The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. Child Witness to Violence Project has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence: Services for Women and their Children, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

Child Witness to Violence Project at Boston Medical Center provides trauma-focused clinical intervention to children age 8 and younger who have been exposed to domestic or community violence. Approximately 150 families are seen each year; 85% of cases seen are for exposure to domestic violence; 65% of the children are age 6 or younger. The intervention requires the active participation of at least one parent and is focused on addressing the traumatic experiences of the child within the context the child-parent relationship. The intervention incorporates principles of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (Lieberman, Van Horn, et al.) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cohen, Mannarino, et al).* Components of the intervention include advocacy and case management, parent guidance, along with dyadic and/or individual psychotherapy. Services are primarily outpatient and office-based.

*These programs have been rated by the CEBC under the Trauma Treatment for Children topic area.

Target Population: Children age 8 and younger, with the majority being under age six, from a racially diverse urban area.

For children/adolescents ages: 0 – 8

For parents/caregivers of children ages: 0 – 8