Domestic violence is a gendered problem representing health risk for women and children. Research has showed that children who grow up in homes where they witness domestic violence and abuse are more likely to have poor outcomes across their lifespan. Children’s exposure to domestic violence may impact them physically, emotionally and not limited to maltreatment.

Children who are exposure to domestic violence may also develop symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms. The exposure of domestic violence in children follows them into their adulthood. As adults they may develop mental health problems they may also engage in criminal behavior and are more likely to end up in relationships where they become victims of domestic violence or perpetrate the abuse.

It is important to understand that domestic violence has more than one victim. I strongly believe that as adults we have a moral responsibility to keep children safe.

Children are defensive, powerless little humans and they need caring adults to protect them. YOU and I have a voice and the POWER to keep children safe. Don’t ignore it, or say to yourself that is not your problem or your business.  Some of you may say things like, “well, if the mother of the children doesn’t care to keep her children safe, why should I,” or, “if she did not like it, she would not stay?” I cannot stress enough the reasons why she stays, and no, she is not staying in the abusive relationship because, “she likes it.”

She stays out of the fear of losing her children because he has threatened to take the children from her. She stays out of the fear he will hurt her children because he has hit the children. She stays because she does no support system and he has isolated her. She stays because she has no money and she depends on him financially. I can keep going with a whole list, so please set aside your judgmental ideas and do something to help these children who are being exposed to abuse and enduring abuse.

What can you do to help those children who are being exposed to domestic violence and abuse?

If the child is under the age of 18 and you know of specific set of circumstances because the child has disclosed or there are visible unexplainable bruises, bites, cuts, welts, burns, bone fractures that are non-accidental you can make a Child Abuse Hotline call and express your concerns. DCFS will conduct their investigation, if there are sufficient findings of domestic violence being witness by children, then an assessment will be performed by a qualified reporter to determine if the child has endured mental injury. If so, the child may be taken into protective custody.

Qualified peporters are licensed medical and mental health professionals, including: school teachers, certified social workers, registered nurses, medical doctors, registered psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counselors employed in a community health agency or social service agency. Qualified reporters may conduct an assessment on a child at any time, if concerns arise or there is sufficient credibility they are being exposed to domestic violence or enduring any type of abuse.

• If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, report it on line at https://childabuse.illinois.gov/.
• In an emergency, call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-2873.
• If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.
• Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-(877) 863-6338
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-(800) 799-7233

Please remember all calls are confidential.

-Estefania Barrientos, YWCA Northwestern Illinois La Voz Latina FAC Parent Educator/PAIP Coordinator