RISULTATI RICERCA

This research analyses the characteristics of children who are victims of violence and who have been referred to various services more than one time. The aim is to understand whether the reasons for multiple referral are constituted by the organisation of the network of services, by the characteristics of the children and/or by the seriousness of the victimisation. The research sample was composed of 55 children (to whom 117 referrals correspond) equal to 11,2% of the total sample of referrals received during 2000 by the Services of the same area (Varese and Province). The results show firstly the ability of the network of services to carry out articulated, effective and protective interventions. However factors such as: the presence of violence perpetrated on other children, the situation of single parenthood and the presence of neglect and/or of risk situation suffered by the child, are initially underestimated, causing ­in the time which elapses between referrals­ the worsening of the situation of victimisation. In conclusion the authors underline the necessity -for an effective preventive action- of investigating exactly the characteristics of those apparently less serious or urgent cases which, however, hide chronic and insidious forms of violence.

This review shows some studies about the value of children’s drawings as a means of communication. This review is based on the literature which focuses on drawings produced by children who have experienced traumatic events, especially sexual abuse. Many researches underline that it is often difficult for children to give an account of the abusive events, because of the pain aroused by the recovery of traumatic memories. Drawing could allow children to externalise the inner world: it could be useful both a clinical setting, to help the elaboration of trauma, and in Court, to simplify children’s statements. Some Authors try to find out some indicators of abuse that could help specialists in interpreting children’s drawings. This work includes both these kinds of studies and a brief review of graphic tests most useful in working with sexually abused children.

In this study the authors investigate neglected and emotional abused children’s mental representations of their family, using the Kinetic Family Drawing. The drawings of 44 children, ages 9 to 15, were collected: 20 maltreated children and 24 nonmaltreated children. Results indicate maltreated children’s drawings are distinguished by parents’ representations omitted -especially father’s representation-, poor integration of figures, incomplete and nonvalued View of Self, parents’ traditional roles omitted, nonsupportive and frightening View of Others (thas is, the caregivers).