Impact of Violence, Abuse and Neglect on Children

IMPACT OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, AND NEGLECT ON CHILDREN

With Diane Benoit, MD, FRCPC

Research findings show that starting early during the first year of life, children can be negatively affected, and even traumatized, by what they experience or witness.  The purpose of this 1-day workshop is to review pertinent aspects of theory and findings from research pertaining to the impact of exposure to violence, abuse, and neglect on children, and to apply the theoretical knowledge and research evidence to everyday work.  A special emphasis is placed on the impact at the emotional, behavioral, and developmental levels, as well as the impact on brain development and functioning.  Caregiving styles associated with difficulty or inability to protect children from violence, abuse, and neglect are discussed.  Videotaped vignettes of actual interactions between caregivers and children are used extensively throughout the workshop, together with audio-recorded vignettes, to illustrate the various concepts discussed.  The critical role of first responders on scenes of violence where a child is present is discussed, especially in terms of direct interaction with the child. The role of first responders and other professionals is discussed in terms of how each can reduce the negative impact of exposure to violence, abuse, and neglect on children.  General principles of trauma-focused interventions are discussed.

By the end of this 1-day workshop, participants should be able to:

• define (domestic) violence, emotional abuse, and neglect

• describe some relevant statistics pertaining to the impact of exposure to violence, abuse, and neglect on children

• describe and illustrate the impact of exposure to violence, abuse, and neglect on children of various ages – brain and behavior

• describe the effects of trauma on children’s brain development and functioning

• describe types of parenting associated with violence, abuse, and neglect

• discuss the critical role of first responders in potentially reducing harm to the child

• describe collaborative programs with police officers, children’s mental health professionals, child protection workers, and other professionals that could reduce the negative impact of exposure to violence, abuse, and neglect

• describe general principles of intervention