Interrupting the Cycle of Violence

Children who witness or are victims of violence are more likely to express violence.

When children are exposed to violence, they suffer not only the immediate trauma of the incident, but this trauma creates a “socially toxic” environment that also tends to negatively affect children’s normal development and their future well being. For example, children exposed to domestic violence are more likely than non-exposed children to be abused or neglected, and more likely to later be in an abusive adult relationship, as either aggressor or victim. Youth encounter violence in every arena of their daily life—at home, at school, through the media, or on the streets of their neighborhoods.

NCCD is helping to change the way communities respond to families in crisis.