What About The Children?

Children Living with Domestic Violence  May not outwardly exhibit cues of witnessed violence.  May never discuss the violence nor act-out behaviors.  Child may not only witness violence - also a victim.  Some children will exhibit cues or “red flag” behaviors.

Children Living With Domestic Violence  Children live in 50% of homes where police intervene in domestic violence calls.  More than 50% of juveniles charged with murder - killed in attempt to protect their mother.  Abuse or neglect increases risk of arrest as a juvenile by 53% as an adult by 38% violent crime by 38%.

Impact on Children When battering occurs  Children often witness the abuse  Traumatized by it  Receive injuries  Become violent themselves

Impact on Children  Boys often become adult perpetrators.  High co-occurrence of DV and child abuse.  Batterers use children to control victims.

Impact on Children  Low birth weight  Digestive problems  No appetite  Irritability  Sadness  Anxiety Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence Ages 0-2:  Sleeping problems  Startles easily  Cries excessively  Screams excessively  Failure to thrive

 Lack of bowel control  Lack of bladder control  Stomach aches  Fear  Anxiety  Guilt  Separation anxiety  Lack self-confidence  Self-centered  Acts out  Mimics abuser (very aggressive)  Verbally abusive  Withdrawn  Clingy, whining  Tries not to be noticed  Problems making/keeping friends  Regressive behavior  Poor verbal skill  Doesn’t talk  Poor cognitive skill  Poor motor skill  Poor impulse control  Fears new things and people  Defiant Impact on Children Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence Ages 2-6:

 Bedwetting  Stomach aches  Ulcers  Headaches  Insomnia  Eating disorders  Low self-esteem  Ambivalence toward abuser  Denial & secrecy  Fear & anger  Guilt-cant protect mom  love abuser  Self-blame  Nightmares  Learning disabilities  Ashamed & embarrassed  Aggressive-bully  Violent-toward peers, sibs, animals  Lies & steals  Self-abusive  Mimic same-sex parent  Withdrawn/clingy  Deny violence in home  Doesn’t invite friends home  Poor grades  School phobia  Poor impulse control  Poor peer relationships  Few or no friends Impact on Children Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence Ages 7-12:

 Bedwetting  Stomach aches  Ulcers  Headaches  Sever acne  Eating disorders  Low self-esteem  Loneliness & isolation  Extreme anger  Anxious & fearful  Withdrawn  Uncommunicative, especially about feelings  Indifferent, absolutely no emotion  Immaturity  Poor impulse control  Few friends  Blames others, especially parents  Extremely violent  Criminal activity  Self-destructive-substance abuse promiscuity, self-mutilation suicidal, delinquency, risk-taking  Take on parent/caretaker role  Run away or stay away from home  Extremely protective/abusive to Mom  Uses violence to solve problems  Violence in dating  Poor school performance  Refuses to bring friends home  Truancy  Drop out Impact on Children Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence Ages 13-18:

Behavioral “Red Flags” in Children  Aggressive  Passive/Withdrawn  Manipulative  Rebellious/Acts Out  Psychological Cues  Health Problems

Acknowledgements Resources provided by: - Mark Wynn, Wynn Consulting – - Lydia Walker, Domestic Violence Trainer/Consultant, - 4 th Judicial Circuit FVCC Law Enforcement Committee - OVW Rural Grant Committee, 4 th Judicial Circuit - Illinois Department of Public Health, - National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, - Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Manual for Mandated Reporters – September 2006

○ “ The original project was supported by Grant # 2008-WR-AX-0016, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, though the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Points of view, opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.”