We’re Glad You’re Here

If you were raised in a home with domestic violence, the holidays can be a difficult time that brings back not-so-warm memories of your childhood. Whereas Thanksgiving reunites others with family and fosters happy strolls down memory lane with loved ones over hearty turkey dinners, those who grew up with CDV typically do not look back on their childhood and childhood home with warm nostalgia....

"Nearly 20% of women who took their own lives were known to police because they were exposed to domestic violence as children"   We know the dire statistic that those who experience Childhood Domestic Violence are 6x more likely to commit suicide than the general population. A recent study in Australia has reaffirmed these findings.   People often dismiss CDV, because children are not being...

For children experiencing Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV), the impact is not minimal or temporary. They are not merely passive witnesses but true casualties of these incidents, which can profoundly effect their physical health, mental health, behavior, and/or relationships.   Yet, in another article about a high-profile domestic violence incident, once again CDV is almost entirely left out....

The way we are going to truly break the cycle is by identifying the root cause. - Dr. Linda Olson, Founder & Chairwoman, Georgia Chapter, Childhood Domestic Violence Association       Our Georgia Chapter Chairwoman Dr. Linda Olson has a unique understanding of CDV. Not only did she grow up with it, but she also treats it everyday as a clinician psychologist, psychotherapist and licensed...

Growing up with domestic violence (Childhood Domestic Violence or CDV) is the SINGLE BEST PREDICTOR 100 organizations nationwide to partner with CDVA in national distribution campaign to build critical awareness of CDV, deliver groundbreaking solutions directly to those impacted --- As Domestic Violence Awareness Month kicks off on October 1st, there is still very little awareness of what UNICEF...

A friend recently said to me: 'You’re like a prey animal, ears pricked up, looking for danger.' Like many children of domestic violence Louisa Adjoa Parker has heightened stress-activation, which we know to be maladaptive, harming both her mental and physical health. However, there are other negative consequence of the constant fear that may come from living with domestic violence. Like many...

We still see anger from him, but it is nowhere near as destructive and much less intense. He is learning to control that. 'Jack' - a twelve year old child of domestic violence - had begun to express ANGER as a result of Childhood Domestic Violence (CDV), which is common among those who grow up with CDV. But through counseling and hard work, he is beginning to UNLEARN this LIE - one of the 10 key...

"Your mind processes so differently when you can see yourself in that child or that mother...” - Gayan Pert.  Gayan Pert, ED of Bethany house, grew up with CDV in her childhood home in Jamaica. She now operates a shelter for families much like her own. Gayan's mission to help others is very common amongst those who grew up with CDV. Those who experience trauma in childhood are much more likely...

I think what…affected me for my adult life that happened in my childhood was more the everyday When actress Charlize Theron was 15, her mother shot and killed her abusive alcoholic father. But what affected her most was living daily under the strain of both these adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).  The ten ACEs identifies in the groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences study include:...

The ACE Study found that the higher someone’s ACE score – the more types of childhood adversity a person experienced, the higher their risk of chronic disease, mental illness, violence, being a victim of violence and a bunch of other consequences. There is a strong correlation between ACE's (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and mental/emotional challenges. Those who face ACE's are more likely to...