Child Crisis Team

rapid response service for children who have witnessed family violence 

The service is unique in this country and was established to focus on the “invisible children” who are traumatized by the violence they see in their home.  Families are pro-actively offered this free service, which is provided to them in their own homes.  Appointments are made at their convenience.

The service is designed to be a brief and structured intervention with a goal to reduce the level of repeat violence and stress on children by giving families an opportunity to understand the impact on the children.

The Child Crisis Team offers:

• A Child Advocate will visit a family up to four times.
• A Women’s Advocate accompanies the Child Advocate on the first visit.  This advocate focuses on the mother of the child, talking with her about the history and her perception of the impact of the violence on the child and her assessment of risk. 
• The first visit will take place as soon as possible after an incidence of violence, in the family home or wherever convenient.
• The children will receive immediate support in dealing with the trauma of what has happened.
• Mothers and other family members will be provided with information about how best to support their children.
• The family will receive assistance in dealing with the shared trauma of family violence.
  Referrals will be made to meet the needs of the children and caregiver, e.g. lawyer, ongoing counseling, court-approved domestic violence programmes, etc.
• Caregivers who are adult victims of domestic violence will be offered a referral for ongoing advocacy and support (to shine* in Auckland City and North Shore).

Sessions with Child Crisis Team Advocates include:

• Dual intervention with a Women’s Advocate and Child Advocate.
• Establishing rapport and trust with the child.
• Developing safety plans for the child.
• Talking with the child in ways that allow them to begin to make sense of what has happened in their home.
• Making an assessment of the level of trauma experienced and referring the child for ongoing help if needed.
• Discussion with the parent about the effects the violence has had upon the child.
• Suggestions for how to manage and assist a child who has been traumatized.
• Follow up referrals made to appropriate services for ongoing intervention.

Evaluation of the service
An Evaluation of the Child Crisis Team was conducted between June and November 2003 by the Injury Prevention Research Centre. 

Evidence demonstrated an overall positive change in the wellbeing of just under half of child participants (42%) during the three week implementation period of the CCT (i.e., the three week period of the child advocate visits).  All mothers commented on positive changes in children’s physical health and emotional behaviour, both at home and school, and evidence demonstrates that all mothers considered that the CCT had increased their awareness of the impact of domestic violence on their children’s health and wellbeing. 

Prior to participation in the CCT, nearly three-quarters of children reported responses at the time of family violence which potentially placed them at risk, including staying with their mother and asking adults to stop fighting.  Evidence from the case file review indicates that safety plans were developed for the majority of children (82%) which encouraged children to remove themselves from the immediate risk of violence. 

The full evaluation report can be viewed on: http://www.health.auckland.ac.nz/ipc///pdf/cr91.pdf.