How to foster resilience in kids following exposure to domestic abuse

Topics: National, Violence, Bullying and Abuse Prevention
August 01, 2012

How to foster resilience in kids following exposure to domestic abuse

Experiencing domestic abuse can be a traumatizing event in a child's life, potentially hindering social development and performance at school. However, once these children in need are identified, there are ways in which family members, counselors, teachers and community members can help with the healing process.

The first thing adults need to understand is their responsibility to keep children safe. This means realizing how children are impacted through witnessing violence in their homes and having a safety plan for them, which includes violence and abuse prevention education. Through education and support , adults can help youngsters build resiliency to better deal with their hardships

According to Michael Ungar, Ph.D., a social work professor and co-director of the Resilience Research Centre, the first thing kids need are relationships with adults they can trust. Children who have been hurt, especially by those they love, have a difficult time building these trust relationships - this takes time, knowledge and courage. Caring adults can let them know that they deserve to be protected and respected.

One critical step for children and youth is understanding what has happened to them and knowing it is not their fault. Once they can put language around their experiences they are better equipped to ask for help.

This is the essential work the Canadian Red Cross does – educating children, youth, adults, organizations and communities on understanding all types of interpersonal violence, why it happens, where to get help and how to set up a safety plan. Our aim is to "create safe environments, free of violence and abuse, especially for children and youth."


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