Impacts of Domestic Violence on Children

Written by: Amanda Briggs, Community Engagement Specialist at Rise Above Violence

As we enter the second week of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we are focusing on the impact domestic violence has on children. Tragically, children who are raised in homes with domestic violence are believed to be abused and neglected at a higher rate than the national average. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.

These statistics can seem sterile until we come face to face with their reality. Just last week, my dear friend called me to tell me her cousin was murdered in a domestic violence situation in another state. The murdered woman’s three children were present in the home for the crime, and the oldest, a teenager, is currently working through feelings of guilt that he couldn’t save his mother.

Domestic violence and its impact on children is a real problem. It happens to real people. Real children carry the physical, mental, and emotional scars of domestic violence. It is far more than a number or statistical fact.

That is why your involvement in DVAM is so important and valued. Together, we can raise awareness around domestic violence and find ways each of us can be part of the solution. Together, we can work toward a world where children are not witnesses to or harmed by domestic violence.

If you would like to participate in Rise Above Violence’s DVAM awareness activities, we invite you to support our mission to end domestic violence by donating on behalf of individuals or teams participating in our second annual iRise Adventure Challenge. Simply visit our website, www.riseaboveviolence.org, and look for the Challenge under the “Events” tab. You can also donate directly to Rise if you would like to do so.

Additionally, you are invited to participate in DVAM by interacting with our educational content on Facebook and Instagram. Domestic violence is a terrible reality for too many, but together we can prevent it and help those who have experienced it heal.