Pre- and post-test evaluation was conducted with 75 children (average age=9.88 years) who received the 12-week curriculum. Children in the study were from nine different Department of Social Services funded agencies that provide clinical services to children affected by domestic violence in the State of Massachusetts. The ethnic background of children in the study was: 79% White, 13.3% Hispanic, and 7% other. Fifty-nine percent of the children were currently receiving other types of services such as individual and/or family therapy.
The evaluation focused on five outcomes: increased pro-social behavior, increased ability to identify/express feelings, increased conflict resolution skills, increased recognition of and decreased tolerance for abuse and increased safety planning skills.
The report cited below indicates (actual data not provided):
- Increases in children’s self-reported safety planning skills
- Increases in children’s knowledge about violence
- Increases in children’s self-reported conflict resolution skills
Sixty-four percent of caretakers gave the highest helpfulness rating regarding the group for their child and 83.5% reported that the goals they set for their children were met or exceeded. More than half (56%) of the caregivers reported they had enough information about the children’s group while 46% felt they did not have as much information as they would like.
Lennett J. 2005. Evaluation of Clinical Services for Children Affected by Domestic Violence: Lessons Learned and to be Learned. Download at www.northnode.org
Rated/Reviewed by Evidence Based Registries:
This is a curriculum and as such would not be reviewed as an individual intervention/model in the registries or databases reviewed for this project.
