NCJ Number
144514
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1992) Pages: 327-346
Date Published
1992
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article presents the findings of a qualitative evaluation of a group program for children of battered women.
Abstract
This study was conducted at the Domestic Abuse Project of Minneapolis, which was established in 1979 to expand the ways in which programs intervened to stop woman abuse. A support and education program for children was established in 1981. Gender-mixed, age-specific groups are regularly offered to children of women and men in one of the adult programs or to children who have parents in a similar program at a different agency. Groups are led by a male- female team of therapists who are often also working with the children's parents in adult groups. Children's groups meet once each week over a 10-week period for 1 hour. Issues such as establishing responsibility for violence and building self-esteem are introduced in all groups. A qualitative approach to evaluation of the program stemmed from a naturalistic research paradigm. The population of families included all children (and their parents) who participated in children's groups from summer 1990 to fall 1991. Data collection for the evaluation included interviews with 16 mothers, five fathers, nine group leaders and agency administrative staff, and 30 children who had participated in eight groups at the agency. The evaluation found that the groups influenced the child participants and their families in a variety of intended ways; children revised their definitions of violence, understood that they were not alone in witnessing violence between their parents, and had some understanding of protective steps they might take in a violent situation. Some unintended consequences created new, unintended tensions for children and family members; these call for adjustments and responses by group leaders. 1 figure and 29 references