Supporting Children Who Live With Violence
Our society’s children are exposed to multiple forms of violence at tremendously high rates. According to the Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey, in 2008 more than 60 percent of the children (0-17) surveyed were exposed to violence within the past year, either directly or indirectly (i.e., as a witness to a violent act; by learning of a violent act against a family member, neighbor, or close friend; or from a threat against their home or school). Futures Without Violence is currently undertaking a number of initiatives and programs to better address the needs of children and their families who experience violence including:
- In 2011, Futures Without Violence was selected as the national technical assistance provider for the U.S. Attorney General’s Defending Childhood Initiative. Under this initiative, the Department of Justice is providing resources to eight communities to develop a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to identify successful policies and practices that address the trauma and harm that children exposed to all forms of violence experience in their homes, communities, and schools. Prevention, intervention, treatment, and community organizing strategies will be integrated to provide a comprehensive continuum of care to children and teens, ages 0 through 17. Learn more.
- In 2010, Futures Without Violence, was chosen to be a national technical assistance provider for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Expanding Services for Children and Youth program. Under this initiative four states are receiving resources to enhance their services for children exposed to domestic violence. In this capacity we are providing tools and resources to support state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions and local domestic violence programs to increase their capacity to respond effectively to families and with a research informed approach. Learn More.
- Addressing the Overlap of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment: The Greenbook Initiative
- National Summit on the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare
- Family 2 Family Initiative
Learn More about our previous work:
View all resources related to the Children's Program
For more information, email childrensteam@futureswithoutviolence.org
Key Resources
- 16 Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Based Recommendations for Advocates (New Paper)
- Promising Futures: Best Practices for Serving Children, Youth & Parents Experiencing DV (New website!)
- Understanding Evidence (New Website)
- Evidence Based Practices for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: A Selection from Federal Databases
- Policy and Practice Responses to the Adverse Childhood Experience Study
- Connect: Supporting Children Exposed to DV (Curriculum)
- Healing The Invisible Wounds: Children's Exposure to Violence (Resource Guide for Parents)
- Policy Brief: Summary of Provisions to Address Overlap of DV and CA in CAPTA/FVPSA Reauthorization of 2010 (PDF)
- Realizing the Promise of Home Visitation
- Don't Hit My Mommy: A Manual for Child-Parent Psychotherapy
- Full List of Resources
