when home isn't safe: children witnessing domestic violence

Safety During Covid-19 Webinar Series

WHEN HOME ISN’T SAFE:CHILDREN WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

WHEN HOME ISN’T SAFE: CHILDREN WITNESSING DV

SPEAKERS

Joelle Piercy, LSW, MSS, MLSP is Safe+Sound Somerset’s Community Outreach Coordinator. With dual degrees in Social Service and Law and Public Policy from Bryn Mawr College, she has instrumental in the creation and development of our SPEAK community education and prevention program.

Jessica Skultety is the Community Outreach Associate at Safe+SoundSomerset, coordinating and presenting community and teen education as part of the SPEAK program. As a New Jersey certified K-12 educator, she worked for 7 years in New Jersey's public schools.


OUR MISSIONEnding domestic abuse once and for all

Empowering survivors of domestic abuse and engaging the community to break the cycle of violence

ABOUT US

Safe+Sound Somerset is a private nonprofit founded in 1979. We are funded mainly by public funding, private grants, donors, and fundraisers. Services are provided to the community at no charge in a confidential and culturally-sensitive environment.

Somerset County’s Designated Lead Domestic Violence Response Agency

DEFINING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

▸A pattern of behaviors that a partner uses to gain power and control over another person

▸1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience abuse

▸Tends to escalate in severity and frequency

▸Can continue after a relationship ends


VIOLENCE

VIOLENCE

POWER + CONTROL

Coercion + Threats

Intimidation

Emotional Abuse

Isolation

Denying,Blaming, Minimizing

Using Children

Using Privilege

Financial Abuse

INTERSECTION OF DV AND CHILD ABUSE


▸Using the children to maintain power and control over the partner

▸Power and Control tactics used on children are similar

▸60% of child witness of DV also experience child abuse or neglect

VIOLENCE

VIOLENCE

Abuse of Children

Threats Intimidation

Emotional Abuse

Isolation

Sexual Abuse

Using Institutions

Using Adult Privilege

Economic Abuse

MYTHS ABOUT DV IN THE HOME

▸DV is about gaining power and control over the other partner

▸Reality: The abuser chooses to disrupt the functioning of the entire family, not just targeting the survivor



▸If the child doesn’t see or remember the DV, it won’t impact them

▸Reality: Even infants who were sleeping exhibited changes in brain functioning and development



▸Witnessing domestic violence isn’t as bad as experiencing abuse themselves

▸Reality: Witnessing domestic violence has similar mental health, learning, and developmental impacts as directly experiencing child abuse themselves


NUMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC▸ Increased rates of domestic violence

▸48 States have at least 1 county reporting significant increases in their domestic violence measures

▸ Safe+Sound Somerset saw an average 20% increase in demand for services over the past month

▸Decreased reports to NJ child abuse/neglect Hotline

▸32% reduction in March 2020 from March 2019

▸ Indications that abuse against children is still increasing

▸RAINN had 1st month when half of all callers were minors


IMPACTS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

▸Existing support structures are cut off▸Less interaction with mandatory reporters▸Increased stress, anxiety related to the

pandemic and remote learning▸Inequalities are exacerbated▸Basic needs less likely to be met


LOOKING FOR WARNING SIGNS FROM AFAR▸Similar as to if they are in school: failure to

complete work, not engaging online▸Condition of environment: holes in walls

and/or doors, adults arguing in background▸Changes in countenance: sad/depressed,

teary eyed or crying, nervous


MANDATED REPORTING

▸Everyone in NJ is still a Mandatory Reporter


DCPP DURING THE PANDEMIC

▸Domestic Violence Liaisons (DVL)

▸Interagency collaboration


WORKING WITH FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DV

▸Continue to assess the perpetrator’s pattern of coercive behavior

▸Do not assume that decreased contact with a survivor is their own choice

▸Take extra care when speaking with a survivor by phone, text, or video chat


SUPPORTING CHILD WITNESSES

▸Safety Planning – S+SS 24/7 call or text hotline 866.685.1122

▸Maintain as much safe communication as possible

▸Encourage interactions with friends

▸Connect families with basic needs

▸Look for other ways that kids are disclosing

▸Identify at-risk students, and develop a communication plan for them; plans over the summer?


PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

▸Connect families with basic needs

▸Refer families to DV agencies

▸Cope with existing traumas

▸Anxiety coping skills

▸Mindfulness

▸Refer to mental health treatment for past traumas


OUR SERVICES▸24-Hour Call or Text Hotline▸Safe Shelter▸Counseling▸DVRT▸Legal Advocacy

▸Financial Empowerment Center

▸Family Advocacy▸Domestic Violence Liaison ▸SPEAK Outreach and

Prevention

Trauma-informed, Evidence-based


RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES + PROFESSIONALS▸ Safe-Sound Somerset: 24/7 call/text hotline 866.685.1122;

www.safe-sound.org/COVID-19

▸NJ Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.572.SAFE (7233)

▸NJ Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-NJ ABUSE (652.2873)

▸ NJ Family Helpline: 1-800-THE-KIDS (843-5437)

▸RAINN: The National Sexual Assault Hotline – 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

▸NJMentalHealthCares Covid-19 Emotional Support: 866.202.HELP or email [email protected]


http://www.safe-sound.org/COVID-19

http://njmentalhealthcares.org

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES + PROFESSIONALS▸NJ Department of Children and Families COVID webpage:

https://www.nj.gov/dcf/news/coronavirus.html

▸2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline: 1-888-222-2228, www.2ndfloor.org

▸ STOPit messenger app to report crimes anonymously. Access Code: SOMERSETNJ

▸ Stressedteens.com: MBSR-T tools for teens and professionals.


https://www.nj.gov/dcf/news/coronavirus.html

24-Hour Call or Text Hotline866.685.1122

when home isn't safe: children witnessing domestic violence

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