Over the last 20 years, there has been an ever-growing concern among the law enforcement, judicial, and health care communities over the devastating effects of domestic violence on the individuals and the families affected by it.
In response to this recognized need for intervention, many programs have been implemented that are aimed at providing assistance to both the abused and the abusers. Re-education and rehabilitation programs are becoming increasingly available that target breaking cycles of violence, and treating and healing the physical, emotional, and financial wounds left behind. Many of these programs have been focused on the adult family members engaged in domestic incidents. Recently, however, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office took the initiative to address the often silent victims of domestic abuse - children.
In 2005, there were 906 reported domestic incidents in Beaufort County, 542 in which children were reported to be present at the time the incident occurred. Research has shown that 80 to 90 percent of children living in homes where there is domestic violence are aware of the violence. Studies have shown that children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems, including depression, anxiety, and violence toward peers. They are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit sexual assault crimes. The effects of witnessing domestic abuse can continue to be observed even as these children mature. Children who grow up in violent homes have a 74 percent higher likelihood of committing criminal assaults. Eighty-one percent of men who batter had fathers who abused their mothers.
To address both the short- and long-term effects experienced by children who have witnessed domestic abuse, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has joined with the Solicitor's Office to create and implement DAPP - the Domestic Abuse Prevention Program. DAPP targets those individuals between the ages of 5 and 17 who have witnessed domestic violence in their home.
DAPP combines the efforts of trained professionals from:
- Beaufort County Sheriff's Office
- COSY (Collaborative Organization of Services for Youths)
- CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association)
- CODA (Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse)
- Coastal Empire Mental Health
- First Steps
- USMC Community Services
- Hope Haven
- Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse
DAPP consists of 8 weekly hour-long sessions that will be held at the Academy for Career Excellence. Three separate classes, held simultaneously each week, will address children in learning groups broken down by age: ages 5-8, ages 9-12, and ages 13-16. Each week, topics are presented to each group in an age-appropriate curriculum. These topics are taught with a mixture of group instruction and activities that allows for reinforcement of the ideas introduced and provides opportunity for healthy, safe interaction. These sessions are not counseling sessions, but rather educational sessions. However, each participating child is closely monitored by instructors, so that any children who appear to need more individualized evaluation can be referred to the appropriate agency for necessary care.
Children participating in DAPP will learn and practice lessons in:
- Self-esteem
- Feelings
- Family
- Abuse
- Safety plans
- Anger
- Assertiveness
- Sexual abuse
- Grief/Separation/Divorce
- Choices
Older children will additionally explore issues such as:
- Protection plans
- Personal power
- Dating violence
- Types of abuse
- Gender role stereotypes
- Problem solving
- Healthy relationships
- Family dynamics
The overall goals of DAPP are:
- To educate participants on the consequences of being convicted of Criminal Domestic Violence.
- To install with the participants that the actions of the abuser were not appropriate.
- To expose the participants to a support network that they can contact for help in cases of Criminal Domestic Violence.
Upon completion of the program, the children are rewarded with certificates of completion and enjoy a social get-together with their fellow classmates. It is hoped that children who complete this program will also be rewarded with the personal empowerment they will gain from the lessons they learn, and that they will be able to avoid the pitfalls of being witnesses to domestic violence.
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