Many children in the child welfare system (CWS) have histories of recurrent interpersonal trauma perpetrated by caregivers early in life often referred to as "complex trauma". Children in the CWS also experience a diverse range of reactions across multiple areas of functioning that are associated with such exposure. Nevertheless, few CWSs…

Youth in foster care face significant life challenges that make it more likely that they will face negative outcomes (i.e., school failure, homelessness, and incarceration). While the reason(s) for out-of-home placement (i.e., family violence, abuse, neglect and/or abandonment) provide some context for negative outcomes, such negative outcomes…

Participation of extended family members, particularly custodial grandparents, has generally resulted in better outcomes for abused children and relief for an overburdened child welfare system. This research explores the risk of adolescent perpetrated violence in custodial grandparent households with data from the Florida Department of Juvenile…

An Ohio study found that a significant percentage of adolescents arrested for violent crimes had been victims of severe child abuse and were likely to behave violently toward family members and caretakers. Findings are discussed in relation to the culture of violence, learning, and stress theories of delinquency. (Author/MP)

Reviews "Health Care Reform and Child Welfare" (DeWoody) on addressing the needs of abused and neglected children; and "Deadly Consequences" (Prothrow-Stith and Weissman) on the violence destroying the teenage population and ways to begin solving the problem. (HTH)

Explores the now popular assumption that delinquency is primarily caused by child abuse and neglect. Notes that existing studies are inconclusive or provide weak connections at best. In light of public concern over juvenile crime, calls for more funding to explore strategies to prevent and control serious juvenile crimes, especially violence. (TJQ)

The level of knowledge about childhood emotional disturbance is adequate to the task of early prevention and rehabilitation, but the challenge is to stimulate the essential community cooperation. (ML)

Examined stress factors affecting 4- to 18-year-old Central American refugee children living in Los Angeles. Factors included children's witnessing of war violence; children's separation from their caregiver; and abuse and family problems. Found that the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder increased with a combination of stressors. (SM)

Some studies suggest lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teens are at higher risk than peers for violence at home, in school, and in the community. That can bring them into the child welfare system or services for runaway and homeless teens. This study compared self-reported experiences of sexual and physical abuse based on sexual orientation and…

Describes a treatment program which combines cognitive, behavioral, and expressive therapies targeted at reducing dysfunctional patterns of cognition, affect, and behavior of aggressive youths. Also presents interventions for unwilling and resistant clients. (HTH)

Notes that this curriculum, for use by human services professionals in a small group format, is a solid contribution to the field of prevention within a positive youth development context. Suggests it has significant potential for enhancing cognitive and emotional development of youth, and facilitates the acquisition of skills that allow them to…

Notes that the 19th-century problem of street children parallels contemporary problems of homelessness, youth gangs, and violence. Suggests that past and present programs developed to deal with these problems have many similarities and that understanding the origins of both the problems and the child welfare response is crucial to avoiding past…

Through a literature review and a family systems analysis illustrated by four case studies, parricide is shown to be a logical culmination of factors--notably, severe abuse, the presence of guns, and family and community ignorance or denial of abuse. (Author/MP)