This short entry in the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development presents literature and survey results of the effects of community violence on child development. Surveys estimate that more than 50% of children and youth have experienced some level of community violence exposure. This experience has been shown to impact development negatively, leading to increased emotional, social, and behavioral problems. The authors conclude that “the effects of violence exposure are particularly problematic for young children and have been shown to adversely impact brain development.” There are many prevention and intervention strategies that communities and parents can use to reduce violence, including limiting children’s exposure to violent video games, movies, and television.

This 2018 webinar discussed the relationship between the habits of a healthy dating environment and a healthy marriage. The National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families’ hour-long session included an overview of the Resource Center, as well as presentations on relationship education for youth in California and precautionary support for high-risk youth. The session focused on the impact of normalized relationship skills fostered from youth onward and how they transpire in later relationships or marriage. The session ended with a Q&A section for the audience to reflect on the webinar and to ask any relevant questions.

This toolkit from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse provides fatherhood programs with resources to address domestic violence and promote safe environments for children and families. Some of the strategies covered include: establishing partnerships with local domestic violence organizations to share goals; working with a domestic violence prevention partner to create protocols for ensuring domestic violence issues and guiding service delivery; and facilitating cross-training for fatherhood and domestic violence agency staff.

Aimed at informing decision makers in states and communities about research and best practices for preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) including teen dating violence, this package from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents a comprehensive series of approaches and corresponding available evidence that supports eight broad strategies. These strategies include disrupting pathways to partner violence, encouraging household financial security, and teaching skills to form safe and healthy relationships. The package provides a rationale for each strategy, before continuing into a series of approaches specific to the strategy’s goal. It also provides a list of Potential Outcomes that span physical and psychological benefits.

The National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families published this 2016 research brief to familiarize people with the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and how the abuse affects exposed children across the country. The brief addresses the dynamics of perpetuated IPV and the impacts on children in a physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral sense. This brief is meant to serve as a resource in preventative and aftercare methods, including information on “red flags” and post-abuse therapists and hotlines.

In a study by Abt Associates on the experiences of those entering homeless shelters, data showed that behavioral health problems decreased over time for this population. Post-traumatic stress disorder was the only metric unchanged, but levels of psychological distress, alcohol dependence, and drug abuse all lessened at the 20-month and 37-month follow-up assessments. Coming in to the shelters, parents exhibited high levels of behavioral health problems, which were found to be more severe for those parents who were foster children or who experienced domestic violence. These high levels of behavioral health problems decreased over time due to multiple factors, including improved housing circumstances. Behavioral health measures improved more for those parents who became stably housed as opposed to those who continued to be homeless, although substance abuse made stability more difficult to attain. The report notes the policy implications that stable housing programs will likely reduce levels of psychological distress, and also that substance abuse counseling programs can help homeless families find housing stability.

On October 17, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued a joint Information Memorandum (IM) to all ACF programs emphasizing the importance of meaningful father involvement to better serve children and families. In particular, this memorandum highlights research findings that demonstrate the value of fathers’ involvement in the lives of their children and families, as well as identifies promising practices to promote and sustain fathers’ engagement, regardless of their physical location or extent of custodial participation.

This blog post from Clarence H. Carter, Director, Office of Family Assistance, announces the release of an information memorandum that details efforts to prioritize and enhance father engagement in ACF-funded programs. The memorandum was signed by the leadership of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, including the Children’s Bureau, the Family and Youth Services Bureau, the Office of Child Support Enforcement, the Office of Family Assistance, the Office of Child Care, and the Office of Head Start. ACF affirms its commitment to fathers and families and encourages paternal involvement in family support and child welfare programs.

This webinar explored promising practices and programs from TANF programs and Department of Labor grantees that help TANF recipients with a disability move toward employment. The webinar examined opportunities and challenges in providing supports and services as well as strategies and approaches, such as customized employment being used to help recipients with a disability secure and maintain employment. It explored opportunities for partnerships between TANF and disability and workforce programs to promote employment outcomes and:

• Provided a context for the connection between disability, TANF, and intergenerational poverty.
• Shared information on evidence-based approaches that offer universal design strategies for youth on TANF and/or in families receiving TANF support.
• Provided information on different user-friendly strategies for implementing Customized Employment, another universal design evidence-based approach to employment that better ensures a successful job match with higher retention rates.
• Highlighted states that are implementing successful practices to engage and support people with disabilities that promote employment outcomes.
• Provided links to resources that can assist TANF program staff in designing programs and providing services that promote employment outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities.

This webinar was held on Thursday, July 12, 2018 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. EDT. 

To understand and better meet the needs of young parents, the Urban Institute analyzed 14 programs that serve this vulnerable and often disadvantaged group to explain common themes and useful approaches in service provision. The institute’s summary report provides demography and challenges for young parents and a historical reflection on young parent programs as well. Common services included education and credential attainment, employment assistance, and parenting help, and other supports like mental health counseling, referrals for government services, child care, and transportation assistance. Based on repeated successes and challenges across programs that serve young parents, the report recommends increased federal funding and flexibility with that funding, plus more corollary supportive services and tailored solutions based on the programs’ specific target populations.