Helping children cope with violence and trauma: A school-based program that works
Date
2011
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Publisher
Rand Corp.
Abstract
Description
Violence is one of our most significant health issues. Between 20 percent and 50 percent of children in the United States are touched by violence, either as victims or, even more commonly, as witnesses. Even more are exposed to natural disasters, accidents, and traumatic losses. The emotional impact may be profound. Children exposed to violence frequently develop post-traumatic stress symptoms. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, poorer school performance, more days of school absence, and feelings of depression and anxiety. Violence affects all racial, ethnic, and economic groups, but its burden falls disproportionately on poor and minority children the very children whose mental health needs are least likely to be met by the health care system. School officials are often willing to provide help at school. But these professionals face an important question: What works? Until recently, there was no evidence base for determining the effectiveness of interventions to address these problems. To fill this gap, a team of clinician-researchers from several institutions collaborated to develop, implement, and evaluate an intervention designed to help children traumatized by violence. The team included professionals from the RAND Corporation, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and has expanded over time to include colleagues at the University of Southern California and many community partners.
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Keywords
Child development, Evidence-based practice -- research, Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Prevention, School -- Based prevention, Traumatic stress, Violence -- exposure, Violence -- family