Chanson D. Noether, MA, Policy Research Associates, 345 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054, 5184397415, cnoether@prainc.com, Norma Finkelstein, PhD, Institute for Health and Recovery, 349 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, Lisa Russell, PhD, Research Department, ETR Associates, 4 Carbonero Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, and Nancy VanDeMark, MSW, Department of Research and Evaluation, Arapahoe House, Inc., 8801 Lipan Street, Thornton, CO 80260.

Few comprehensive intervention models exist for building resiliency in children who have directly and/or vicariously experienced interpersonal trauma. Recognizing the deficit in the array of available treatment services for these children, the SAMHSA Women, Co-occurring Disorders and Violence (WCDVS) Children’s Subset study sought to develop an integrated, trauma-informed intervention model for working with children who have such histories. This session will address the effectiveness of the standardized treatment model developed by a group of local and national experts and delivered at four program locations across the United States. This presentation will focus specifically on examining outcomes for a subset (N=253) of children whose mothers were enrolled in the larger WCDVS across four domains: safety, self-care, interpersonal relationships, and self-identity. Both short-term and long-term effects will be examined. Generally, increases in positive results across these four domains were found for the intervention participants on both primary and secondary outcome measures, as well as at both points in time. Mothers’ treatment success was also found to have a significant effect on short-term outcomes. Results of these analyses will be presented and implications for treatment will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate increased knowledge and awareness of the unique needs of children who have histories of witnessing/experiencing violence and trauma.
• Recognize the importance of providing comprehensive, trauma-informed treatment services for this population which promote resilience.
• Understand a model for delivering such an intervention.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the impact that comprehensive, trauma-informed treatment can have on affecting outcomes for children who are exposed to domestic violence and maternal mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Recognize the myriad factors that may contribute to and/or moderate the effects of such treatment programs on child outcomes.

Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Interventions

Related Web page: www.wcdvs.com/children/default.asp

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.