The Future of Children, Princeton - Brookings: Providing research and analysis to promote effective policies and programs for children.

Journals > Journal: Domestic Violence and Children > Article: Domestic Violence and Children: Analysis and Recommendations

Journal Issue: Domestic Violence and Children Volume 9 Number 3 Winter 1999

Conclusion

Research indicates that millions of children are exposed to domestic violence and that the potential effects from this exposure are substantial. This information alone creates an imperative for action, despite the fact that we do not yet have empirical evidence to show which interventions work best. Public and private service agencies must expand efforts to reach children exposed to domestic violence with the best interventions the current knowledge will allow. At the same time, new and better research is needed to improve our understanding of the number of children affected by domestic violence, the nature of that impact, other factors that influence outcomes for these children, and the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Excellent work is being done throughout the country to design and implement programs for children exposed to domestic violence. Solid efforts to date by researchers, advocates, policymakers, practitioners, and others in this young field have greatly improved our understanding of the potential harms to these children. Greater public and private financial support for these efforts is needed, so that future work can build on the good work that has already been done, to reach more children exposed to domestic violence, with more effective and comprehensive responses.

Contents
• Introduction
• Prevalence and Effects of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence
• Systems Responses to Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
• Laws and Public Policies Affecting Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
• Prevention Programs
• Conclusion
• Endnotes