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Now all of these quotes from the article are referring to WITNESSING Domestic Violence - how much worse, how far-reaching are the effects, for children who not only witness Domestic Violence, but are themselves abused?  

If your situation is volatile, and charged with emotions, seek help for yourself and your children.  Find new strategies, new ways of thinking that lead to solutions that support you and your children.  Learn new, healthy ways of expressing yourself.  Empower yourself with these strategies that may be new to you.

More quotes:

"The American Medical Association published the study in November. University of Vermont psychologist William Copeland was its lead author. These children "have the same type of poor outcomes 10, 20 years down the road" as children who "experience it directly themselves," he said.

A global study out last year of more than 125,000 people from all socioeconomic backgrounds found children who witnessed domestic violence had the same risk and incidence of PTSD as soldiers returning from war.

Research presented in November at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies shows that children exposed at an early age to trauma, including domestic violence, have a smaller hippocampus – the brain area related to learning and memory formation – a risk factor for PTSD.

Other research shows that the amygdala – the part of the brain that processes emotions, memory and fear – in children who have been exposed to violence reacts more strongly to threats than in children who haven't.

Eamon McCrory, a professor of developmental neuroscience at University College London, says the changes make it more difficult for these children to get along with others. Other studies have shown that exposing children to violence leads to lower grades and a greater probability of dropping out of school."

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/domviolence/impact/children-youth/

The above link will take you to the website for ChildWelfare.gov with a variety of articles and website links.  Below are some of the links you will find there.  Please go directly to the above link to see new resources as they are added to the website.

 

Domestic Violence

Impact on Children and Youth

"Children and youth who are exposed to domestic violence experience emotional, mental, and social damage that can affect their developmental growth. Some children lose the ability to feel empathy for others. Others feel socially isolated, unable to make friends as easily due to social discomfort or confusion over what is acceptable. In order to respond to the overwhelming issues associated with domestic violence, child welfare professionals need to understand these issues and know how to identify them as well as assess and provide treatment to children and youth affected by domestic violence. This section provides information and resources on the impact that domestic violence has on children and youth as well as resources on how to respond to it."

 

Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence

Series Title: State Statutes

Author(s):     Child Welfare Information Gateway

Availability:    View - https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/witnessdv/

Download (PDF - 663KB):  https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/witnessdv.pdf

Year Published:       2016

Discusses laws that extend legal protection to children who may be harmed by witnessing acts of domestic violence in their homes. The issues examined include the circumstances that constitute "witnessing" domestic violence and the legal consequence to persons who commit the domestic violence, such as enhanced penalties and fines.

 

Childhood Exposure to Violence(opens in new window)

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Crime-Violence-and-Your-Child.aspx

HealthyChildren.org (2016)
Examines problems associated with childhood exposure to violence and how parents and families can find help.

 

Children and Domestic Violence: How Does Domestic Violence Affect Children?(opens in new window) (PDF - 2,660 KB)

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/children_domestic_violence_affect_children.pdf

Futures Without Violence & The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2015)
Discusses the factors that influence children’s reactions to domestic violence. This resource identifies ways in which to support health and emotional and mental development among children who have been exposed to violence.  

 

Children and Domestic Violence: Managing Challenging Behavior of Children Living With Domestic Violence(opens in new window) (PDF - 364 KB)

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/children_domestic_violence_managing_challenging_behaviors.pdf

Futures Without Violence & The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2015)
Examines how exposure to domestic violence affects children’s behavior, including levels of aggression and sleeping patterns.

 

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse(opens in new window)

https://injury.research.chop.edu/node/317

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute (2019)

Discusses the negative effects that witnessing domestic violence can have on children, including physical and mental health consequences as well as other long-term effects.

 

Edleson Revisited: Reviewing Children’s Witnessing of Domestic Violence 15 Years Later(opens in new window)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284803972_Edleson_Revisited_Reviewing_Children%27s_Witnessing_of_Domestic_Violence_15_Years_Later

Kimball (2015)

Journal of Family Violence, 31(5)

Highlights the growing understanding of children’s exposure to domestic violence by examining the impact and the cumulative effects of exposure to violence, potential protective factors, and the father-child relationship.

 

Effects of Domestic Violence(opens in new window)

http://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org/what-do-kids-need/get-the-facts/effects-of-domestic-violence/

Futures Without Violence (2016)

Reviews the effects exposure to domestic violence can have on children. The website also discusses how children can be exposed, the effects of exposure based on age, symptoms of exposure, and more.

 

Intimate Partner Violence – Effects(opens in new window)

https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/intimate-partner-violence/effects

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Provides information on the effects of children's exposure to intimate partner violence, including short-term and long-term effects and trauma reactions by age group.

 

Responding to the Long-Term Needs of Adult Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Exploring the Connection to Suicide Risk(opens in new window) (PDF - 201 KB)

http://vawnet.org/sites/default/files/materials/files/2016-09/NRCDV_TAG-ACEDV-April2016.pdf

Kimball & Keene (2016)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

Examines the effect of domestic violence across the lifespan, with particular attention paid to mental health and suicidality.

 

Three Core Concepts in Early Development(opens in new window)

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

Provides a three-part video series on how early childhood exposure to toxic stress affects brain structure and socio-cultural development.

 

Updated Comprehensive Review of Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence(opens in new window) (PDF - 1,170 KB)

Chamberlain (2018)

Futures Without Violence

Offers a web-based repository of interventions and resources on responding to children's exposure to domestic violence. The report overviews 45 interventions that serve children and families, starting on page 16 of the document.

 

What Is the Impact of Childhood Domestic Violence?(opens in new window)

http://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org/files/2018/11/FWV-Comprehensive-Review-2018.pdf

Childhood Domestic Violence Association

Describes the impacts of childhood exposure to domestic violence and how experiencing violence can negatively affect a developing brain. The resource addresses impact to physical health, mental health, behavior, and relationships later in life.

 

Spotlight On

Child Violent Trauma Center (CVTC)(opens in new window)

http://medicine.yale.edu/childstudycenter/cvtc/

 

The Child Witness to Violence Project(opens in new window)

https://www.childwelfare.gov/disclaimer/

Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center

 

What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Domestic Violence Services Advocates

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/cw-domestic-violence/

Child Welfare Information Gateway (2015)

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