Children of Antwerp, also your children. Child poverty and domestic violence: a project subsidized by the Ministry of poverty reduction

Facts of domestic violence 1 in 10 children in Flanders are being abused or mistreated. Child abuse is the second cause of infant mortality. A lot of cases of child abuse aren’t reported or visible. 70 à 90 % of families where abuse appears, were already known as risk families. Especially small children are very vulnerable – mainly because there aren’t schools involved and the children aren’t empowered enough. Juvenile delinquency is often related to child abuse and/or emotional negligence. 30% of children who regularly witnessed violence in the family or were victimized, become abusers in the future.

History CO3 (client centered organization), a pilot in Antwerp Main goal Stop the violence, prevent recurrence of violence and increasing of the protective factors. What A partnership between justice/police, government and the welfare/social sector. Deals with difficult cases of violence against women and children. Works with the principle of multi-agency. Looks at all the people within the family (perpetrator, victim, children, …) Need Pay more attention to small children (0-3 year old) and pregnant women who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence.

Problem analysis Children grow up in a risky context Rise of births in underprivileged families Poverty increases the risk of using violence towards family members. Analysis of 55 cases shows that : o Combination of poverty and domestic violence: risk factors with negative consequences for birth, attachment and further development of children o Lack of coordination between different organizations

Design Main goals Reduction of child poverty Protection of children living in families with domestic violence Increasing and assuring the child development and child growth Tasks Listing difficulties involving working with our target groups. Casemanagement: coordination of all the activities to tackle the violence, to strengthen the women, to offer safety planning, work on the living conditions of women and children, keep contact with the organizations involved,... Advising local and national government about good practices in tackling violence against women and children.

Gathering of difficulties 1. Pregnant women and families with small children live in a underprivileged situation. 2. Pregnant women and families with small children are socially isolated. 3. (One of) partners haven’t learned to deal with frustrations. 4. Organizations don’t always react on a ideal manner when there are signs or suspicions of violence. 5. The violence increases/escalates. 6. Children are victims or witnesses of domestic violence. 7. Children have to deal with a loyalty conflict between their parents. 8. Children could have a problem with attachment as consequence of the conflict or separation. 9. Professional organizations can ‘t break the circle of violence. 10. The policy isn’t coordinated enough.

Advises towards government A quick and professional screening of children (monitoring the consequences of being a victim or witness). Organizations have to work along following principles: outreach, easy access, visit the clients in their homes, …. Coordination of all activities by one handler throughout the whole process. A plan of approach involves the participation of all the members of the family. Organizations make use of a method like ‘Signs of safety’ that automatically involves drawing up a safety plan for the children. Implementing and enlarging voluntary organizations. For example: working with well-educated buddies that work with pregnant women. Searching for a place in the network of the child when the safety at home cannot be guaranteed. Placing children in institutions as a measure of last resort. Enlarging the organizations working with migrant families and increasing the competence of working with these families.

Future projects Structural implemented 1. Activities for children in a crisis center Analyses of the needs of women and children in crisis centers. Gathering of organizations in the neighborhood with an existing offer for children 2. A similar pilot project like CO3 but only for vulnerable pregnant women Set up: hospitals and midwives Goal: creation of a new network or supporting the existing network

European call Theme Good practices in risk assessment Question? How can we organize and implement a standardized form of risk assessment for small children?