Emory Psychologist Heads
SAFETY Project for Abused Women and Their Children
In order to better understand the relationship between an African-American
mother and her child as it relates to intimate partner violence (IPV),
Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine professor
in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and chief psychologist
at Grady Memorial Hospital, and her colleagues have developed the SAFETY
project, an acronym for Supporting African-American Families, Empowering
Their Youth. The project is designed to determine the impact of domestic
violence on children within the African-American community and to provide
support groups for children from IPV homes who have been abused. The
project also provides parenting groups to teach effective parenting
skills, support groups for abused women, and helps to ensure the safety
of abused women and their children. In addition, women and their children
are given resources to help them live violence-free lives with the assistance
of shelter, childcare and job placement.
According to Dr. Kaslow,
"domestic violence is a major public health problem" in the African-American
community. "We’re hearing that a lot in the news lately," she said.
"Not only are women hurt psychologically, but also physically and sexually
and sometimes it gets so bad that women are killed."
Dr. Kaslow said the problem
is just as dangerous for children. She notes that approximately 40 percent
of children from IPV homes are abused themselves, and that child maltreatment
(abuse, neglect) represents a gross violation of the rights of a vulnerable
and dependent child.
"Growing up in an abusive
home, where you observe and witness domestic violence, is very stressful
for children," Dr. Kaslow said. "It’s scary for them, they don’t feel
safe, they worry about their moms, they worry about whether they’re
going to get hurt, and unfortunately, often in families where the mom
is being beaten up, the child is also being abused, either physically,
or sexually or psychologically, or some combination. We know that there
is an association between domestic violence and child abuse, and we
know that kids who grow up in abusive homes tend to have psychological
problems."
Dr. Kaslow hopes the project,
which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will
attract even more attention to the prevalence of domestic violence and
the impact that witnessing abuse has on the emotional adjustment of
children. She said very little research has focused on the link between
domestic violence and child abuse and adjustment with the African-American
community.
"We’re looking at factors
that put kids and these families at risk for difficulties, as well as
what each family’s strengths are and how women cope and survive," she
said.
Done in a culturally competent
manner, two groups are formed. The first group is comprised of mothers
who have been in an abusive relationship within the past year and whose
children, ages 8 to 12, live with them. The second group consists of
mothers who have never been involved in an abusive relationship, have
had a partner within the past year, and who live with their children,
ages 8 to 12. Before entering their respective groups, each of the women
answer a battery of questions that assesses their psychological functioning,
strengths, family relationships, spirituality and religion, and coping
strategies.
"We want to compare the two
groups to see how they’re similar or different," Dr. Kaslow said. "Interestingly,
what we’ve found in some instances with a woman in a non-abusive relationship
was that her child reported few family problems, the child was doing
very well in school, and had no psychological difficulties. The mom
seemed happy, she and the child had a good relationship, and the other
siblings appeared friendly and active. When we see abused moms and their
kids, they seem depressed, there’s a lot more substance abuse, children
have more conduct problems in school, and families just have way fewer
resources to cope."
As part of the project, women
are paid $50, they and their children receive a gift and snacks, and
transportation costs are reimbursed. The abused women and children who
participate in the project are encouraged to become involved in the
weekly support groups and to get help obtaining resources through the
Resource Room.
Abused, as well as non-abused
women are still needed for the project. Donations of gifts, snacks and
school supplies are also needed.
For more information, or
to enroll in the project, please call (404) 616-2895. |