Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly: Applying Resilience Concepts to Practice with Children and Youth Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

A credible body of research has evolved on resilience and children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). This information can be drawn on for resilience-informed approaches specifically aimed at working with children exposed to IPV. Child exposure to IPV has been an area of growing interest with rates in both child welfare and community samples remaining at concerning levels. It is commonly accepted that a number of these children experience harmful effects. However, extant studies also indicate some children show resilience after IPV exposure. Yet little has been written on how resilience can be fostered with exposed children who are negatively affected. The authors offer a working definition of it, discuss related concepts, and summarize the resilience research regarding IPV-exposed children. As well, two case examples are presented for ways to foster resilience with IPV-exposed children. Suggestions are made for a resilience-informed approach with this population, and it is demonstrated how social workers can use this to reinforce a strengths-based framework. Suggestions for future research and practice are also made.The authors would like to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for their generous support of this study