Each year, numerous children testify in the United States in either criminal, civil, or juvenile court cases. Typically, children who testify are alleged victims of sexual or physical abuse or neglect, witnesses to violent crime, or subjects in custodial hearings in civil court. As more maltreatment cases are prosecuted and child custody is contested, an increasing number of children are being called as witnesses in court. Many of these children have already been traumatized by the experiences that led to their need to testify, and participation in the court process can have additional negative effects. This article describes the development and recent formative evaluation of a court preparation program that provides psychoeducation and utilizes components of evidence-based trauma treatment approaches, such as relaxation and in vivo exposure, to support child witnesses and reduce the risk of retraumatization. Children and adolescents participating in the program attend group sessions conducted by mental health clinicians and complete a court-related anxiety measure before and after each session. Results from 175 participants are reported. Findings indicated significant decreases in court-related anxiety with large program effects. Challenges encountered by the program and future directions are discussed.

中文翻译：

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儿童和青少年法庭（KTIC）：为法庭上的儿童证人做准备的模型。

每年，在美国，许多儿童在刑事，民事或少年法庭案件中作证。通常，作证的儿童被指控为性虐待或身体虐待或忽视的受害者，暴力犯罪的证人或民事法庭的羁押听证会的对象。随着越来越多的虐待案件被起诉，对儿童监护权的争辩，越来越多的儿童被要求出庭作证。这些儿童中的许多人已经因导致需要作证的经历而受了创伤，参与法院程序可能会带来其他负面影响。本文介绍了法庭准备程序的发展和最近的形成性评估，该程序提供了心理教育，并利用了基于证据的创伤治疗方法的组成部分，例如放松和体内暴露，支持儿童证人并减少再次受伤的风险。参加该计划的儿童和青少年参加由心理健康临床医生举办的小组会议，并在每次会议之前和之后完成法院相关的焦虑措施。报告了175名参与者的结果。调查结果表明，与法庭相关的焦虑感明显降低，且具有较大的计划效果。讨论了该计划遇到的挑战和未来的方向。调查结果表明，与法庭相关的焦虑感明显降低，且具有较大的计划效果。讨论了该计划遇到的挑战和未来的方向。调查结果表明，与法庭相关的焦虑感明显降低，且具有较大的计划效果。讨论了该计划遇到的挑战和未来的方向。