ABSTRACT
Growing up in a context of violence has pervasive effects on children and young people's development, causing significant deleterious effects to the capacities to attach, to manage and regulate emotional lives, and to develop a sense of self and capacity to relate. The intergenerational effects of abuse have been shown to be extensive. The question is how best to intervene with abusive families. A model is presented which distinguishes between “family work,” an integrated systems approach which links protective and therapeutic work for individuals, groups, and families, where the courts and community are the client, and “family therapy” where the family itself is the client. The assessment of prognosis for work is outlined as well as the stages of therapeutic work including the stage of disclosure, work in a context of protection, rehabilitation, and a new family placement when rehabilitation cannot be achieved. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com> © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
