BREAKING THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: AN INTERACTIVE VIDEO PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS

CHILDREN WHO WITNESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT ARE NOT DIRECT VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE, MAY BE FORGOTTEN. A MODEL TREATMENT PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM FOR USE BY THESE CHILDREN, ALONE OR WITH HELPING PROFESSIONALS, CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO SERVICE AND EDUCATIONAL PLANS FOR SUCH CHILDREN. AN INTERACTIVE VIDEO PROGRAM WITH A LEADER'S GUIDE AND TAPE WILL PRESENT INFORMATION TO HELP THESE CHILDREN GROW INTO BEHAVIORALLY HEALTHY ADULTS AND REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF LONG-TERM NEGATIVE EFFECTS. PHASE I OBJECTIVES INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF RELEVANT RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ON EXTANT RESOURCE MATERIALS, THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF CURRICULUM CONTENT, AND THE DEVELOPMENTOF A PRELIMINARY MARKETING PLAN. PHASE I RESEARCH WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A FOUNDATION, A VIABLE MARKET, AND POTENTIAL PROFITABILITY IN THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFTHE PROPOSED VIDEO PROGRAM. METHODOLOGY WILL INCLUDE THE INPUT OF CHILDREN/YOUTH WHO HAVE RECENTLY WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADULTS WHO WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS CHILDREN, AND PROFESSIONALS IN RELEVANT DISCIPLINES. THE VIDEO PROGRAM WILL FILL AN EXISTING GAP IN EDUCATIONAL AND TREATMENT MATERIALS FOR AND ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.