Domestic Violence in the Latino Community & its Effect on their Children’s Ability to Learn October 13, 2010

Definition of Domestic Violence pattern of physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abusive behaviors use by one individual to maintain power over or to control a partner in the context of an intimate or family relationship.

How may children be exposed? by witnessing a physical attack by one adult in the household on another, by being injured themselves, by hearing physical or verbal abuse, by observing resulting injuries, by suffering economic deprivation. 90% of children from violent homes witness their fathers beating their mothers.

What is the impact of witnessing domestic violence for children? Exposure to domestic violence can have a strong and negative impact on the physical, emotional, interpersonal and educational aspects of a child’s life.

Physical impact Deliberate or accidental physical injury Child abuse and neglect Abduction Death Children in homes where violence occurs are physically abused or neglected at a rate 1500% higher than the national average.

Emotional impact Attachment disorders Phobias Depression Insomnia Low self-esteem Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Daughters of abused women are six times more likely to be sexually abused as girls from nonabusive families.

Interpersonal impact Aggression Behavior problems Withdrawal Criminal behavior Generational violence Studies show that boys who witness domestic violence are 10x more likely to batter as adults and girls are 10x more likely to end up in domestic violence relationships as adults.

Educational Impact Poor academic performance Truancy Low school attachment Poor problem-solving skills Deficits in attention regulation, language skills, and memory undermine the child's ability to accomplish the central requirements of academic achievement and school adaptation, namely to encode, organize, recall, and express understanding of new information.

What can be done? Prevent violence from occurring through: community awareness campaigns, early childhood home visiting programs, school and community based prevention programs. The community needs to be aware of the impact of domestic violence on children and step up to create an atmosphere of intolerance of this behavior.

Identify exposed children and offer intervention services. This requires partnerships between the police, victim-witness workers, the schools, social services, faith based organizations, mental health practitioners, family members, neighbors and others.

Children who are exposed to domestic violence need to be reassured that the violence is not their fault, they need assistance in developing a safety plan, and often they require other supportive services. Children needed supportive and supported relationships with their non-offending parents.

KidsWatch Partnership between schools, the Shelter for Help in Emergency, Curry School at UVA, social services, Region Ten, CYFS, police, Victim Witness and others to identify students exposed to domestic violence and provide supportive services.

Resources Shelter for Help in Emergency- (434) Children, Youth & Family Services Region Ten Albemarle Child Protective Services- (434) Charlottesville Child Protective Services- (434) Child Help National Hotline A-CHILD