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Children Exposed to Family Violence
This edition of the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) E-bulletin focuses on children exposed to family violence. This refers to children and adolescents who see, hear and are aware of violence/abuse occurring between caregivers (or a caregiver and his/her partner). This e-bulletin provides information on the extent and impact of children's exposure to family violence, and highlights Canadian research and resources addressing this issue.
The NCFV E-bulletin is a quarterly newsletter for those interested in family violence prevention. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), on behalf of the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada. Content is provided as an information-sharing service; inclusion does not represent endorsement by PHAC or FVI member departments.
We want to hear from you – please send your comments and feedback to our editor at: ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Estimates of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence in Canada
According to the United Nations Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children, as many as 275 million children worldwide are exposed to violence in the home every year. In Canada, estimates are available through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Canadian Incidence of Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS)1.
The CIS-2003 found that:
- An estimated 49,995 cases of exposure to domestic violence were reported in 2003. Seventy percent of these cases were substantiated, 13% were suspected, and 16% were unsubstantiated.
- Exposure to domestic violence was the primary form of investigated abuse in 38,079 cases. It was the second most common type of substantiated child maltreatment.
- The rate of exposure to domestic violence between 1998 and 2003 increased by 259%, from 1.72 to 6.17 cases of primary substantiated maltreatment per 1,000 children. This increase can be attributed to, among others, to changes in public and professional awareness, case-management practices, legislation regarding the impact of exposure to domestic violence, and the actual rate of maltreatment.
- Thirty-three percent of cases of substantiated exposure to domestic violence (as the primary category2) involved single-incident cases and 13% involved less than six months of multiple incidents, while 39% involved more than six months of multiple incidents.
- Where exposure to domestic violence was substantiated (as the primary category), physical harm was noted in 1% of cases. Emotional harm was identified in 14% of cases; in 9% of cases, harm was severe enough to require treatment.
To better understand children's experiences of exposure to domestic violence and the response by child protection agencies, the CIS-2008 data (available in the Fall of 2010) will differentiate between three types of exposure to domestic violence: 1) direct witness to physical violence; 2) indirect exposure to physical violence; and 3) exposure to emotional violence.
The following CIS publications are available from the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence.
- Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect - Major Findings - 2003
- The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect: Final Report
- Child Maltreatment in Canada: Selected Results from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect
- At a glance...The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect
1. The CIS is a national child health surveillance activity that examines child maltreatment reported to, and investigated by, child welfare agencies. CIS-2003 is the second cycle of the study; the first was in 1998. Estimates provided exclude Quebec.
2. The primary category of maltreatment is the one that is considered to best characterize the major investigatory concern.
Child Exposure to Family Violence – A Complex Issue
Child exposure to family violence (CEFV) is the second most common form of substantiated child maltreatment in Canada (Trocme et al., 2003), yet it is also the form about which we still have much to learn. In fact, some have even questioned whether it should be considered a risk factor for maltreatment rather than an actual form of maltreatment. While there is no consensus on the answer to this question, there is no doubt that CEFV is a complex issue that can have a devastating impact on a child’s development and overall well-being. However, not all children experience the same effects; some children can be quite resilient, despite their exposure to family violence.
Although the effects of being exposed to violence in the home differ with each child and depend on his or her particular context, Baker and Cunningham (2007) outline the key developmental impacts, as follows:
- Infants and toddlers may experience distress; have difficulties forming secure attachments with parents; be fearful of their environment; and begin to display aggressive behaviours learned at home.
- Pre-school aged children may learn unhealthy ways to express anger and aggression; be distressed by the arrest of a parent or a stay in a shelter; believe they are to blame for the violence; and have difficulty enhancing their independence.
- School-aged children may be more aware of their own reactions to violence and the impacts on others; be more likely to question the “fairness” of the violence; be influenced by a parent’s justification for the violence; feel guilt or self-blame; have difficulties in school; use aggression; be at risk for bullying or being bullied; and learn gender roles associated with intimate partner violence.
- Teenagers may have poorly developed communication skills; have a more difficult transition to adolescence, which could result in parent-child conflict, school drop-out, or leaving home early; be embarrassed by the family violence; engage in risky behaviours (i.e., substance use, theft) to avoid or cope with the violence; have difficulty in establishing healthy relationships; and be more influenced by negative messages in the media.
While knowledge exists on CEFV, there is still much to be learned, particularly regarding the unique dynamics involved in this type of indirect violence and how it can be prevented from occurring.
Baker and Cunningham’s full document Little Eyes, Little Ears: How Violence against a Mother Shapes Children as they Grow, is available from the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fem-2007-LELE_e.pdf.
Coming Soon
- Directory of Services for Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
- Family Violence Initiative Performance Report For April 2004 - March 2008
- Directory of Services and Programs Addressing the Needs of Older Adult Victims of Violence in Canada
Library
The NCFV provides an extensive library reference collection, housed in the Health Canada Departmental Library. The following is a short-list of resources related to children exposed to family violence. A full bibliographic search can be conducted online. Resources may be borrowed through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library:
Do good intentions beget good policy? A review of child protection policies to address intimate partner violence
(Children and Youth Services Review 29, 12 (Dec 2007): 1469-1486.)
Kendra L. Nixon, Leslie M. Tutty, Gillian Weaver-Dunlop and Christine A. Walsh
Elsevier, 2007, 18 p.
This article reviews the changes in child protection policy and law made in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in order to demonstrate the adverse effects. It suggests that too broad a definition will overburden an already overloaded child protection system and that effective intervention with the affected partner is a better way to protect and safeguard children.
Making an impact - Children and domestic violence: A reader, 2nd edition
Hester, Marianne, Pearson, Chris, Harwin, Nicola, Abrahams, Hilary
London, UK : Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.23/.G7/H47/2007
This updated reader provides a comprehensive review of literature on intervention and protection responses with children who are exposed to violence in the family. Divided into three parts, it firsts describes the links between intimate partner violence and child abuse, and the effects witnessing domestic violence has on children. The second part is a discussion of legal aspects within Britain. Lastly, there is a section on intervention and implications for practice.
The Canadian child welfare system response to exposure to domestic violence investigations
(Child Abuse and Neglect 32, 2 (Mar 2008): 393-404)
Tara Black, Nico Trocmé, Barbara Fallon & Bruce MacLaurin
Elsevier, 2008, 12 p.
This fact sheet is based on a secondary analysis of data collected in the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003) and summarizes the results of analyses of substantiated exposure to domestic violence cases. It suggests a need for discussions to take place about the necessity of child welfare interventions and when it is appropriate in cases where children have been exposed to violence.
Videos
In collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), the NCFV offers an extensive collection of videos that address family violence. Videos may be borrowed through NFB partner public libraries across Canada or through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library. To obtain a complete list of videos, libraries and distributors, please contact us or visit our online video catalogue and Addendum to the Video Catalogue.
Hero In The Shadows
The play, Hero in the Shadows, features a high school student named Tallie who witnesses domestic violence at home and its effects on her family. She becomes withdrawn at school and her teacher mistakes this for lack of motivation. In the final act, her teacher sees the truth as Tallie reveals she was hit by her father and takes the first step in breaking the cycle of abuse in her home.
Lets’s Talk About It
This film explores domestic violence from the perspective of children. Through interviews with their parents, with a special focus on immigrant women, this film encourages dialogue and discussion. Three immigrant women share their stories including the negative impact that exposure to domestic violence has on their children.
Introducing Linda Baker, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Dr. Linda Baker is the Executive Director of the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System (formerly the London Family Court Clinic). She is an adjunct professor in both the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. She is a clinical psychologist with expertise in child and family interventions, court related clinical assessments, and children and adolescents affected by domestic violence. She has served on numerous boards and advisory committees.
Dr. Baker is committed to integrating research and practice to translate findings into promising practices for professionals working with children and families. Her current research focus is on children affected by domestic violence and children of incarcerated mothers. She has delivered training and train-the-trainer initiatives for children's mental health practitioners, professionals who work to prevent violence against women, early childhood educators, and youth justice audiences.
Dr. Baker is in demand across North America and internationally as a speaker and trainer. For example, she was a featured speaker at the Critical Connections Symposium: Where Woman Abuse and Child Safety Intersect, in Toronto, Ontario, March 9-10, 2010.
Dr. Baker has authored or co-authored numerous resources on various aspects of children's mental health and family violence. Recent publications include:
- Little Eyes, Little Ears: How Violence Against a Mother Shapes Children as they Grow
- Woman Abuse Affects our Children: An Educator's Guide
- Through a New Lens / Seeing Woman Abuse in the Life of a Young Child: A Resource Package for Teachers of Early Childhood Education
- Learning to Listen, Learning to Help: Understanding Woman Abuse and its Effects on Children
- Helping Children Thrive / Supporting Woman Abuse Survivors as Mothers: A Resource to Support Parenting
- What About Me! Seeking to Understand the Child's View of Violence in the Family
The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence against Women
The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence against Women (CRI-VIFF) is an interuniversity centre operated jointly by Université de Montréal and Université Laval, with funding from the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture. The CRI-VIFF has offices in Montreal and Quebec City.
Since its creation in 1992, the Centre promotes research, training, dissemination and knowledge-transfer activities focusing on family violence, violence against women and social responses to these problems. The CRI-VIFF comprises three research teams: Women, Violence and Vulnerability Contexts (Community-University Research Alliances—CURA); Masculinities and Society; and Children and Teenagers, Violence and Prevention.
The work of the Children and Teenagers, Violence and Prevention team deals with issues such as the problems experienced by children and teenagers exposed to conjugal violence and intervention, and intersectoral dialogue on the exposure of children and teenagers to conjugal violence. One of this team’s ongoing research projects is:
The following new CRI-VIFF publications deal with children who are exposed to family violence:
- “ Évaluation du projet pilote d'implantation du protocole de collaboration intersectorielle pour les enfants exposés à la violence conjugale ” [Evaluation of a pilot project applying the intersectoral collaboration approach for children exposed to conjugal violence]
- “ L'intervention de groupe auprès des enfants exposés à la violence conjugale : réalités, enjeux et stratégies à favoriser ” [Group intervention for children exposed to conjugal violence: realities, issues and useful strategies]
On the CRI-VIFF public education and information website on children exposed to conjugal violence (available in French only), you can read about the experiences of children exposed to family violence, affects on their day-to-day lives, their greatest weaknesses, and how to react when children disclose a violent situation.
For more information on the CRI-VIFF and its research projects, visit: http://www.criviff.qc.ca/.
Key Dates
March 8, 2010 - International Women’s Day
April 18 to 24, 2010 - National Victims of Crime Awareness Week
Events
March 22 to 25, 2010 - The 26th National Symposium on Child Abuse, Huntsville, USA
March 24 to 26, 2010 - Eastern Conference on Child Sexual Abuse Treatment, Virginia Beach, USA
April 7 to 9, 2010 - Blueprints for Violence Prevention Conference, Texas, USA
April 19 to 21, 2010 - International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Stalking, Atlanta, USA
April 21 to 22, 2010 - Human Rights and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Niagara Falls, ON
May 3 to 5, 2010 - Taking Action against Child Abuse – Joining Together Conference, Calgary, AB
May 17 to 19, 2010 - Prevent Child Abuse America National Conference, Jacksonville, USA
May 27 to 28, 2010 - PREVNet Annual Conference, Hamilton, ON
June 6 to 9, 2010 - 2010 International Conference on Child Welfare and Well-Being, Toronto, ON
June 9 to 10, 2010 - Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Conference, Calgary, AB
July 11 to 13, 2010 - International Family Violence Research Conference, Portsmith, USA
August 2 to 4, 2010 - 14th National Conference on Domestic Violence, Anaheim, USA
September 21 to 24, 2010 - World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, London, UK
October 25 to 27, 2010 - 9th International Looking After Children Conference, Montreal, QC
November 1 to 3, 2010 - The Global Domestic Violence Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
November 3 to 5, 2010 - National Research Day on Intimate Partner Violence, Fredericton, NB
On February 12, 2010, the New Brunswick government announced that 32 new social work positions will be created to carry out changes being introduced to the province's child protection system. Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock introduced amendments to the Family Services Act, which he said would improve long-term outcomes for families that access child protection interventions.
This is the final phase of changes in the department's child protection reform initiative which included a review of national and international best practices in the field of child protection. Read details on the amendments to the Family Services Act.
Government of Canada Invests in Research to Help Prevent Violence
At a national roundtable on violence, gender and health research, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced $6 million over five years for three regional research centres to undertake research programs designed to help prevent violence. "Violence is a major public health and human rights problem in Canada and around the world," said the Minister Aglukkaq. "By funding these innovative research centres, we hope to make strides in eliminating violence in our society and help Canadians overcome the devastating effects of violence on physical and mental health."
The three centres are:
- The Centre for Intercultural Research on Prevention of Gender Violence
- The Centre for Research Development in Gender, Mental Health and Violence Across the Lifespan
- The Centre for the Study of Gender, Social inequities and Mental Health
Northern Conference on Victims of Crime a Success!
The Northern Responses and Approaches to Victims of Crime... Building on Strength and Resilience conference was a resounding success. This conference, hosted by the Government of Canada took place in Yellowknife, NWT from September 29 to October 1, 2009. Delegates from across the country gathered for three days of productive dialogue, learning and information sharing that will contribute to advancing northern solutions to the unique challenges faced by victims of crime in the north.
To obtain copies of workshop presentations, please e-mail yellowknife2009@justice.gc.ca and identify the workshop title(s). A full list of these workshops can be found here. A CD of Justice Canada research on northern justice issues is also available upon request.
WHO Report on Women's Health Worldwide
The World Health Organization has released a report on women's worldwide health, entitled Women and health: today's evidence, tomorrow's agenda. It concludes that societies are failing to meet the health care needs of women at key moments of their lives, particularly in their adolescent years and in older age. The report calls for urgent action both within the health sector and beyond to improve the lives of girls and women around the world, including action to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence and mitigate their consequences. Download and/or order the report "Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda".
Violence Prevention: The Evidence
The World Health Organization and Liverpool John Moores University recently launched Violence prevention: the evidence, an eight-part series of briefings on the evidence for interventions to prevent interpersonal and self-directed violence. By spotlighting evidence for the effectiveness of interventions, Violence prevention: the evidence provides clear directions for how violence prevention funders, policy makers and programme implementers can boost the impact of their violence prevention efforts. Read the briefings "Violence prevention: the evidence".
PHAC Launches Updated Canadian Best Practices Portal for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
On January 20, 2010, the Public Health Agency of Canada launched a new and improved version of the Canadian Best Practices Portal on the Agency’s website. The Portal is a virtual front door to community and population health interventions related to chronic disease prevention and health promotion that have been evaluated, shown to be successful, and have the potential to be adapted and replicated by other health practitioners working in similar fields.
To search for projects on the Portal, including family violence prevention projects, please visit www.phac.gc.ca/cbpp. To nominate a best practice intervention for inclusion on the Portal, click here.
Correctional Service of Canada Renews Victim Services Website
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) recently announced the renewal of its Victim Services website. The CSC website features easy-to-access and up-to-date information about CSC Victim Services and other related information of interest to victims and the public. To learn more about CSC Victim Services, go to: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/
National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2010 Website is Now Live
The Department of Justice Canada has launched the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) 2010 website (www.victimsweek.gc.ca). To help communities host events based on this year’s theme, “Every Victim Matters”,
a Resource Guide is available on the website and on CD-Rom, free of charge. To order a copy, please e-mail victimsweek-semainedesvictimes@justice.gc.ca with your name, telephone number and complete mailing address.
This year, NVCAW occurs from April 18 - 24, 2010. The key goal of the week is to raise public awareness about the issues facing victims of crime and about the services, assistance and laws in place to help victims and their families. It also acknowledges the work of victim service providers and their dedication to assisting victims of crime and their families.
The NCFV’s May 2010 E-bulletin will focus on intimate partner homicide.
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Content of the NCFV E-Bulletin is provided as an information-sharing service; inclusion does not represent endorsement by the PHAC or FVI member departments.
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National Clearinghouse on Family Violence: Telephone 1-800-267-1291; TTY 1-800-465-7735; Fax (613) 941-8930; Web site http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn; e-mail ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca
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