Adults Are Not the Only Victims of Domestic Violence
·
Over half of female victims of intimate violence live in
households with children under the age of 12 (U.S. Department of Justice,
1998).
·
Each year, an estimated 3.3 million children are exposed to
domestic violence (American
Psychological Association, 1996).
·
Children residing in homes where domestic violence is
occurring are 1,500 times more likely to be abused (Department of Justice,
1993).
·
In a recent study on family violence, 27% of domestic
homicide victims were children (Florida
Governor’s Task Force oh Domestic and Sexual Violence, 1997).
Children who witness domestic violence have been found to
show similar emotional, physical, and behavioral problems as children who
were abused themselves. Examples
of problems related to domestic abuse include: depression, anxiety, poor
school performance, early involvement in substance abuse, feelings of
guilt, fear, shame, anger, and helplessness, and many other physical and
emotional problems.
A serious consequence of being raised in a home with
domestic violence is that violence tends to be a
learned behavior. This
means that children who observe violence as a ‘normal’ part of life
and a method to resolve disagreements between adults will be at greater
risk for becoming violent or abusive as adults.
Safety plans for victims of domestic violence must include
children residing in the household. Some
important safety planning tips regarding children include:
·
Instruct children not to get in the middle of a fight.
·
Teach children when to call for help, who to call, and what
to say (i.e. calling police and providing home address).
·
Provide copies of any court orders to schools or other care
providers.
·
Review the safety situation of a child’s day care and
plan for an emergency, before one arises.
Source:
Information for this page was adapted from the Domestic Violence and
Incest Resource Center (DVIRC) and the
Contact Goddard’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 301-286-4600 or 800-247-3054 for additional information and/or assistance.
You can also call--toll-free-- the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24-hours
a day at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TDD).
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