This work involves the diary of David who is now 20 years old, but witnessed cases of domestic violence between his mother and father at the age of 4 years old. Witnessing the domestic violence between his parents affected him to the extent that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that impact on the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and sensory challenges that the child experiences early in life. For instance, in the case of David, he refused to eat normally, loss of sleep and crying all the time, while also experiencing delayed growth and development in aspects such as walking, speaking and wet his bed for a considerable longer period as compared to normal children.
Apart from the above impacts, David exhibited both internalizing and externalizing behaviors that underscore the bad effects of exposure to domestic violence. In most cases, he felt lonely and worried in his dealings especially when he experienced the conflicts, while he also fought other children as a way of expressing his emotional stress of witnessing one of the parents in distress caused by domestic violence.
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One way of responding to the children who have witnessed the cases of domestic violence is to be prompt in attending to the children when they are still at tender ages (Katz, Stettler & Gurtovenko, 2016). In the case of David, the mother was the most suited person to effectively attend to his needs so that he may enjoy the bonding and attachment that a parent offers. This is important in that it fosters a sense of security between the child and the mother, which is integral in protecting the child from the undesirable consequences of exposure to domestic violence.
Police officers can also be caregivers to children who have been exposed to domestic violence as they offer safety and security to them after witnessing the violent acts. However, it is noted that the police agencies may be integral in enforcing care to children exposed to domestic violence if they promote the needs of the minor, guaranteeing comfort while at the same time making the area safe as well as making the arrests in the absence of the children (MacQueen & Norris, 2016). Additionally, it is important to document the cases of domestic violence that expose children to the effects so that the data is used to help in identifying the child victims and formulating care for them.
In addition, children that have been exposed to domestic violence may benefit from the intervention of the court advocates who help the parents to work with the legal system to ensure that the children do not suffer the detrimental effects. Notably, they will help in the devising of the safety plans, provision of referrals to services for support and counseling as well as drafting of orders of protection. This is indicative of the fact that the legal system can help in the provision of support services that can help in guaranteeing the affected children the right care even after they have got out of the violent family situation.
Alternatively, the children and the abused mother can seek services on juvenile justice and law enforcement training from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) in order to seek stress support services as well as legal representation. Additionally, David’s mother can engage Child Development-Community Policing (CDCP) Program that can help in offering interdisciplinary solutions to children that have been witnesses, victims or perpetrators of violent domestic violence.
References
Katz, L. F., Stettler, N., & Gurtovenko, K. (2016). Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Children
Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence. Social Development , 25 (1), 47-65.
MacQueen, S., & Norris, P. A. (2016). Police awareness and involvement in cases of domestic
and partner abuse. Policing and Society , 26 (1), 55-76.
