the Internet and experiences while online including unwanted exposure to sexual solicitation, sexual material, and harassment. It was produced in cooperation with OJJDP and the University of New Hampshire’s Crimes against Children Research Center and includes recommendations to help make the Internet safer for children."
Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents (pdf)
"This guide gives tips to help parents keep their children safer at home, at school, and in the community. Available in English and Spanish."
Preventing violence and reducing its impact: How development agencies can help (pdf)
This document makes the case for increased attention on the impact of violence on development by international development agencies. A key aim is to stimulate dialogue on the role of international development agencies in the prevention of violence globally, and ultimately to increase investment in a commonly agreed set of applied violence prevention strategies. The primary audience for this document is policy-makers, high-level planners, and others in the international development field.
Safe from the Start: Reducing Children's Exposure to Violence (pdf)
This is a very comprehensive review of promising strategies and programs. It serves as a resource guide and includes evaluation tools and funding resources information.
Safe Start Promising Approaches Communities: Working Together to Help Children Exposed to Violence (pdf)
Launched by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention(OJJDP) and its Federal partners in the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, the initiative is designed as a national framework which seeks to address the needs of children exposed to violence. This booklet describes each of the 15 Safe Start Promising Approaches communities and outlines how these programs are integrating evidence-based or promising practices as well as other complementary interventions within their geographical, agency, and community contexts.
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.
Starting Smart: How Early Experiences Affect Brain Development
"This report provides a straightforward summary of the interactions between early brain development, childhood emotional experiences and trauma. Drawing from this research, it concludes by making a case for increased services to counter the disadvantages faced by children who experience trauma or neglect."
Surveillance for Violent Deaths -- National Violent Death Reporting System, 16 States, 2005
"This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 16 U.S. states for 2005. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics."
A quantitative summary of the domestic violence fatality cases tracked and reviewed in depth. This report contains descriptive information about the fatalities, such as who was killed, their ages and races, how frequently homicidal domestic violence abusers were also suicidal and what weapons were used. This report is the second of two that were issued. The first report, Honoring Their Lives, Learning from Their Deaths, was released in December 2000. The findings and recommendations from the 2000 report continue to be relevant; this report should be considered its companion, not its replacement.
The Costs Of Child Abuse vs. Child Abuse Prevention: Michigan's Experience
This report is a cost-benefit analysis of child abuse prevention.
The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence (pdf)
This document examines the economic effects of interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, as well as the economic effects of interventions seeking to reduce violence and the ways in which economic factors such as poverty and income inequality contribute to violence.
The Facts About Child Sex Tourism (pdf)
"This fact sheet includes a definition of child sex tourism, both the global and U.S. response, and suggestions for what governments, citizens and business can do to combat child sex tourism."
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 National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America’s Prostituted Children (pdf)
"The report reveals findings of three years of intensive research on the issue of child sex trafficking in America from ten locations across the U.S. The study found that at least 100,000 children are used in prostitution every year in the United States and that the average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years old. Also, prostituted girls are often controlled by a pimp who recruits them into sex trafficking by posing as a boyfriend, caretaker, and protector."
The Safe Start Center Series on Children Exposed to Violence: Pediatric Care Settings (pdf)
This issue brief translates emerging research and program practice into action steps for practitioners in pediatric care settings to design and implement programs that meet the needs of children who are exposed to violence.
The State of the World's Children 2009 Report
"The State of the World's Children 2009 examines critical issues in maternal and newborn health, underscoring the need to establish a comprehensive continuum of care for mothers, newborns and children. The report outlines the latest paradigms in health programming and policies for mothers and newborns, and explores policies, programmes and partnerships aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health. Africa and Asia are a key focus for this report, which complements the previous year's issue on child survival."
The Structured Decision Making Model: An Evidenced-based Approach to Human Services
Structured Decision Making (SDM) is an evidence-based model designed to help agencies and caseworkers make accurate risk assessments about families and children. A new guide from the Children's Research Center (CRC), a division of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, reviews the principles of the SDM model and provides updated information on its use in jurisdictions around the country.
The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants (pdf)
Manual on the preparation, filing and processing of applications pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Also includes detailed information on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for Children Under Juvenile Court Jurisdiction, and U and T Non-Immigrant Visas (Victims of Crime and Trafficking). A good resource for advocates and legal professionals working with these victims.
The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants, Index of Appendices 1-100 (pdf)
Contains a list of appendices in connection with The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants.
The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants, Index of Appendices 101-200 (pdf)
Contains a list of appendices in connection with The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants.
The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants, Index of Appendices 201-300 (pdf)
Contains a list of appendices in connection with The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants.
The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants, Index of Appendices 301-380 (pdf)
Contains a list of appendices in connection with The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants.
This is a good introduction to advocacy concepts used when working with victims of intimate violence, rape and child abuse. It is designed for use both as a workshop outline and as a guide for direct interactions with individual clients.
"This policy brief presents the distilled research and critical thinking of a diverse group of local and national experts in the field of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Via candid dialog and interviews, these leaders developed and prioritized primary prevention strategies, analyzed environmental factors and norms that perpetuate these problems, and outlined policies and practices for transforming our communities and our nation during these turbulent political and economic times."
U.N. Report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children (pdf)
"This report provides a global picture of violence against children and proposes recommendations to prevent and respond to this issue. It provides information on the incidence of various types of violence against children within the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. "
Understanding and Protecting Your Children from Child Molesters and Predators
"This packet provides information about child molesters and some of the things you, your family and community can do to help keep children safe."
Understanding Children’s Exposure to Violence (pdf)
The Safe Start Center has developed a series of briefs on Children Exposed to Violence. The briefs are developed to respond to an urgent need to translate research-based information and disseminate it to practitioners who can use it in their work with children and families in different settings. This particular brief describes core concepts—gleaned from research and program practice—used in designing and implementing programs that address children’s exposure to violence.
UNITY RoadMap: A Framework for Effectiveness and Sustainability
"The UNITY RoadMap is a resource for cities to prevent violence before it occurs by mapping out solutions to effectively and sustainably prevent violence. The UNITY RoadMap helps cities understand the current status of their efforts, describes the core elements necessary to prevent violence before it occurs, and provides information, resources, and examples to support cities in planning, implementation, and evaluation."
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."
Violence Issues: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide for Health Professionals
This guide is designed to increase the sensitivity and awareness of health professionals to family violence issues. Special attention has been given to screening and early intervention, as well as to the needs of survivors.
What About Me? Coping with the abduction of a brother or sister (pdf)
"This booklet is based largely on input from eight children who have experienced the abduction of a brother or sister by a nonfamily member. It is designed to provide help, support, and guidance to children who are going through this type of trauma. "
Workers in the Shadows: Abuse and Exploitation of Child Domestic Workers in Indonesia (pdf)
"This report documents how hundreds of thousands of girls in Indonesia, some as young as 11, are employed as domestic workers in other people’s households, performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and child care. Most girls interviewed for the report worked 14 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week, with no day off. Almost all are grossly underpaid, and some get no salary at all. In the worst cases, girls reported being physically, psychologically, and sexually abused."
Working Effectively with the Police: A Guide for Battered Women's Advocates
Revised August 2001. Battered women's advocates and police departments in several jurisdictions have been successful in developing a more effective police response to domestic assault cases. This article highlights information advocates need in order to work collaboratively and effectively with police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The author discusses the changes police officers have made regarding when and how they arrest, investigate, write reports, and how they work with and support prosecutors and victim advocates.
World Report on Violence against Children
"This book addresses all violence against children within the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. It lists the relevant international and national legal instruments and standards. It also describes the nature and impact of all forms of violence, indicating possible risk and causal factors. Finally, and most important, based on existing evidence and concrete examples, it provides detailed recommendation on measures to be taken to enhance the protection of children from violence."
Young People’s Voices on Child Trafficking: Experiences from South Eastern Europe (pdf)
"The UNICEF Innocenti Centre (formally known as the International Child Development Centre) based in Florence, Italy, released a report in December 2008 on child trafficking. The report is based on interviews with 31 individuals in Albania, Kosovo, Republic of Moldova and Romania who had been trafficked when under the age of 18. It details children’s experiences with trafficking and support services. "