MISC-IPV: a Community-Based Intervention for Children Traumatized by Intimate Partner Violence

MISC is a semi-structured, participatory caregiver intervention following these steps: (1) Identify the mother's personal and cultural characteristics, which include a respectful discussion around the mother's child-rearing views, objectives, needs and expectations. (2) Create a baseline through videotaped interactions. (3) Create caregivers' personal interaction profile on the basis of videotaped interaction. The caseworker builds on the initial videotaped interaction and uses subsequent bi-weekly videotaped interactions to give feedback to mothers on the frequency of mediational behaviors thereby quantifying the quality of mother-child interactions. Interactional characteristics are jointly identified and conceptualized according to MISC principles. The mother learns to understand both her own and the child's behavior within a meaningful framework, enhancing reflection of caregiving practices. (4) In-service training (once a month). (5) Re-evaluate training efficacy.

TAU consists of supportive services including trauma informed, client-centered, and strength-based case management and advocacy. All services are focused on the mother and do not include any child-focused intervention. Instead, staff provide in-home intensive case management services to assess and provide safety planning, assess other social service needs, link abused mothers to community resources, and assist clients in rehousing. TAU direct contact with the mother consists of bi-weekly contact, which matches the contact frequency for the intervention group. However, MISC mothers will be receiving TAU+MISC-IPV (2 hours bi-weekly contact) compared with TAU only (30 minutes biweekly contact).