Module 5 Impact of Domestic

Violence on Children & Youth

This curriculum is intended to be a tool to assist domestic violence service providers offering victim services (such as those outlined in California Penal Code §13823.15-13823.16) for the purpose of ensuring advocates working with survivors meet the requirements of a “Domestic Violence Counselor” pursuant to Evidence Code §1037.1(a)(1). 

Objectives

• To understand the dynamics of families living with violence.

• To understand the effects of domestic violence on children.

• To review some services for children who have been exposed to domestic violence.

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“Families under stress produce children under

stress….”(Ackerman and Pickering, 1989)

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Video

First Impressions… Exposure to Violence and a Child’s Developing

Brain(California Attorney General’s Office, 2008)

Window of Opportunity… Reducing Children’s Exposure to Violence

(California Attorney General’s Office, 2008)

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The Continuum of Exposure

Seriousinjuries

Fatal assaults

Physical assaultsThreats of homicideor suicide

Weapons threatsHighly controlling

behaviorThreats, intimidation

Destruction of property

Marital conflict, arguing, yelling

Severityof violence

Number of childrenModule 5 • Impact of Domestic Violence on Children & Youth • Published 2012 • Slide

5

Child Nurturing Wheel

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Child Abuse Wheel

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Paper Doll Activity

Call out things that someone might say to a child that are denigrating.

Each time something denigrating is said, tear off a piece of your doll.

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Statistics: Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

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Children and Domestic Violence

The UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children conservatively estimates that 275 million children worldwide are exposed to violence in the home.(Futures Without Violence, The facts on Children and Domestic Violence, 2008)

Witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.( National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Facts, 2007)

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Children and Domestic Violence

The maltreatment of children and violence against women often go hand in hand. As many as half a million children may be encountered by police during domestic violence arrests each year. There is an overlap of 30 to 60 percent between violence against children and violence against women in the same families. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (November 2000). Safe from the start: taking action on children exposed to violence. (Publication No. NCJ182789) Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Available: phone: 800-851-3420 or www.ncjrs.org/puborder)

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Children and Domestic ViolenceChildren who experience childhood trauma, including witnessing incidents of domestic violence, are at a greater risk of having serious adult health problems including tobacco use, substance abuse, obesity, cancer, heart disease, depression and a higher risk for unintended pregnancy. (Futures Without Violence, The facts on Children and Domestic Violence, 2008)

Physical abuse during childhood increases the risk of future victimization among women and the risk of future perpetration of abuse by men more than two-fold. (Futures Without Violence, The facts on Children and Domestic Violence, 2008)

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Children Who Witness Domestic Violence: Influencing Factors

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Influencing Factors for Children

• Gender• Age• Support from a Constant Significant Adult• Frequency• Severity• Proximity• Disposition of Child

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Challenges for Children

May be: • Social• Emotional• Psychological• Behavioral• Physical

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What Do We See By Age?

• Prenatally• Infants and Toddlers• Childhood• Teen Years

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Prenatal Challenges

• Direct fetal injury• Late prenatal care• Pre-term labor• Placental abruption• Exposure to substance abuse

alcohol/tobacco• Low birth weight• Vomiting

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Infant/Toddler Challenges: Behavioral

• Eating Problems• Failure to Thrive• Bedwetting and Nightmares• Acting out/ out of Control behavior• Withdrawal/ Passive• Excessive Attention Seeking• Manipulation, Dependency, Mood Swings

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Infant/Toddler Challenges: Emotional/Psychological

• Difficulty Sleeping• Shame, Guilt, and Self-Blame• Confusion about Conflicting Feelings

Towards Parents• Fear of abandonment• Anger

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Infant/Toddler Challenges: Social

• Attachment Problems• Lack of responsiveness• Poor anger management and problem

solving skills

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Infant/Toddler Challenges: Physical

• Developmental Disabilities• Language Delay• Injuries When “Caught in the Crossfire”• Short Attention Span• Tired and Lethargic• Frequently Ill• Poor Personal Hygiene• High Risk Play• Self Abuse

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Childhood Challenges: Behavior

• School Failure• Absenteeism• Bed Wetting and Nightmares• Parentification• Violence/ Aggression• Acting out or withdrawing• Out of Control Behavior• Lying to avoid confrontation

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Childhood Challenges: Emotional/ Psychological

• Depression• Shame, guilt, and self blame• Confusion about conflicting feelings towards

parents• Anger• Feelings of helplessness and powerlessness• Embarrassment

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Childhood Challenges: Social

• Inadequate social skill development• Extreme separation anxiety• Isolation from friends and relatives• Difficulty in trusting, especially adults• Poor anger management and problem solving

skills• Passivity with peers, or bullying

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Childhood Challenges: Physical

• Frequently Ill• Somatic Complaints, headaches and

stomachaches• Nervous, anxious, short attention span• Tired and lethargic• Poor personal hygiene• Regression in development• High risk play• Self abuse

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Teenage Challenges: Behavior

• School Failure• Absenteeism• Substance Abuse• Parentification• Runaway• Acting Out/ Violence• Lying to Avoid Confrontation• Rigid Defenses• Manipulation, Dependency, Mood Swings

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Teenage Challenges: Emotional/ Psychological

• Grief• Depression• Suicide Ideation• Shame, Guilt, and Self Blame• Confusion About Conflicting Feelings

Towards Parents• Anger• Embarrassment

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Teenage Challenges: Social

• Anti-Social Behavior• Dating Violence• Attachment Problems• Stormy Relationships• Difficulty in Trusting• Poor Anger Management and

Problem Solving Skills• Passivity with Peers or Bullying

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Teenage Challenges: Physical

• Somatic Complaints• Frequently Ill• Nervous, Anxious, Short Attention

Span• Tired and Lethargic• Poor Personal Hygiene• Self Abuse

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Audio Clip: Children who Witness Domestic Violence

Emergency 911 Call: Lisahttp://www.ncdsv.org/audio/Lisa.mp3

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Emergency Call Activity

As a group, list the concerning events included in the clip, especially those

which relate to the children.

Discuss.

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How to Help… Children and Families

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Responding to Children Who Have Witnessed Domestic

ViolencePROVIDE: • Love and Care• Trust and Respect• Emotional Security• Physical Security• Discipline• Time• Encouragement and Support• Affection• Care for Yourself

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Connecting with Children Who Have Witnessed Domestic

Violence• Frequently remind the child that the violence is not their

fault, and there is nothing they could have done to prevent it• Avoid making negative statements about the batterer. • Provide support, encouragement, and patience• Pay attention to nonverbal communication• Model appropriate behavior by talking about your feelings

and labeling them• Help them to identify coping skills• Use language which focuses on the child, not your opinion of

the child. Instead of saying “I’m proud of you” say “You’re doing great.”

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How to Help Families

• Use the empowerment model

• Use family centered approaches

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Safety Planning with Children

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What to Take Activity

Pretend that you are in an unsafe home, and have only five minutes to gather

your belongings before leaving. Consider the 20 items listed on your worksheet,

and rank them based on level of importance

(1 = the most important item to take with you, and 20 = the least important item).

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Resources

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This project was supported by Grant Number G-1101CAFVPS from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the California Emergency Management

Agency (Cal EMA).  

The opinions, findings, and conclusions in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of HHS nor Cal EMA.

 Cal EMA reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce,

publish, and use these materials and to authorize others to do so.