Children that experience or witness violence in the home are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms that can lead to long term consequences. Additional risks include child abuse, impairment in brain development, behavior changes, sleep disturbances, and mental health issues.
As primary care providers, it can be difficult to identify families that experience domestic violence. Parents and children may be reluctant to disclose their experiences for a variety of reasons. During both virtual and in person visits, look for these indicators of potential domestic violence in your pediatric population.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Resilient Project offers screening tools for identifying and treating children exposed to violence.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resources and tip sheets for providers, parents, and children on addressing, discussing, and intervening with domestic violence.
