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| Wednesday, May 14, 2008 |
Community and Domestic Violence
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Please use the following web-based HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream) Community Violence:The term community violence brings various images to mind, from gang shootings to street muggings. While these are certainly elements of community violence, the actual definition is broad and encompassing. Community violence can be defined as exposure to acts of interpersonal violence committed by individuals who are not intimately related to the victim. Some of the acts that fall under the community violence umbrella include sexual assault, burglary, use of weapons, muggings, the sounds of bullet shots, as well as social disorder issues such as the presence of teen gangs, drugs, and racial divisions. Interpersonal violence is one of the most important issues facing our nation’s youth. Although many institutional and community-based efforts have been directed towards alleviating this problem, information about these efforts is not always easy to find. To fill this need, the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center web site, www.safeyouth.org, and call center, 1-866-SAFEYOUTH (723-3968), serve as a user-friendly, single point of access to Federal information on youth violence.
Domestic Violence: Each year, an estimated 3 to 10 million children witness assaults against a parent by an intimate partner.(Straus, 1992) Domestic violence does not discriminate across lines of race, culture, nationality or gender. It occurs at the same rate in both homosexual and heterosexual relationships (Mills et al., 2000). The experience of family violence can be among the most disturbing for children because both victims and aggressors are the adults who care for them and who are most closely attached to them. For many of these children, violence interrupts their experience of consistent safety and care, and creates an environment of uncertainty and helplessness. Children who are exposed to domestic violence, especially repeated incidents of violence, are at risk for many difficulties, both immediately and in the future. These include problems with sleeping, eating and other basic bodily functions; depression, aggressiveness, anxiety and other problems in regulating emotions; difficulties with family and peer relationships; and problems with attention, concentration and school performance. National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, FCADV, works towards ending violence through public awareness, policy development, and support for Florida's domestic violence centers. Serving Florida's 41 domestic violence centers, FCADV runs Florida's toll-free domestic violence hotline, maintains a resource library, and develops posters, brochures, safety plans, and other resources. Florida Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-500-1119 Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Program: More than 1 million children are victims of child abuse and neglect each year, according to state child protective service agencies. Many victims don't receive help because they are not reported to the system. These abused and neglected children span all ages, races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Child maltreatment includes actions that result in imminent risk of serious harm, death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation of a child under age 18 by a parent or caretaker. When parents can't, don't or won't protect their children, the Department of Children & Families steps in to help, providing a full spectrum of services, from parenting classes and respite care to transportation and child care. The goal of the department is to keep children safe in their own families when possible. Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE Please print the following Domestic Violence Hotline Flyer. We recommend that the flyer be placed in a private area such as on the back of doors in restroom stalls.
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