Felicia Rath, our campus advocate has had a recent opportunity to teach a healthy relationships class at the Juvenile Detention Center in Madison. She focuses on topics such as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, consent, boundaries, and more. So far she has done 3 sessions and plans to do these presentations monthly and offers weekly advocacy on an individual basis. Her hope is to bring awareness and prevention to the youth in these facilities.
This week’s topic was witnessing domestic violence in the home and the effects it has on children. Out of the 18 youth at the JDC presentation 9 disclosed that they have been impacted by domestic violence in their homes.
Children and youth are not just eye witnesses to domestic violence. They are actively involved in trying to understand to the abuse, predict when it will happen, protect themselves, their parents or their siblings and worrying about the consequences. Fear and secrecy dominate family relationships, and survival becomes the primary goal of non-abusing family members.
Long term effects of exposure to domestic violence include a higher risk for alcohol and drug abuse, sexual acting out, running away, and suicide. Boys who grow up with domestic abuse are more likely to abuse their intimate partners, and girls are less likely to seek help if they become victims in their adult relationships.
All children and youth who live with domestic violence are affected by the experience. The nature and extent of the effects vary greatly. Some children or youth are severely traumatized while others are able to cope well, and go on to live healthy, productive lives.