Are Children in Therapy More Likely to Be Poly-Victims? This Presentation was produced by the Crimes Against Children Research Center of the University of New Hampshire with funding by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Dissemination at this training is supported by the National Children’s Advocacy Center under Grant No VF-GX-K010, Awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice

Children in therapy are more than 3 times as likely to be poly-victims! 2

Poly-victimization compared to other issues:  These data indicate that children who have seen a therapist are MORE LIKELY TO BE POLY-VICTIMS (26%) than they are to have:  A range of internalizing disorders (17%)  A range of externalizing disorders (17%)  Suicidal ideation (9%)  Drug and alcohol problems in family –of-origin (20%) 3

Children Who Have Seen a Therapist Also Have More Serious Victimizations 4

Many Forms of Victimization Are Extremely Common In Therapy Group Domains of victimization With therapist contact No therapist contact Conventional crime Peer Intimidation Any assault Exposure to community violence Exposure to family violence Maltreatment Crime against the school Sexual victimization

Gender Differences Domain of victimization Among BOYS in therapy Among GIRLS in therapy Vandalism Assault (no weapon) Weapon assault Peer Intimidation Robbery Theft Witnessed community violence School specific violence Maltreatment Witnessed family violence