Introduction: Children exposed to intimate partner violence are at risk of long-term consequences on their health and development as well as of continued or renewed exposure to witnessing violence and of being subjected to physical child abuse.

There is a need for effective interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence. Existing interventions in Sweden have shown positive but insufficient outcomes. Long term health effects and children’s protection from violence are often not investigated. Extended knowledge on lasting outcomes, aiming at improving established interventions is needed.

Method: The current study is an effectiveness study investigating the outcomes of two established group interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence and their non-offending parent. The study included 50 children, 24 girls and 26 boys, aged 4-13 years. Background information, child and parental mental health problems and trauma symptoms were assessed pre- and post-treatment, as well as 6 and 12 months post treatment. Additionally children’s exposure to physical and psychological child maltreatment and to intimate partner violence was tracked.

Results: The results indicate that children benefit from the group interventions. Late improvements were registered at the follow-up assessments. The findings indicate that children’s exposure to violence decreased, with physical maltreatment decreasing prior to exposure to psychological maltreatment.

Discussion: Currently data from the 6- and 12-months follow-up assessments are being analyzed. Preliminary results include paths of continuous symptoms reduction for children and children’s long-term exposure to violence. Possible associations between child and maternal levels of symptoms, as well as methodological and clinical implications will be discussed.