Alliance Against Family Violence : Children and Domestic Violence

Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault
Children and Domestic Violence: How We Help

According to statistics published on the Family Violence Prevention Fund website, slightly more than half of female victims of domestic violence live in households with children under 12.

Children who witness intimate partner violence are much more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and violent behavior. These children are also much more likely to grow up and become involved in domestically violent relationships, either as the victim or perpetrator.

By intervening with victims of domestic violence, the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault provides parents with the opportunity to heal the damage done to the children who were traumatized by the violence they witnessed.

The Alliance provides counseling in both individual and group settings to assist children in making sense of their situation; we also actively teach and reinforce the idea that violence in any form is unacceptable. By providing a safe place for children to share about, and heal from, their trauma, the Alliance increases the likelihood that these children will grow up to lead healthy, productive adult lives.

We also stress the importance of a child’s physical and emotional safety to the parent, who may be struggling with the stress of single parenting for the first time. We provide therapeutic counseling and peer group support to women and men who are struggling with victimization; in doing so, we assist them in realizing a life free from violence and chaos.

In that violence-free environment, parents are able to pass on values and love to children in a way that breaks the horrible cycle of violence that causes so much suffering in our world today.

Alliance Against Family Violence
1921 19th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93303
661-322-9199

This Page was last update: Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 1:33:44 PM
This page was originally posted: 5/21/2001; 3:32:37 PM.