Domestic violence shelter address and phone numbers

Effects on Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence - Part 3

Domestic violence is believed to be the most underreported crime in the United States. It is estimated that more than 3 million children a year witness the violence in their homes.

The rate of child abuse or serious neglect is 1500% higher than the national average in homes where woman battering occurs.
More than 50% of the children in homes where the mother is abused are physically abused also.
Children may indirectly be harmed when household items are thrown or weapons are used in the homes.
Older children are sometimes injured when they try to intervene to protect their mothers.
Threats against the children are often used to control the behavior of their mothers.

Children suffer emotional and psychological trauma from living in homes where their father abuses their mother, even if they don't suffer physical abuse.

Children almost always know of the violence, even if they don't directly witness it.
Children's eating and sleeping patterns are often disrupted by battering incidents and thus may suffer from inadequate rest and nutrition.
Bed-wetting, nail-biting and thumb-sucking are some behaviors that result from witnessing violence in the home. Stress-related physical problems such as headaches, rashes and even ulcers can also occur.
The child witnesses of domestic violence experience depression, anxiety, fear and guilt. While living in fear of harm to their mothers and themselves, children experience guilt for not being able to prevent the violence and even from loving the abuser.
Children blame themselves for causing the violence in their homes but are helpless to stop it.

Domestic violence is intergenerational. Unless there is intervention, the cycle of violence passes from generation to generation.

Children raised in abusive homes learn that violence can be used to resolve conflicts and problems.
Boys witnessing mother-abuse are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than those raised in homes without violence.

The harmful effects of domestic violence on children can be felt throughout the community.

Children who come from violent homes have greater risks of alcohol and drug use as well as juvenile delinquency.
Domestic violence is a contributing factor to teen runaways and homelessness.
The majority of violent prison inmates were raised in abusive homes.

A woman who is abused may finally gather the courage to leave when she realizes the effects the abuse is having on her children, or when the abuse turns to them as well.

A Safe Place offers individual and group counseling to survivors as well as the child witnesses of abuse and provides programs for mothers and their children to learn to deal with the effects of abuse and to form a new stronger bond as they move toward violence-free lives.

How you can help the child witnesses of domestic violence:
If you are a mother experiencing abuse, call the 24-hour HELP LINE at A Safe Place at 847-249-4450; TTY 847-249-6557, or outside Illinois, call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE; TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Encourage your school to schedule a program on healthy relationships for young people by calling the Prevention Education program at A Safe Place, at 847-731-7165. Make sure there is a protocol for handling disclosures of abuse.

Help break the cycle of violence for the next generation. Show young people that using intimidation or physical force to control or resolve problems is not acceptable behavior. Reach out to someone who may be battered and let them know that help is available.

A Safe Place provides individual and group counseling to child witnesses of domestic violence in both the residential and nonresidential programs. Children learn to deal with feelings of fear and anger, shame and guilt. And they are provided the tools to deal with disagreements and conflict in nonviolent ways. The 24-hour HELP LINE, 847-249-4450; TTY 847-249-6557, can provide assistance in accessing services.

Or email us at info@asafeplaceforhelp.org.

24-hour hotline: 847-697-2380

Ayuda en espanol: 847-697-9740

A Safe Place provides individual and group counseling to child witnesses of domestic violence in both the residential and nonresidential programs.

The 24-hour HELP LINE, 847-249-4450; TTY 847-249-6557, can provide assistance in accessing services.

Related Children and Domestic Violence Tips and Articles

Effects on Children Who Live With Domestic Violence
Effects on Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence - Parts 2 and 3
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children - Parts 1, 2, and 3
Effects of Dating Abuse on Teens
Children and Domestic Violence
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children as Related by Their Mothers
Resiliency: Boys and Domestic Violence
Children's Book List on Domestic Violence

Everyone has the right to a violence-free, safe and healthy life.
Help Line: 847-249-4450 • Office: 847-731-7165 • TTY: 847-249-6557