Session 3 Domestic Violence in the Family

3.1 Overview of Session 3 Learning Objectives   Articulate the extent of the problem of children witnessing domestic violence.   Identify possible behaviors of children witnessing domestic violence.   Articulate the impact of domestic violence on the child’s development.   Identify behaviors of batterers.   List characteristics of batterers.   Articulate myths and truths about batterers.

3.1 (cont) Overview of Session (cont) Overview of Session 3 Agenda   3.1 Opening and Homework Review 20 min   3.2 Impact of Domestic Violence on Children 30 min   3.3 The Abuser 40 min   3.4 DVD – Something My Father Would Do: Overcoming Legacies of Family Violence from the Family Violence Prevention Fund 20 min   3.5 Closing 10 min

3.2 Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children 3.2 Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Over a course of the lifetime, more than __________ of youth who witnessed partner violence had also been maltreated. -- half ( 50%) --one quarter (25%) --two thirds (66%) Conservatively, at least _____ of children are estimated to be exposed to intimate partner violence each year, with as many as one third exposed at some point during childhood or adolescence (3.3 million to 17.8 million youth). -- 3% to 6% --10% to 20% -- 30% to 60%

3.2 (cont) Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children 3.2 (cont) Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Children exposed to domestic violence have often been found to develop a wide range of problems including interpersonal skill deficits, psychological and emotional problems such as depression and ______, and externalizing behavior problems. -- PTSD -- ADHD -- ODD Rates of sexual assault by a known adult (not limited to caregivers) are _________for girls than for boys. -- lower -- the same -- higher

3.2 (cont) Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children 3.2 (cont) Statistics: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Women who reported they were physically assaulted by an adult caretaker were ____________reported being physically assaulted as an adult. -- not as likely -- 3 times as likely -- twice as likely

3.3 Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Infancy: Age 0 – 12 months  miscarriage  premature birth  injury in utero  failure to thrive problems  child is depressed  unresponsive to primary caretaker  hit or injured while in mother’s arms  traumatized  child is frightened  unresponsive or cuddly  nervous, jumpy, crying  sleep disturbances  eating problems  colicky or sick  insecure  speech problems * These signs alone do not necessarily indicate abuse is present; they may be related to abuse.

3.3 (cont ) Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Toddler: Age 1 – 3 years  physical injury  shy and clingy  delayed toileting  passive  insecure  fear of being left/abandoned  acting out violently, hitting mother  verbalizes witnessing abuse  begins to take on behavior of abusive parent  problems relating to other children  eating problems  nervous and jumpy  withdrawn  speech problems  hyper-vigilance  language delays

3.3 (cont) Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Preschool: Age 3 – 5 years  physical injury  nervous and jumpy  language delays  speech problems  fear of abandonment  passive or depressed  school problems  becomes caretaker of adults  develops problems to divert parents from fighting  acting out violently with others  toileting delay or regression  problems relating to other children  difficulty separating from mother  withdrawn or insecure  mimicking abuse behavior  over achiever/regressive behaviors