Fall 2011
REACHOUT NEWS
School of Social
Work
Stephen F. Austin
State University
Child Welfare Professional Development Project
Inside this issue:
Foster Children and Cruelty to Animals Foster Children and Cruelty to Animals 1-2
Animal Abuse and 3
Pets and Children 4
14th Annual Region 5 Foster & Adoptive 5
Child Welfare 6
By Charley Joyce, LICSW
Reprinted with permission from FosterParentCollege.com Connections newsletter, July 2011.
frequency and pattern of the child's behavior.
Innocent or Problematic?
Earn One Hour Credit 7-8
Cruelty to animals is a childhood behavior that deserves
attention from parents and
professionals involved in the
care of children. The initial
step in assessing the
seriousness of a child's
abuse of animals involves
reviewing the intent,
At times, children will innocently
mistreat an animal. For example, a young child may pull a
cat's tail but not understand that
it is hurtful to the cat. The cat
would generally react to the
child, startling the child and
causing the child to feel a sense
of regret for hurting the cat. Ideally, a parent would also explain
to the child that this is hurtful to
(Continued on page 2) From the Director…..Becky Price‐Mayo, MSW, LBSW‐IPR REACHOUT NEWS
Published by
Child Welfare Professional
Development Project
School of Social Work
Stephen F. Austin
State University
P.O. Box 6165, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
Tel: 936.468.1846
Fax: 936.468.7699
E-mail: bmayo@sfasu.edu
Funding is provided by contract with
the Texas Department of
Family and Protective Services.
All rights reserved. This newsletter
may not be reproduced in whole or in
part without written permission from
the publisher. The contents of this
publication are solely the
responsibility of the Child Welfare
Professional Development Project
and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the funders.
During this time of cuts in funding and services, the SFA School of
Social Work, Child Welfare Professional Development Project is here to
assist with educational opportunities for area
foster/adoptive parents and staff.
The next Region 5 Foster & Adoptive Training Conference will be held April 21, 2012,
and the planning starts now! There are planning committee meetings scheduled for
Sept. 6 and Oct.11 at 10 a.m. in the CPS Nacogdoches office. If you are unable to attend, be sure to e-mail your suggestions to Mike Williams, Region 5 Council Foster
Parent representative, at mwms628@gmail.com.
This issue of the REACHOUT Newsletter also offers ONE HOUR of foster parent
training. The feature articles look at the relationship between children and animals
from three different perspectives. The first article examines why some children in
foster care are intentionally cruel to family pets and outlines ways to help the child and
(Continued on page 9)
Page 2
REACHOUT NEWS
Foster Children and Cruelty to Animals …..Continued (Continued from page 1)
the cat, reinforcing the idea that animals need to be
treated with care. If the mistreatment was an innocent
act by the child, the negative behavior will usually be
extinguished by the cat's response while positive ideas
are reinforced by the parent's explanation.
Unfortunately, if a child consistently hurts animals,
seeks animals to hurt and does not respond to parental
interventions, a problem could exist.
Why Would a Foster Child be Cruel to Animals?
We know that children are often in foster care as a result of abuse and neglect. Being abused physically or
sexually, or being neglected, can cause a complex mixture of hurt and angry feelings in the child who has
been victimized.
These feelings can become
overwhelming for the child
and can be acted out
through a combination of
internalized and externalized
behaviors. As a result, a
child who has been abused
and is angry might displace
the anger onto a vulnerable
animal. The cruelty can become a way to release internalized aggression that they cannot express in appropriate ways. There also might be an emotional gratification for the child in being able to be in complete control and dominance of an animal's safety, pain and life.
Another possible explanation is the psychological process of reenactment, in which a victim reenacts her
abuse. For example, I once consulted in regard to a
young girl who was forced to be sexual with dogs.
Even after her removal from the home where she was
sexually abused, she continued to engage in this behavior with dogs.
What can be done to help foster children who are cruel
to animals?
Intentional childhood cruelty to animals can be linked to
a lack of development of a conscience. It is essential
that youth who display intentional cruelty to animals
receive psychological assessment and treatment.
A comprehensive treatment model should include:
• Establishing clear
boundaries for the child's
contact with animals.
Adult supervision is recommended whenever the
child has contact with animals. In extreme cases,
animals may need to be
removed to a setting
where the child does not
have access to them.
• Within the limits of confidentiality, providing information to authorities in
other settings where the child might have contact
with animals, such as day care, relatives' homes,
schools, etc.
• Reinforcing appropriate contact with animals
• Providing therapy if the child is a victim of abuse
and/or neglect
• Teaching skills for effective anger recognition and
expression
• Therapy that focuses on developing empathy
• The child's parents must be involved in the child's
therapy.
In closing, I want to return to the scenario of the girl I mentioned earlier who was sexual with dogs. That youth experienced a comprehensive treatment approach such as
the one described above. She responded well to treatment
and responded extremely well to the foster family's care
and structure. When I discontinued my involvement, her
sexualized behavior with dogs was behind her and her foster family was considering adopting her.
Charley Joyce, LICSW, is the co-author of the
book “Behavior with a Purpose” and a contributing
author of the book “Assessing Youth Behavior.”
He is a supervisor for PATH, ND Inc. and teaches
parttime in the MSW program at the University of
North Dakota. He is on the faculty of FosterParentCollege.com, where he collaborated on
“Working With Birth Families 1: Visitation” and
“Grief & Loss in the Care System.”
FosterParentCollege.com provides online, research-based training to foster, adoptive
and kinship parents. For more information visit www.fosterparentcollege.com.
Page 3
Understanding the Link Between Animal Abuse and Family Violence Reprinted in part from the Fact Sheet, “Understanding the Link Between Animal Abuse
and Family Violence” with permission of American Humane Association
What is the link?
A correlation between animal abuse, family violence and
other forms of community violence has been established.
Child and animal protection professionals have recognized
this link, noting that abuse of both children and animals is
connected in a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. When
animals in a home are abused or neglected, it is a warning
sign that others in the household may not be safe. In addition, children who witness animal abuse are at a greater risk
of becoming abusers themselves.
How serious is it?
A survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child
abuse and neglect found that animals were abused in 88
percent of homes where child physical abuse was present
( D eViney, Dickert, & Lockwood, 1983 ) . Still another study
showed that violent offenders incarcerated in a maximum
security prison were significantly more likely than nonviolent
offenders to have committed childhood acts of cruelty toward pets ( M erz-Perez, Heide, & Silverman, 2001 ) .
What's being done?
In many communities, human services, animal services and
law enforcement agencies are sharing resources and expertise to address violence. Professionals are beginning to engage in cross-training and cross-reporting through interagency partnerships. Humane societies also are teaming
with domestic violence shelters to provide emergency shelter for pets of domestic violence victims. In addition, some
states have strengthened their animal cruelty legislation and
taken other measures to address the link. These state-level
actions permit earlier intervention and send a clear message
that all forms of violence are taken seriously.
Pets live most frequently in homes with children:
64.1 percent of homes with children under age 6
and 74.8 percent of homes with children over age
6 have pets. The woman is the primary caregiver
in 72.8 percent of pet-owning households.
References
DeViney, E., Dickert, J., & Lockwood, R. (1998). The care of pets within child abusing
families. In R. Lockwood & F.R. Ascione, (Eds.), Cruelty to animals and interpersonal
violence. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. (Reprinted from International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, 4, (1983) 321-329.)
Merz-Perez, L., Heide, K. M., & Silverman, I. J. (2001). Childhood cruelty to animals and
subsequent violence against humans. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45(5), 556- 573.
* Some states require animal control
officers to report suspected child
abuse or neglect and receive training
in recognizing and reporting child
abuse and neglect.
* A few states permit child and adult
protection workers to report suspected
animal abuse or receive training on
identifying and reporting animal cruelty, abuse and neglect.
* Nearly half the states call for psychological counseling for
individuals convicted of animal cruelty.
Did you know...
* 71 percent of pet-owning women entering women's shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed
or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically
control victims; 32 percent reported their children had hurt
or killed animals.
* 68 percent of battered women reported violence towards
their animals. Of these incidents, 87 percent occurred in the
presence of the women and 75 percent in the presence of
the children to psychologically control and coerce them.
* 13 percent of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence.
* Pets may suffer unexplained injuries, health problems or
permanent disabilities at the hands of abusers or disappear
from home.
* Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children's pets to coerce
them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent
about abuse. Disturbed children kill or harm animals to
emulate their parents' conduct, to prevent the abuser from
killing the pet or to take out their aggressions on another
victim.
* In one study, 70 percent of animal abusers also had records for other crimes. Domestic violence victims whose
animals were abused saw the animal cruelty as one more
violent episode in a long history of indiscriminate violence
aimed at them and their vulnerability.
* Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of
social services intervention for a family in trouble.
* Animal cruelty problems are people problems. When animals are abused, people are at risk.
Reprinted from the Fact Sheet, “Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence” with permission of American Humane Association
Page 4
REACHOUT NEWS
Pets and Children While the previous articles have pointed out negative aspects of
pet ownership in families where there is violence and abuse,
having a pet in the home can be very beneficial for children.
With children in foster care, past relationships with humans may
have been traumatic. Having a pet can offer these children a
trustworthy companion that more simply meets their emotional
needs. Children are able to develop positive relationships and
build responsibility through pet ownership, both of which are
beneficial to their long-term development.
Reprinted with permission form the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Facts for Families No. 75
Pets are part of many children's lives. Parental involvement, open discussion and planning are necessary to
help make pet ownership a positive experience for everyone. A child who learns to care for an animal and treat it
kindly and patiently may get invaluable training in learning to treat people the same way. Careless treatment of
animals is unhealthy for both
the pet and the
child involved.
Choosing an
Appropriate Pet
While all kinds of
pets can bring
children pleasure, it is important to choose a pet that is
right for your family, your home and your lifestyle and one
that your child can help care for. Parents should be cautious about having aggressive animals as pets. Exotic
and unusual animals may be difficult to care for and
should be considered very carefully.
Caring for a Pet
Taking care of a pet can help children develop social
skills. However, certain guidelines apply:
•Since very young children ( u nder the age of 3-4
years ) do not have the maturity to control their aggressive and angry impulses, they should be monitored with
pets at all times.
•Young children ( under 10 years ) are unable to care
for a large animal, a cat or a dog, on their own.
•Parents must oversee the pet's care even if they believe
their child is old enough to care for a pet.
•If children become lax in caring for a pet, parents may
have to take over the responsibility on their own.
•Children should be reminded in a gentle, non-scolding
way, that animals, like people, need food, water and ex-
ercise.
•If a child continues to neglect a pet, a new home may
have to be found for the animal.
•Parents serve as role models. Children learn responsible pet ownership by observing their parents' behavior.
Advantages of Pet Ownership
Children raised with pets show many benefits. Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's
self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships
with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet also can
help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy. Pets can serve different purposes for
children:
•They can be safe recipients of secrets and private
thoughts--children often talk to their pets, like they do
their stuffed animals.
•They provide lessons about life: reproduction, birth, illnesses, accidents, death and bereavement.
•They can help develop responsible behavior in the children who care for them.
•They provide a connection to nature.
•They can teach respect for other living things.
Other physical and emotional needs fulfilled by pet ownership include:
•Physical activity
•Comfort contact
•Love, loyalty and affection
•Experience with loss if a pet is lost or dies.
Although most children are gentle and appropriate with
pets, some may be overly rough or even abusive. If such
behavior persists, it may be a sign of significant emotional problems. Any child who abuses, tortures or kills
animals should be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for a comprehensive evaluation.
Page 5
REACHOUT NEWS
14th Annual Region 5 Foster and Adoptive Training Conference The 14th Annual Region 5 Foster and Adoptive Training
Conference was held April 16, 2011, on the Stephen F.
Austin State University campus.
The 14th Annual Region 5 Foster and Adoptive Training
Pre-Conference: Pathways to Permanency and Stability
was held April 15, 2011, at Stephen F. Austin State University and led by Dr. Richard Delaney.
The Conference Planning Committee comprised of FAD
staff, Region 5 Foster Parent Council and SFA Child Welfare Professional Development Project staff met throughout the year to identify presenters to develop workshop
topics that would meet training needs for foster and adoptive parents.
The SFA CWPDP and CPS FAD planned the workshops
to meet Title IV-E training needs for Region 4/5 staff.
There were 53 participants in attendance, including 37
CPS staff. Social work continuing education units were
awarded to workshop participants.
In addition, the Awards Luncheon honored foster parents
and caseworkers and featured guest speakers Judy Bowman, TDFPS CPS Regional Administrator, and Shaneka
Odom, CPS Region 5 Youth Specialist.
For both days, participants from over 20 counties highly
rated their conference experience and indicated that
they enhanced their knowledge and skills to meet the
needs of children and youth that have been adopted or
are currently in foster care.
Page 6
REACHOUT NEWS
Child Welfare Information Center Brittany Ruivivar MSW Graduate Assistant Stephen F. Austin State University populations; mental health issues; and much more are
discussed.
For a child who has had no control over their life, abusing
an animal may be the means of releasing anger. Animal
abuse may also be a sign of an attachment disorder. For
foster and adoptive parents of children with these issues, it
may seem that there are few resources, but in the Child
Welfare Information Center there are books and DVDs
available to help children with anger and attachment issues
as well as new resources on a variety of other topics to
help expand skills and enhance relationships.
In this DVD by Tom Weidlinger, you get an insightful
glimpse into the lives of children and adolescents who
have learning disabilities. Five students worked with the
filmmaker to burst out of the niche in which they had
been placed by a “ one-size-fits-all ” educational system by revealing their unique approaches to learning.
“ O riginal Minds ”
Parenting Children With Anger Issues
• Foster Parent College Anger Outbursts ( D VD )
•Your Angry Child: A Guide for Parents ( Book )
•Angry Kids, Frustrated Parents ( Book)
•How to Handle a Hard-to-Handle Kid ( B ook )
Parenting Children With Attachment Disorders
• Rebuilding Attachment with Traumatized Children ( Book )
• Attachment in Middle Childhood
( B ook )
• Attachment, Trauma and Healing
( B ook )
Adoptive Parenting
• Parenting the Hurt Child ( B ook )
Earn
Foster Parent
Training Credit
NEW RESOURCES
“ W hen Children Grieve ”
Many experiences in life can cause feelings of grief, from
the death of a loved one, divorce or losing a prized possession, to the separation of a child from their birth parents. In
this book by Dr. Leslie Landon Matthews, you are given
guidelines for helping children develop healthy, effective
responses to loss and methods to handle it.
“ L GBTQ Youth Issues ”
Although written for youth workers, this book contains valuable information for foster parents as well. How to handle
the coming out process; family issues associated with the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning
populations; discrimination and violence against LGBTQ
“ S ubstance-Exposed Infants ”
Each year more than 400,000 infants
are born in the U.S. who were prenatally exposed to illegal substances.
As parental drug use is a factor in the
placement of the majority of children
in foster and kinship care, you may
find this DVD from the Foster Parent
College to be of particular interest.
The issues and challenges surrounding the care of
these infants a well as the effects of legal/illegal drugs,
risks, medical/developmental issues and parenting
strategies are examined.
Remember that CWIC has a variety of Foster Parent
College films. Don't hesitate to ask about them today, or
go to www2.sfasu.edu/aas/socwk/CWPDP/
cwpdpoverview.html to view a complete list of available
videos and DVDs. From all of us in the Child Welfare
Professional Development Project, thanks for your patronage.
A special toll free number . . .
(877) 886-6707
. . . is provided for CPS staff and foster
and adoptive parents. CWIC books, DVDs
and videos are mailed to your home or
office, along with a stamped envelope for
easy return.
Please specify if you are interested in receiving foster parent training hours, and a test and evaluation
will be included with the book or video. Once completed and returned, foster parents will receive a
letter of verification of training hours earned.
Your calls are important to us.
We look forward to hearing from you!
FOSTER PARENT TRAINING - REACHOUT Newsletter Fall 2011
Complete for one hour of training credit and return to your caseworker.
Learning Objectives •
•
•
•
•
•
The participant will understand how to assess the seriousness of children’s abuse of animals.
The participant will learn possible reasons for cruelty to animals by children in foster care.
The participant will describe what can be done to help children in foster care who are cruel to animals.
The participant will recognize the link between animal abuse and family violence.
The participant will list advantages of pet ownership.
The participant will identify important concepts in pet care.
Learning Activities Activity One Initial steps in assessing the seriousness of children’s abuse of animals involves reviewing what three areas? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ List and describe two reasons why a child in foster care would be cruel to animals: 1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ List and describe two ways to help children in foster care who are cruel to animals: 1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Activity Two Taking care of a pet can help children develop social skills. List and describe three advantages of pet ownership for children: 1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ List and describe three guidelines to remember when caring for a pet: 1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Activity Three When animals in a home are abused or neglected, it is a warning sign that others in the household may not be safe. (Circle the best answer.) True False Children who witness animal abuse are not at any greater risk of becoming abusers themselves. (Circle the best answer.) True False Evaluation Trainer Child Welfare Professional Development Project, School of Social Work, SFA Date ____________ Name (optional)___________________________________________________________ Newsletter presentation and materials: 1. This newsletter content satisfied my expectations. ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree ___Strongly disagree 2. The examples and activities within this newsletter helped me learn. ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree ___Strongly disagree 3. This newsletter provides a good opportunity to receive information and training. ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree ___Strongly disagree Course Content Application: 4. The topics presented in this newsletter will help me do my job. ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree ___Strongly disagree 5. Reading this newsletter improved my skills and knowledge. ___Strongly disagree ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree 6. What were two of the most useful concepts you learned? _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Overall, I was satisfied with this newsletter. ___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___Disagree ___Strongly disagree Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9
REACHOUT NEWS
Child Welfare Professional Development Project (Continued from page 1)
to protect the animal. The second article alerts foster/
adoptive parents and professionals about the high
prevalence of child abuse in homes where animal abuse
occurs and the potential lifelong impact on children witnessing this violence. As a matter of fact, during the
Save the Date!
APRIL 21, 2012
most recent Texas legislative session, SB 279 was
passed into law and includes pets in protective orders
and recognizes that threatening and or harming pets is
used as a means to intimidate victims. The third article
reinforces the many long-term benefits for children who
develop positive relationships with animals, especially to
enhance trust, compassion and empathy. To receive
training credit, complete the enclosed test ( p. 9-10 )
and return it to your caseworker.
15th Annual Region 5
Don't miss the CWPDP Child Welfare Information Center on page 8, which tells you how to receive
Foster and Adoptive Training
Conference
foster parent training hours at no cost and without leaving your driveway! Graduate Assistants Lauren and
Brittany are ready to assist you with finding training
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas
materials that fit your needs.
We hope one or more of these avenues help you meet
annual foster parent training requirements and, most of
Conference Partners:
children and youth that you foster in your home! We wel-
SFA School of Social Work
Texas Department of
Family and Protective Services
come your feedback and look forward to hearing from
Region 5 Foster Parent Council
all, help you make a difference in the lives of East Texas
you.
Child Welfare Professional Development Project Staff
Brittany Ruivivar
Graduate Assistant
936.468.2705
Becky Price-Mayo, MSW, LBSW-IPR
Director
936.468.1808
bmayo@sfasu.edu
Lauren Skinner
Graduate Assistant
936.468.1846
Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work Child Welfare Professional Development Project P.O. Box 6165, SFA Station Nacogdoches, TX 75962‐6165 REACHOUT NEWS
Fall 2011 Earn One Hour of
Foster Parent Training
Child Welfare Professional Development Project
School of Social Work, Stephen F. Austin State University