Assessment measures
Adapted modified aggression scale
This aggression scale was adapted by the Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, St. Louis to assess presence of avoidant, fighting/bullying, anger and cooperative/caring behavior among middle school-aged youth. It is an adaptation of the Modified Aggression Scale (see section 1, page 12) developed by Bosworth & Espelage in 1995 and 1999.
Assessment and Trauma Focused Treatment for Children
Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King presents on assessment and trauma-focused treatment for children, particularly for children who are primary or secondary survivors of torture. This presentation was recorded at the National Capacity-Building Institute held in Chapel Hill, NC in 2012.
Projective tools
Recommended for use with refugee/immigrant children, but only if there is a common language, never with an interpreter. Practitioners should be well versed in cross-cultural issues in testing.
- Children's Apperception Test (CAT) - can be purchased at PAR
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - can be purchased via Amazon.com
- Rorschach - available for purchase through many retailers in various formats
Studies of Adversity, Resilience, and Child Mental Health
Dr. Theresa Betancourt speaks about mental health in children who are survivors of torture and war trauma, with reference to her work in Sierra Leone and Rwanda.
This video was recorded at a National Capacity Building training institute held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2012. The National Capacity Building project is a project of the Center for Victims of Torture. Both the institute and the video were made possible by a grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Test of Nonverbal Intelligence
The Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI) is useful for assessing refugee and immigrant children for an approximation of their intelligence, when English and Spanish language tests are not an option. Administrator should be well-versed in cross-cultural issues in testing.
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children
Developed by John Briere, PhD in 1996, this measure assesses the effects of childhood trauma through the child’s self-report of trauma symptoms. Designed for use with children ages 8-16, but possibly applicable with 17-year-olds as well.
For more information about the TSCC, see John Briere's page on the measure. You may obtain the measure through PAR. It is available in English and Spanish.
Woodcock-Johnson and Woodcock-Muñoz Cognitive Tests
The Woodcock-Johnson is a standard test of cognitive abilities for ages 2-90. The Spanish version of the test is the Woodcock-Muñoz. Both tests are recommended for use with torture survivors and immigrant children.
