Children Caught in Domestic Violence:
A Risk Factor for Dysfunction and Aggression

Children hold the hope for our nation's future. Many of them are children caught in Domestic Violence.

Two to four million women are physically battered each year by their partners. Children are the real victims in this situation. Yearly, it is estimated that 10 million children in the United states are at risk of witnessing Domestic Violence. Childhood victims grow up so emotionally impaired that they become abusers or get abused. In 53% of the cases where the male was abusing the women, the children were abused as well.

When children witness Domestic Violence, they can:

• Suffer with depression, chronic anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Become juvenile delinquents, "street kids," or adult criminals

• Participate in drugs and or alcohol

• Have more aggression, temperamental problems, lowered self-esteem, and lower verbal/cognitive/motor abilities than children who do not witness Domestic Violence.

Boys who witness Domestic Violence as children, are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys raised in nonviolent homes.

We can break this cycle.

Children Caught in Domestic Violence: A Risk Factor for Dysfunction and Aggression has been specifically researched and designed to provide training sessions that:

• Improve identification of children caught in the cycle

• Teach valuable communication skills for intervention

• Are informative and interesting

• Provide the most relevant, up-to-date researched information on the psychological trauma of young children caught in Domestic Violence

Formats can be adapted for nurses, educators, social workers, ministers, therapist, and organizations

Winning Contents:

National Trends/Why Domestic Violence Will Increase
Family Dynamics in the Abusive Cycle
Childhood Trauma and the Formation of Maladaptive Mental Patterns
Assessment Tactics
Intervention Strategies
Future Directions for Communities and Research