Paper Title
The Impact of A Therapeutic Intervention on The School Performance of Abused and Neglected Children

Abstract
Childhood abuse is associated with emotional and behavioral problems, and frequently leads to impaired academic performance in school (Overstreet and Mathews, 2011). Maltreated children and adolescents exhibit problems with attention, abstract reasoning, and executive function (Beers & De Bellis, 2002). In addition, all ages of children with histories of trauma: (a) are more frequently referred for Special Education and disciplinary action (Shonk & Cicchetti, 2001). (b) have lower grades and standardized test scores and (c) exhibit higher rates of academic failures, grade retention and dropping out (Boden, Horwood and Fergusson, 2007). However, studies have shown that schools can play a mitigating role in outcomes and can promote resilience (Crooks, Scott, Wolf, Chiodo & Killip, 2007). Relatively few studies, however, have examined the effectiveness of specific therapeutic interventions in schools to ameliorate the impact of traumatic life experiences in childhood. This study examines elementary aged children who have been abused or neglected before and after the implementation of a Trust-based Relational Therapeutic Program, an intervention designed to address the underlying issues producing the academic, mental health and behavior difficulties of the children.The study uses three measures to assess outcomes: grades (GPA), the presence of active mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety or other reported symptomology, and behavior difficulties as measured by disciplinary referrals. Data shows a significant relationship (p < .01) between pre and post program implementation in increased GPA, decreased behavior referrals and decreased mental health symptoms. Results suggest a clear need for additional examination of the interplay between explicit school interventions and the impact on the academic performance and mental health of abused and neglected children. Keywords - Childhood abuse, Trauma, School Interventions, Therapy, Children’s mental health.