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Domestic violence scars children – but they can recover with the right kind of care
Each year, thousands of Florida children enter foster care due to domestic violence. Each October,
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, children's advocates like me remind the public that this scourge
devastates children, families and communities – and we must respond. For children, witnessing
spouse abuse can cause harm that lasts a lifetime. They are more prone to addiction and at greater
risk for dating violence, academic problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, aggression, anxiety
and insomnia. They find it harder to interact well with peers, with partners and, ultimately, with
their own children.
They worry about the safety of their parents – which no child should have to do. Research shows the
long-term effects on child witnesses include chronic physical health and developmental problems.
Millions of children witness the abuse of a parent or adult caregiver each year. In the Fifth
Judicial Circuit, there were 471 dependent children from violent homes in the system as of Aug. 20,
according to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). Eighty to 90 percent of
domestic violence victims abuse or neglect their children, say Martin R. Huecker and William Smock,
writing for the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and males who batter their wives
batter their children 30 to 60 percent of the time. What's more, children exposed to intimate
partner violence are at increased risk to become abusers or victims themselves. It is common in
child welfare to see parents – both the abuser and the abused – who first came into the system as
child victims.
We know the single most critical factor in how children weather their exposure to domestic violence
is the presence of at least one loving, supportive adult in their lives. Guardian ad Litem
volunteers represent abused and neglected children in dependency court. We know their challenges.
We also know children can recover from trauma given the right services and supports, and we
advocate for those before a judge. Guardian ad Litem advocates for trauma-informed, evidence-based
screening, assessment and treatment. In addition, we work to support the child's relationship with
his or her non- offending parent. For most children, a strong relationship with the non-offending
parent Domestic violence scars children – but they can recover with the right kind of care
Each year, thousands of Florida children enter foster care due to domestic violence. Each October,
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, children's advocates like me remind the public that this scourge
devastates children, families and communities – and we must respond. For children, witnessing
spouse abuse can cause harm that lasts a lifetime. They are more prone to addiction and at greater
risk for dating violence, academic problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, aggression, anxiety
and insomnia. They find it harder to interact well with peers, with partners and, ultimately, with
their own children.
They worry about the safety of their parents – which no child should have to do. Research shows the
long-term effects on child witnesses include chronic physical health and developmental problems.
Millions of children witness the abuse of a parent or adult caregiver each year. In the Fifth
Judicial Circuit, there were 471 dependent children from violent homes in the system as of Aug. 20,
according to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). Eighty to 90 percent of
domestic violence victims abuse or neglect their children, say Martin R. Huecker and William Smock,
writing for the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and males who batter their wives
batter their children 30 to 60 percent of the time. What's more, children exposed to intimate
partner violence are at increased risk to become abusers or victims themselves. It is common in
child welfare to see parents – both the abuser and the abused – who first came into the system as
child victims.
We know the single most critical factor in how children weather their exposure to domestic violence
is the presence of at least one loving, supportive adult in their lives. Guardian ad Litem
volunteers represent abused and neglected children in dependency court. We know their challenges.
We also know children can recover from trauma given the right services and supports, and we
advocate for those before a judge. Guardian ad Litem advocates for trauma-informed, evidence-based
screening, assessment and treatment. In addition, we work to support the child's relationship with
his or her non- offending parent. For most children, a strong relationship with the non-offending
parent is a key factor in helping them heal. As their advocates, we work to tell children the violence is
not their fault and to show them they are lovable, competent and important.
During the pandemic, Florida's certified domestic violence shelters have continued to serve victims
and their children, and they remain available to serve them today. To get help, call the Domestic
Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119, or find your local program at
www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/domestic-violence/map.shtml. To learn more about becoming a
Guardian ad Litem volunteer, please call (352) 812-6971 or visit www.guardianadlitem.org