April 24, 2025, 9-11am CDT on Zoom

The dynamics among siblings within the context of child abuse are crucially important. This presentation sheds light on a comprehensive investigation led by Katz and her team, spanning several research years. It delves into key findings concerning sibling relationships from childhood through adulthood, even during periods of ” black holes”. The research encompassed 150 abused children, 83 interviews with adults who experienced childhood abuse, and 48 interviews with professionals, complemented by statistics from the Israeli welfare office. Beyond presenting key findings, the session will discuss a theoretical framework highlighting pivotal concepts essential for understanding sibling dynamics. These include sibling camaraderie, sibling abuse, parentified siblings, and sibling cut-off, exploring their interplay and fluidity. Additionally, the presentation will offer valuable insights derived from the study’s findings, enriching understanding in this critical area.

Presenter’s Bio: Carmit Katz is a Full Professor of Social Work at Tel Aviv University. Katz is also the Director of Haruv Institute. With a profound focus on combating child maltreatment, Katz champions the belief that preventing such abuses stands as a paramount moral duty. Katz ardently advocates for interdisciplinary dialogue, stressing the imperative of engaging directly with children within the contexts of their lives—an ethos that underpins her entire professional ethos. Katz is committed to policy change and works both in the national and international arenas in order to promote the rights of all children to a life without violence. Katz is the founder and director of The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Abuse. Katz is also the founder and director of the International Group of Scholars Protecting Children from Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Katz is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Child Maltreatment and Associate Editor in Child Abuse and Neglect. Following the Swords of Iron war that began after the October 7th (2023) massacre, Katz had been leading, together with the Israeli Welfare office, all the work with children who were directly affected by the war and had been leading the intervention with children who returned from captivity.