What becomes of the youngest victims of domestic violence? Who do they become and what becomes their view of the world?

I am convinced that so much of the brutality, selfishness and emotional numbness we witness while working with families affected by domestic and sexual violence is a direct result of adults who did not have access to counseling or other positive role models to combat the abuse they witnessed throughout their childhood.

Programs for children and youth are so important to equip the youngest survivors of abuse so they can reinvent their story and how they will choose to show up in the world; a healthier version of their upbringing. Children see themselves as an extension of their parents and that is natural because we are literally created by our parents; and yes it could be easy to assume that because my parent is abusive that is who I am too.

Counseling, primary prevention programming and mentorship can break the generational cycles of abuse. Thank you to all the programs that are integrating children and youth services into your work. You are building a healthier tomorrow and helping children and youth embrace who they are by building self-confidence and self-efficacy. It also an opportunity to help them see the good qualities of their parents and integrate those into their lives while recognizing that they parents may not be bad people, simply people who had bad things happen and did not resolve and re-write a healthier narrative.