Children As Witness Presentation for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth November 7, 2011

Objectives What is domestic violence? Understanding domestic violence as a social issue. What is the difference between family violence and domestic violence? Statistics on domestic violence. Effects of domestic violence on children Common feelings for children exposed to domestic violence Discussion of Curriculum Development Discussion of Websites

What is domestic violence? The systematic abuse by one person in an intimate relationship in order to control and dominate the partner. Abusive behaviors can be physical, emotional, mental and sexual. Also, spiritual, social and economic realms can be used to control and dominate partners.

Domestic Violence is a social issue It afflicts persons of all socioeconomic categories and cultures. One in 14 marriages in the US suffers from repeated, severe violence.

Domestic Violence and Family Violence Domestic violence, also known as partner abuse, spouse-abuse, or battering, is one facet of the larger problem of family violence (Flitcraft, et al, 1992). Family violence includes persons within a family and encompasses the areas of child abuse and elder abuse as well as domestic violence.

Statistics The Massachusetts Advocates for Children (2005) found that between 3.3 million and 10 million children in the United States witness violence in their own homes each year. More than three million children view incidents of domestic violence every year, in which more than half of male abusers physically harm their children (Hasseler, 2006).

More Stats…. A 1995 Gallop Poll on family violence revealed that 1.5 million to 3.3 million children witness or experience parental domestic violence each year (National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women and the Violence Against Women Office [NACVAW], n.d.).

Effects of domestic violence on children Traumatic experiences change children’s expectations of the world and destroy the victim’s fundamental assumptions about the safety and expectations of the world (The Massachusetts Advocates for Children, 2005). Children’s safety and security of interpersonal life is redefined or changed (The Massachusetts Advocates for Children, 2005). A second effect is that children may have diminished self worth and feel incapable of having a positive impact on the outside world (The Massachusetts Advocates for Children, 2005, Kearney, 2001).

Effects of domestic violence on children (cont’d) Third, children witnessing domestic violence experience developmental delays and have increased behavioral and emotional problems (Spath, 2003; Edelson, 1999; NACVAW, n.d., Fantuzzo & Stevenson, 1997, Barrett-Kruse, C. et al 1998, Kearney, 2001). Fourth, children exposed to domestic violence often shown symptoms in the areas of behavioral and emotional functioning, cognitive and school problems, and social relationships (Hughes, Graham-Bermann and Gruber, 2002).

Effects of domestic violence on children (cont’d) Fifth, children may become defiant, or watch out for their siblings and/or pour themselves into activities that they love (Bancroft, 2004).

Common Feelings for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Anger Fear/Terror Powerless Loneliness Confusion Shame Guilt Distrust

Signs of Violence at Home: Birth to 18 months Eating habits change Sleep disturbances Trust issues Crying disturbances

Signs of Violence at Home: 18 months to 3 years Test limits Delayed language skills Acting out abuse Separation anxiety Regression

Signs of Violence at Home: 3-5 years Acts like abuser Afraid to do anything Limited imagination

Signs of Violence at Home: 6-12 years Act out Difficulty concentrating Parentified Shame

Curriculum Development Creating Conversations about Domestic Violence (working title) Purpose: To increase understanding of domestic violence among educators and provide awareness of the community-based resources and interventions available to assist young children (K-6) who are confronting domestic violence. Approximately 12 lessons Appendix with Community Based Resources Will need information from advisory panel members to help compile resources of resources/agencies which may help teachers and schools.

Contents of Lessons 1-5  The objective for the first five lessons is to build awareness of domestic violence.  Lesson topics include: myths and realities of domestic violence, terms important to understanding domestic violence, power and control element and wheel understanding domestic violence as a social justice issue understanding domestic violence as a human rights violation.

Contents of Lessons 6-12  The objective of the last five lessons is to provide teachers with strategies for their classroom to help students who have been affected by domestic violence.  Lesson topics include: how exposure to violence changes the learning process how domestic violence influences children’s language and memory supporting the reading and writing process for children who have been exposed to violence Using children’s literature to discuss feelings and domestic violence creating trauma sensitive schools

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Presenter Information Colleen Lelli, Ed.D. Assistant Professor of Education Cabrini College 610 King of Prussia Rd. Radnor, PA (610)