October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a time to come together and raise our voices against abuse, to honor survivors and to work together toward prevention. Part of this prevention is to learn more about domestic violence and to understand that it can happen to anyone in any community. It continues to happen in shocking numbers. It thrives when we are silent.
Our youngest victims are often overlooked. Statistics show that more than three million children witness domestic violence in their home every year. Witnessing can mean seeing actual incidents of physical and or sexual abuse. It can mean hearing threats or fighting noises from another room. It can also mean observing the aftermath such as bruises, tears, blood or broken household items. These incidents often happen when children are trying to eat or sleep. So they don’t eat well or sleep well. Children can also be aware of the tension and fear from the parent that is being victimized.
The affect of domestic violence on children, whether they witness or have been physically abused, impacts their development, mental health, education and future. These young victims are at higher risk for substance abuse, failure in school, aggressive behavior or depression. Infants and small children who are exposed to violence in the home experience so much added emotional stress that it can harm development to their brains and impair cognitive and sensory growth. Studies show that more than half of school age children in domestic violence shelters show clinical levels of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
In South County, South Bay Community Services’ domestic violence services began in response to the needs of these children. In the 1980s SBCS’ in partnership with Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) provided the first 24-hour/7-day a week domestic violence response team to provide holistic support on domestic violence calls. Officers address the incident and deal with perpetrator, while SBCS provides crisis intervention to victims and their children, assists in planning their immediate and long-term safety and offers wrap around services such as counseling. This partnership continues today and has expanded to National City, Imperial Beach and Southern San Diego Region.
Last year, 859 calls were received in South County – a 24% increase from last year.
Soon after SBCS opened Casa Seguras, emergency domestic violence shelter in Chula Vista. In order to remove barriers to leaving a domestic violence situation, SBCS allows extended family members and teenage sons to stay at the shelter as well. SBCS is one of the only shelters to provide this opportunity. In addition to housing, families receive family and individual counseling, food assistance and wrap around services that help them lead self-sufficient lives. Last year, 251 domestic violence victims and their children were provided emergency shelter.
In working with children at the shelter, specialist found that — in addition – children were having struggles academically. The little ones were being kicked out of day care or preschools due to behavior. Services were started at the shelter to address these needs, but more was needed. To help end the cycle of violence, early intervention was needed.
In 2006, in partnership with Chula Vista Elementary School District, SBCS opened the first of its kind, Mi Escuelita Therapeutic Preschool – a place to help break the cycle of violence, help children heal and begin the right path for school.
Since it’s opening in 2006, Mi Escuelita has served more than 200 children. Currently, the school has funding for 72 children ages three to five for full day therapeutic quality early education with three full time therapists and specialized staff. At any given time, there could be a wait list of up to 90 children referred by Child Welfare Services, health centers, law enforcement or community based programs.
Four Mi Escuelita children have witnessed their parent murdered by another parent.
A recent five-year longitudinal study by University of California, San Diego (UCSD) examined the overall effectiveness of Mi Escuelita on school readiness for these vulnerable and at-risk children. Results from the evaluation clearly illustrate that, across all years, children who participated in the Mi Escuelita program performed equal to, and often better, than their peers on several different academic outcomes.
While it is impossible to know the continued circumstances surrounding the lives of Mi Escuelita children as they age and move through the elementary years, there is solace in recognizing that these children, who faced significant, traumatic life experiences at very young ages, continue to perform as well on key indicators of academic success as their peers who did not experience the same types of events.
On October 21, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., all of Karina’s Seafood Restaurants and Savoie in Otay Ranch Town Center will host Dine Out Against Domestic Violence and will donate 15% of proceeds to South County domestic violence programs.
On October 31, 2015, Together As 3Point One with AT&T, will host a Halloween Fun Run/Walk to support domestic violence programs. Registration can be found on SBCS website.
#NowIsTheTime to end this assault on our children and community. Join us this month to raise awareness and save lives. Please visit SouthBayCommunityServices.org and click on ‘DV month’ for more information or contact SBCS at (619) 420-3620. Follow on Facebook @SouthBayCommunityServices and on Twitter @SBCS4Families to share information with your network. #NowIsTheTime.
