Children’s Advocacy Centers’ Role in Stopping the Generational Cycle of Domestic Violence

 
 

Children’s Advocacy Centers’ Role in Stopping the Generational Cycle of Domestic Violence

Written by Christy Shannon

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) – where children and families can receive timely support and tools to manage their trauma after abuse is discovered.

Professionals in the field of victim services often have conversations among their peers and with community members about solutions for preventing domestic violence from happening. Working with adult survivors of domestic violence and those who use violence reveals something clear: Many of them experienced abuse, neglect, or witnessed violence as children. It is apparent that abuse can happen on a generational cycle: According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), three risk factors of child abuse are coming from a home where domestic violence has occurred, having a caregiver who was abused or neglected as a child, or witnessing community violence[1]. Furthermore, a study by the Crime Victims’ Institute showed that, based on a National Youth Survey Family Study that assessed three generations of 1,683 families, “most parents who had experienced IPV [Intimate Partner Violence] had children who eventually grew up to experience IPV themselves,” either as a victim or a perpetrator of family violence[2].

So how do we stop this cycle? There is an answer, and that is Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) – where children and families can receive timely support and tools to manage their trauma after abuse is discovered.

Critical services that children and families at nationally-accredited[3] CACs receive include:

  • The opportunity for a child to tell their story with trained forensic interviewers, surrounded by a supportive and trauma-informed experience provided by a specially trained client services team

  • The support of a coordinated team of investigators including County Attorneys, law enforcement, and child protective services, among other child service professionals, who are present together, working together to support family safety and provide a cohesive justice system response to abuse

  • The ability for each family to receive individualized advocacy services, including trauma screening for youth at high risk of self-harm, safety planning, basic needs, and crime victims’ reimbursement for families, as well as connection to needed community resources

  • The opportunity for both the child and their caregivers to receive individual therapy, group counseling, and/or ongoing support to process their experience, navigate the effects of trauma, and develop coping skills to move forward in their lives

Receiving services that establish safety and providing individualized support for caregivers and their children who have experienced abuse can be important protective factors to counter the effects of child abuse or witnessing violence for families[4].

Therapeutic interventions such as those provided by CACs have shown promising results in several studies related to reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) in children who have experienced trauma[5] or sexual abuse[6], setting them up for a better path as they grow into adults.

CACs’ ability to provide this continuum of crisis support and healing services is critical to see the child and family through the immediate effects of the abuse, their pursuit of safety and justice, individualized assistance with daily living that they need, and therapeutic intervention to process traumatic experiences. Having access to these types of services and supports reduces the likelihood of the cycle of abuse or family violence continuing for these children and caregivers.

[1] Center for Disease Control, “Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: Risk and Protective Factors.” Feb. 2024. Retrieved from Risk and Protective Factors | Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention | CDC (cdc.gov).

[2] K. Knight, et al. “Generational Cycles of Intimate Partner Violence in the US: A Research Brief.” Crime Victims’ Institute, Oct. 2013. Issue #2013-05.

[3] National Children’s Alliance, “NCA’s National Standards of Accreditation,” 2024. Retrieved from NCA's National Standards of Accreditation - National Children's Alliance (nationalchildrensalliance.org).

[4] Center for Disease Control, “Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect.” Feb. 2024. Retrieved from Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect | Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention | CDC (cdc.gov).

[5] D. Gillies, et al. “Psychological therapies for children and adolescents exposed to trauma.” National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2016. Retrieved from Psychological therapies for children and adolescents exposed to trauma - PMC (nih.gov).

[6] G. Macdonald, et al. “Cognitive-behavioral interventions for children who have been sexually abused.” National Library of Medicine, May 2012. Retrieved from Cognitive‐behavioural interventions for children who have been sexually abused - PMC (nih.gov).

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