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27 Child L. Prac. 1 (2008-2009)

handle is hein.journals/chilawpt27 and id is 1 raw text is: AN Ch..ild Law Practice Vol. 27 No. 1 March 2008 Helping Lawyers Help Kids Reducing Trauma for Children Involved in Dependency and Criminal Court by Debra Jenkins C hildren involved in the dependency and criminal court systems face various forms of trauma. For these children, the court systems that are designed to help them may end up hurting them even more. Practitioners in both systems need clear strategies to reduce trauma to children caused by the court system. This article explores how to reduce trauma to children involved in depen- dency and criminal court proceedings through individual and collaborative efforts. Court-Related Trauma When a maltreated child is involved in dependency and criminal court pro- ceedings, the child may be flooded with memories of the abuse or neglect. This may cause the child to experience:1 varying emotions a reliving of the event feelings of helplessness and powerlessness posttraumatic stress disorder, which causes intrusive and recurrent memories of the event anxious dreams and fear of repeated trauma avoidant or hypervigilant behavior lowered cognitive performance lack of interest in activities constricted affect and estrangement persistent feelings of guilt Children participating in depen- dency and criminal proceedings are of- ten required to speak to many different people about the abuse they suffered. This repeated questioning about the de- tails of abuse and neglect can be con- fusing and intimidating for the child. Feelings of anxiety and shame can also intensify during the court process. Children can be easily scared and uncomfortable about testifying in a courtroom filled with unfamiliar adults and intimidating judges and lawyers. When the alleged abuse perpetrator is a caregiver, parent, relative, or loved one, children may blame themselves for the legal action against that individual. Children may also believe that tes- tifying about abuse and neglect in de- pendency and criminal proceedings will prevent them from returning home. This contributes to feelings of guilt and self-blame, particularly when siblings have also been removed from home and are upset with the sibling who dis- closed details of abuse and neglect. Practitioners' Roles Social workers, attorneys and judges each play a unique role in protecting child witnesses from trauma caused by participating in dependency and criminal justice systems. Practitioners have specific roles in protecting child victims from added trauma through improved communication, collabora- tion, self-education, and by using therapeutic services and witness support programs. Social Workers Social workers are essential to minimizing the trauma of children who enter foster care. They are among the first to have contact with the child once abuse and/or neglect is disclosed. Social workers have ongoing contact with the child and their foster family and stay informed about the child's behaviors, feelings, and reactions to participating in court. Social workers make referrals that link a child to (Continued on p. 6) What's Inside: 2 CASE LAW UPDATE 10 Q&A When Crime Touches Child Welfare: A Quiz 11 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Alaska and Nebraska Enact Safe Haven Laws 12 IN PRACTICE Sibling Bonds and Separations 14 HEALTH MATTERS Practicing Preventative Law E-mail: childlawpractice@staff.abanet.org * Internet: http://www.childlawpractice.org

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