Preventing Domestic Violence

Domestic violence and child abuse often occur in the same family and are linked to several consequences for all family members, as well as for members of the larger community. Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at greater risk for substance abuse, juvenile pregnancy, and criminal behavior than those raised in homes without violence. Many studies have noted that children from violent homes exhibit signs of more aggressive behavior, such as bullying, and are up to three times more likely to be involved in fighting. Research has shown that prevention and early intervention efforts are effective in reducing domestic violence and child abuse behavior. This section contains resources on prevention and early intervention efforts to reduce domestic violence and child abuse in families. It also includes teen dating violence prevention resources.

• Programs for children and youth
• Preventing child abuse and neglect in families experiencing domestic violence
• Teen dating violence prevention programs

Advancing Prevention Research on Child Abuse, Youth Violence, and Domestic Violence: Emerging Strategies and Issues
Guterman
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(3), 2004
View Abstract
Considers emerging strategies in three key domains of prevention research and addresses ways the research is improving useful knowledge about preventing interpersonal violence.

Building Community Capacity for Violence Prevention
Sabol, Coulton, & Korbin
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(3), 2004
View Abstract
Examines the capacity of communities to prevent violence and considers ways to tailor violence prevention programs to a community's unique needs and strengths.

Conversations With Mothers of Color Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence Regarding Working With Men to End Domestic Violence (PDF - 95 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2003)
Reviews themes that can be incorporated into prevention programs, including societal norms, the effects of abuse on the victim and child witness, the impact of traditional interventions, and engaging men in violence prevention.

Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Youth Violence: Strategies for Prevention and Early Intervention
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2003)
Proposes components of a collaborative, community-based prevention/early intervention effort to reduce risk factors for families at-risk for child abuse, domestic violence, and/or youth violence.

The Facts on Preventing Violence Against Women and Children (PDF - 177 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2006)
Provides statistics on the prevalence of violence against women and children, harms and costs of victimization, and crime and incarceration of youth who have a history of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence.

Finding a Common Agenda for Preventing Child Maltreatment, Youth Violence, and Domestic Violence: Introduction to the Special Issue
Edleson, Daro, & Pinderhughes
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(3), 2004
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Addresses how to prevent co-occurring violence, including information on risk assessment techniques, practice implications for research, and the role of community and informal social support interventions.

Preventing Family Violence: Lessons From the Community Engagement Initiative (PDF - 344 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2004)
Offers advice from community organizers of family violence prevention programs on getting started, funding a project, and measuring effectiveness.

Preventing Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities: CDC's Demonstration Projects
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2007)
Highlights challenges and lessons learned from 10 demonstration projects funded to develop, implement, and evaluate culturally competent violence prevention programs targeted for specific racial/ethnic minority groups.

Preventing Violence: Research and Evidence-Based Intervention Strategies
Lutzker (Ed.) (2006)
View Abstract
Applies a public health model to the prevention of interpersonal violence and offers quantitative analyses from leaders in violence prevention with a strong scientific perspective.

A Prevention Primer for Domestic Violence: Terminology, Tools, and the Public Health Approach
Chamberlain (2008)
Provides an introduction to basic prevention concepts by exploring the public health approach, two classification systems, a planning tool used to develop more comprehensive initiatives, and the importance of understanding terminology.

Reducing Domestic Violence: How the Healthy Marriage Initiative Can Help
Pardue & Rector (2004)
Discusses the primary target populations and goals of the healthy marriage initiative and explains the benefits of marriage as a protective institution that decreases the risk of domestic abuse and violent crime.

What Can I Do to Help?
Barnett & Miller-Perrin (2nd ed.) (2005)
In Family Violence Across the Lifespan: An Introduction
View Abstract
Suggests actions individuals can take to reduce family violence in the United States.