Abstract
The majority of women entering battered women’s shelters bring children with them and those children often require specialized programs that address the ways in which witnessing domestic violence has affected them. Several programs have been developed and implemented; however, few have been empirically evaluated. The current article critically examines several intervention strategies and their effectiveness. Barriers to service are also identified. Although there is a paucity of research in this area, the present review suggests that intervening with children may show promise for breaking the cycle of violence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arguile, R. (1992). Art therapy with children and adolescents. In D. Waller & A. Gilroy (Eds.), Art therapy: A handbook (pp. 140–154). Bristol: Open University Press.
Ashcraft, C. (2000). Naming knowledge: a language for reconstructing domestic violence and systemic gender inequity. Women and Language, 23(1), 3–10.
Bennett, L., Dawe, D., & Power, J. (1999). Children’s needs in shelters: Mother’s perceptions. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 18, 57–76.
Dolon, R., & Hendricks, J. (1991). Breaking the cycle of family violence: Services for children in shelters for battered women. Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 19, 31–35.
Eliasson, M., & Lundy, C. (1999). Organizing to stop violence against women in Canada and Sweden. In L. Briskin & M. Eliasson (Eds.), Women’s Organizing and Public Policy in Canada and Sweden (pp. 280–309). Montreal, Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Ezell, E., McDonald, R., & Jouriles, E. (2000). Helping children of battered women: A review of research, sampling of programs, and presentation of Project SUPPORT. In J. Vincent, & E. Jouriles (Eds.), Domestic violence: Guidelines for research-informed practice (pp. 144–170). London: Jessica Kingsley.
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women (2002). Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile. Ottawa, ON: Status of Women Canada. Available online at http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/0662331664/index_e.html.
Gibson, J. W., & Gutierrez, L. (1991). A service program for safe-home children. Families in Society, 72, 554–562.
Groves, B. M., & Gewirtz, A. (2006). Interventions and promising approaches for children exposed to domestic violence. In M. M. Feerick, & G. B. Silverman (Eds.), Children exposed to violence (pp. 107–135). Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks.
Gundy, J. (1981a). Children’s programming. In H. Hughes, J. Gundy, L. Walker, D. Bybee, & D. Sullivan (Eds.), “... and then we went to a safe place”: A training manual for children’s services in battered women’s shelters (pp. 4–14). Fayetteville: Project for Victims of Family Violence.
Gundy, J. (1981b). Parenting skills training and child development education. In H. Hughes, J. Gundy, L. Walker, D. Bybee, & D. Sullivan (Eds.), “... and then we went to a safe place”: A training manual for children’s services in battered women’s shelters (pp. 22–25). Fayetteville: Project for Victims of Family Violence.
Hester, M., Pearson, C., & Harwin, N. (2000). Making an impact: Children and domestic violence. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Hughes, H. M. (1981). Intervention with children. In H. Hughes, J. Gundy, L. Walker, D. Bybee, & D. Sullivan (Eds.), “... and then we went to a safe place”: A training manual for children’s services in battered women’s shelters (pp. 15–21). Fayetteville: Project for Victims of Family Violence.
Hughes, H. M. (1982). Brief interventions with children in a battered women’s shelter: A model preventative program. Family Relations, 31, 495–502.
Hughes, H. M. (1986). Research with children in shelters: Implications for clinical services. Children Today, 15, 21–25.
Hughes, H. M., & Barad, S. J. (1982). Changes in the psychological functioning of children in a battered women’s shelter: A pilot study. Victimology, 7, 60–68.
Jaffe, P. G., Wolfe, D. A., & Wilson, S. K. (1990). Children of battered women: Issues in child development and intervention planning. Newbury Park: Sage.
Jennings, S. (1990). Drama therapy with families, groups and individuals. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Jouriles, E. N., McDonald, R., Spiller, L., Norwood, W. D., Swank, P. R., Stephens, N., et al. (2001). Reducing conduct problems among children of battered women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 774–785.
Jouriles, E. N., McDonald, R., Stephens, N., Norwood, W., Spiller, L. C., & Ware, H. S. (1998). Breaking the cycle of violence: Helping families departing from battered women’s shelters. In G. W. Holden, R. Geffner, & E. N. Jouriles (Eds.), Children exposed to marital violence: Theory, research, and applied issues (pp. 337–369). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. B., & Lozano, R. (2002). World report on violence and health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
McDonald, R., Jouriles, E. N., & Skopp, N. A. (2006). Reducing conduct problems among children brought to women’s shelters: Intervention effects 24 months following termination of services. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 127–136.
Peled, E. (1997a). Intervention with children of battered women: A review of current literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 19, 277–299.
Peled, E. (1997b). The battered women’s movement response to children of battered women: A critical analysis. Violence Against Women, 3, 424–446.
Peled, E., & Edleson, J. L. (1999). Barriers to children’s domestic violence counseling: A qualitative study. Families in Society, 80, 578–586.
Ragg, D. M., & Webb, C. (1992). Group treatment for the preschool child witness of spouse abuse. Journal of Child and Youth Care, 7, 1–19.
Rosenberg, M. S. (1987). Children of battered women: The effects of witnessing violence on their social problem-solving abilities. Behavior Therapist, 10, 85–89.
Shostack, A. L. (2001). Shelters for battered women and their children: A comprehensive guide to planning and operating safe and caring residential programs. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
Stephens, N., McDonald, R., & Jouriles, E. N. (2000). Helping children who reside at shelters for battered women: Lessons learned. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 3, 147–160.
Swift, K. J. (1995). Manufacturing “bad mothers”: A critical perspective on child neglect. Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press.
Wagar, J. M., & Rodway, M. R. (1995). An evaluation of a group treatment approach for children who have witnessed wife abuse. Journal of Family Violence, 10, 295–306.
Waller, D., & Dalley, T. (1992). Art therapy: A theoretical perspective. In D. Waller, & A. Gilroy (Eds.), Art therapy: A handbook (pp. 3–24). Bristol: Open University Press.
Webb, N. B. (1999). Play therapy crisis intervention with children. In N. B. Webb (Ed.), Play therapy with children in crisis: Individual, group, and family treatment (pp. 29–48). New York: Guilford.
Wilson, S. K., Cameron, S., Jaffe, P. G., & Wolfe, D. (1986). Manual for a group program for children exposed to wife abuse. London: London Family Court Clinic.
Wilson, S. K., Cameron, S., Jaffe, P., & Wolfe, D. (1989). Children exposed to wife abuse: An intervention model. Social Casework, 70, 180–184.
YM–YWCA of Winnipeg (1990). How to develop a group activity program for children in transition homes and shelters: A self-study manual. Winnipeg: YM–YWCA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poole, A., Beran, T. & Thurston, W.E. Direct and Indirect Services for Children in Domestic Violence Shelters. J Fam Viol 23, 679–686 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9191-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9191-6