Content
Children and Youth
Issue Overview
Young people are affected by domestic violence and dating violence as both victims and witnesses.
One-quarter of high school girls have been the victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse or date rape[i] and approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year. [ii] Teen victims and youth who witness violence are more likely to engage in risky behaviors during adolescence and grow up to become victims and perpetrators of violence in their own relationships.[iii]
One-half to two-thirds of residents in domestic violence shelters are children. In fact, on one day in 2007, 13,485 children were living in domestic violence shelters or transitional housing facility. Another 5,526 sought services at non-residential programs.
Legislative Action
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is the primary federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and programs. FVPSA-funded shelters offer safety and support to children and their non-abusive parent. Once FVPSA is funded at $130 million, a percentage of funding will be dedicated to addressing children's specific needs. FVPSA is set to expire this year and must be reauthorized in order to ensure continued services to children and families fleeing from violence.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005 created new programs to specifically address the needs of children and youth. Beginning in the FY 2008 Congressional Budget several of these programs have received support, but more funding is needed to fulfill their promise and break the cycle of violence. Please see NNEDV's FY 2009 Briefing Book to read more about VAWA programs for children and youth and their need for funding.
What You Can Do To Help
- Sign up for NNEDV's action alerts to learn how and when to act on FVPSA.
- Contact Congress about funding for VAWA programs that provide services to children and youth!
For More Information
NNEDV works closely with organizations at the forefront of efforts to address these issues through research, programs and policy advocacy.
- Break the Cycle engages, educates and empowers youth to build lives and communities free from domestic and dating violence.
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Family Violence Prevention Fund works to prevent violence within the home and in the community to help those whose lives are devastated by violence.
[i] Cathy Schoen et al., "The Commonwealth Fund Survey for the Health of Adolescent Girls," November 1997.
[ii] McDonald, R., et al. (2006). "Estimating the Number of American Children Living in Partner-Violence Families." Journal of Family Psychology, 30(1), 137-142.
[iii] Wolfe, D.A., Wekerle, C., Reitzel, D. and Gough, R. 1995. "Strategies to Address Violence in the Lives of High Risk Youth." In Ending the Cycle of Violence: Community Responses to Children of Battered Women, edited by E. Peled, P.G. Jaffe, and J.L. Edleson. New York, NY: Sage Publications. Also, Silverman, J.G., Raj, A., Mucci, L.A., & Hathaway, J.E. (2001). "Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality." Journal of the American Medical Association, 286(5), 572-9.