Some lively discussion on the BBC last week around the use of “informal” community responses to violent crime, including Restorative Justice practice, focused on adult crime. As well as a rather dismissive tone in the description of these techniques as “informal”, one of the main concerns in discussion was with regard to the inappropriateness of restorative justice in the case of domestic violence, where vulnerable women in particular may be pressured into accepting “unreal” apologies from perpetrators. But of course the story may be very different with children and adolescents using violence in the home, where restorative techniques have been found to be extremely positive, enabling children to acknowledge their abusive behaviour, restoring family relationships and avoiding the criminalisation that might otherwise follow involvement in the youth justice system. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Family violence
Something to celebrate!
This week I celebrate one year of this blog.
When I first became aware of the issue of parent abuse, in the early 80s, we had no idea of what to suggest to help the parent who had approached us. By the time I engaged in some serious research, in 2004-6, there was a small but growing body of knowledge about this aspect of family violence, and a number of programmes had been developed, mostly in Australia, New Zealand and the USA and Canada. A year later, a discussion on parent abuse was one of the items in the BBC’s Woman’s Hour, a flagship radio programme, which goes out 6 days a week. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Amanda Holt speaking at Surrey University
An inspiring talk from Amanda Holt yesterday at Surrey University, based on her forthcoming book: Adolescent-to-Parent Abuse: Current Understandings in Research, Policy and Practice. The book, from Policy Press, due out in November this year, will be the first academic text on parent abuse to be published in Britain. Offering a thorough overview of the subject, Amanda first considered the similarities and differences with other forms of family violence; and then went on to examine what we can learn from the different types of data available. Continue reading
Filed under Discussion, publications
The Enemy Within: report into family violence in the UK
The UK charity 4Children issued a press release yesterday with the publication of their new report, The Enemy Within. As part of their Give me Strength campaign, 4Children commissioned YouGov to survey parents with children under the age of 18. “The report reveals the way in which children and parents can be both victims and perpetrators of family conflict – with the evidence suggesting that violence is more widespread within the family than was perhaps previously thought.”
The full report can be downloaded from the 4Children website or here. The recommendations are particularly positive, with their call for a redefinition of violence within families, a refocussing on the whole family and the raising of awareness among professionals of the extent of the problem, among others.
Filed under news reports, publications
Respectful relationships can follow exposure of parent abuse
The 2010 report, Exposing the dark side of parenting: A report on parents’ experiences of family violence, published by the Regional Alliance Addressing Child and Adolescent Violence in the Home, South Australia, documented the results of a public phone-in exercise which took place in Southern Australia in 2008, designed to contribute to the body of knowledge on parent abuse. The report is important not just for its findings, which are broadly congruent with other similar studies, but also for the series of recommendations made: (i) the raising of community and agency awareness about child and adolescent family violence, (ii) the training and development for professionals about appropriate resources, (iii) the provision of effective accessible support for families and (iv) the establishment of a dedicated agency to provide ongoing support to parents, families and young people. Continue reading
Filed under projects, publications
Parent abuse in the Independent
An article about parent abuse in the Independent this weekend managed to reference and quote Family Lives, Lynette Robinson, Rachel Condry and Hertfordshire Practical Parenting Programme, all in under 500 words. Well done, Sarah Cassidy!
The Big Lottery grant to Hertfordshire Practical Parenting Project has brought the subject of parent abuse once more to the attention of the media. An informative piece is illustrated with a case study from an interview with one of the Hertfordshire parents
Sadly, the ‘comments’ go some way to explaining why this aspect of family violence remains so under-reported. Breaking through this barrage of ignorance, prejudice and downright vitriol, seems as far away as ever.
Filed under news reports, projects
The Respect Young People’s Toolkit
I met recently with Julia Worms, of the Respect Young People’s Service, to learn more about the Respect Young People’s Toolkit, which was officially launched in Britain last year, supporting work with young people using violence in close relationships.
Aside from work within criminal justice, Respect is unique in developing family violence interventions, setting standards for provision and operating as an umbrella membership organisation, as well as offering training and development. Its independence is important, allowing freedom to operate within the voluntary sector and to develop work such as the YP Toolkit. Continue reading
Filed under projects, Training opportunities
A hidden form of family violence
Judy Nixon, Professor of Social Governance at Sheffield Hallam University, introduces findings from her recent research in this video from Research in Practice. The overwhelming message is that we need to talk about parent abuse more, in order to raise awareness and bring it eventually to policy makers’ attention.
Update October 2017: It looks like this vimeo may no longer be available to view. I would welcome information about a more up to date link.
Filed under TV and video
HOLES IN THE WALL 