NCJ Number
122873
Date Published
1988
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This manual is designed for children from homes with a physically or emotionally abused parent, includes formats for two parent meetings and eight children's sessions as well as teaching guidelines for group leaders.
Abstract
Children from violent homes need help and support in dealing with their confusion and hurt; this program offers crisis, assessment, and educational services. The format for group sessions includes an initial discussion exercise, skill instruction, art exercise/skill practice, and play time. Group themes, consistent with many treatment issues of the children, are presented each week: sharing myself and my family, knowing our feelings, giving and taking compliments, sharing my family, taking care of ourselves, feeling good about me, special friends, and celebrating us. The first parent meeting, held before the first child's meeting, is designed to explain group activities and purpose, understand the child's and family's psychosocial history, and urge the parent to support the child's attendance in group. Following the eight group sessions, the second parent meeting is held to discuss the child's participation in group activities, refer to appropriate community services, and praise the parent for their support of the child. Guidelines for group leaders cover screening group members, setting the group tone, setting group structure and pace, management of behavior problems, dealing with confidentiality, and reporting child abuse and neglect. Based on evaluation techniques including on-site verbalization analysis matrix, check list matrix, and example anchored scale, experts found that the psychoeducational format was effective in producing behavioral change in participating children. The specific objectives of the program were met in almost all cases. 1 appendix, 11 references.