family violence refers to violence between any family members such as: intimate partner violence...

Family Violence refers to violence between any family members such as:

•intimate partner violence (also known as domestic violence)•abuse of a parent by a child•elder abuse •sibling abuse•child maltreatment

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Domestic and Dating Violence:

Domestic and dating violence are NOT just physical or sexual assault!

Patterns of coercive and controlling behaviors perpetrated by an adult or teen against an intimate partner.

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One in four women report experiencing violence in an intimate relationship at some point in their life (Centers for Disease Control,

2008)

15.5 million children live in households where domestic violence has occurred within the past year (McDonald et al, 2006)

A Few Statistics…A Few Statistics…

62% of 11-14 year olds say they know friends who have been verbally abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend (Liz Claiborne, Inc, 2008)

One in five 13-14 year olds say they know friends and peers who have been struck in anger by a boyfriend or girlfriend (Liz Claiborne, Inc, 2008)

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Why do Men use Violence In Why do Men use Violence In Intimate Partner Intimate Partner Relationships?Relationships?

Some ideas people have:•to establish control•acting out culturally designated roles•mirroring violence in society•because they can get away with it•it is learned behavior

Remember: Not every act of violence between two intimate partners is domestic violence. DV isnot an isolated incident, but a pattern of coercive and controlling behavior.

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Power and Control WheelPower and Control Wheel

What are other examples for each section on the Power and Control Wheel?

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Not all children are affected by domestic violence in the same way.

Exposure to Domestic Violence:

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• hearing threats of physical harm • feeling tension building in home prior to assault• being hit/threatened while in mother’s arms• hearing/seeing assault on their mother• being denied care because mother is injured or depressed • being forced to watch or participate in violence against their mother• seeing aftermath of violent incident• having their relationship with their non-violent parent undermined• being taken hostage to force mother to return home• being enlisted by violent parent to align against mother• experiencing the loss of a parent due to murder/suicide

Examples of How Examples of How Children are Children are ExposedExposed

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Factor: The Child’s Factor: The Child’s AgeAgeThe younger the child, the more harmful the

impact may be.

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Factor: The Child’s Factor: The Child’s Developmental StageDevelopmental Stage

Exposure to domestic violence can affect the tasks or milestones of the particular child’s stage of development.

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Factor: Severity, Proximity, Duration Factor: Severity, Proximity, Duration and Frequency of Exposureand Frequency of Exposure

A child directly exposed to extreme, ongoing and/or frequent violence is more likely to be seriously emotionally harmed.

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Factor: The Child’s Factor: The Child’s GenderGender

Boys and girls may be affected differently

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Factor: The Child’s Role Factor: The Child’s Role in the Familyin the Family

Children exposed to domestic violence take on different roles in families that may change over time.

•Caretaker

•Confidant

•Assistant

•Overachiever/ “perfect”

•Referee

•Scapegoat

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Factor: Personal Characteristics Factor: Personal Characteristics of the Childof the Child

Some children have a strong sense of self and are able to weather their exposure to violence by drawing on internal strength.

Factor: Presence or Factor: Presence or absence of absence of loving, supportive loving, supportive adultsadultsThe single most critical factor in how children weather exposure to domestic violence is the presence of at least ONE loving and supportive adult in their life.

That ONE adult may be YOU!!That ONE adult may be YOU!!

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Factor: Responsiveness of Factor: Responsiveness of systemssystems Knowledgeable and skilled professionals who understand and respond effectively to families can play a significant role in how children are impacted.

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The impact of exposure to domestic violenceThe impact of exposure to domestic violence on infants and young children on infants and young children

may show up as…may show up as…

•low birth weight•exaggerated startle response•somatic complaints•regression in toileting or language•sleep disturbances•difficulty attaching to caregiver•hyper-vigilance•separation anxiety•eating disorders

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In school-aged children:In school-aged children:Some kids “over-control” their emotions or behaviors (these are internalized effects of exposure to DV). These children “hold things in”.

Some kids “under-control” their emotions or behaviors (these are externalized effects of exposure to DV). These kids are more likely to explode, act up or act out. They cannot manage their impulses.

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A good way to understand the effects of DV on children is to look at their drawings.

An eight-year-old was asked to draw a picture of his father. He wrote in Spanish: “This is how I see my father because he often gets angry and drunk and his eyes turn red.”

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For adolescents, exposure to For adolescents, exposure to DV DV can result in kids being more can result in kids being more likely to . . .likely to . . .• Use drugs or alcohol

• Be harmed when they intervene in an assault

• Display attitudes supporting the use of violence

• Use violence in their own intimate relationships

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Another example of a drawing in response to the Question “How do you seeyour father?”

In this case, the artist is

a 13-year-old boy.

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What Does Trauma Look Like?What Does Trauma Look Like?Children who may need professional help:

• Cry easily or constantly

• Appear emotionless or extremely withdrawn

• Have repeated or intrusive thoughts about the event

• Have trouble sleeping and/or nightmares

• Be “triggered” by a sound, smell, or other reminder of the experience

• Have difficulty concentrating

• Worry excessively leading to physical complaints (i.e. stomachaches)