How Children Are Affected by Intimate Partner Violence (and What We Can Do)

One truth I carry in my heart is that children are often the silent, unseen victims in homes marked by domestic violence. Even if they’re not directly abused, exposure (seeing, hearing, feeling the tension or aftermath) leaves scars.

Nationally, at least 1 in 7 children experienced abuse or neglect in a given year. Many more are exposed to partner violence at home. ofs.nashville.gov In households with intimate-partner violence, research suggests that 30%–60% of abusers also harm children, meaning the risks multiply. ofs.nashville.gov

From what I’ve learned and witnessed, the impact on children can show up in:

• Emotional and behavioral struggles (e.g. anxiety, aggression, withdrawal)

• Academic difficulties (trouble concentrating, gaps in learning)

• Long-term consequences (increased risk of future violence involvement, either as victim or perpetrator)

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But here’s the thing: intervention changes trajectories. When we pair adult survivor services (legal support, housing, counseling) with child-focused interventions (trauma-informed therapy, stable schooling, mentoring), we buffer the harm substantially. ofs.nashville.gov

To those of you who are caregivers, neighbors, teachers, or social workers: if you see a child who’s regressing, acting out, or becoming extremely withdrawn after home incidents, that’s a signal. You don’t have to carry the solution alone — connect with a domestic violence agency or child mental health services to help plug them into support.

I believe in a Nashville where children in homes with violence are not doomed to repeat cycles, but are seen, heard, and helped to heal.

Final Word

Domestic violence is more than a “private matter” — it’s a public health crisis, a moral crisis, and a barrier to thriving futures. In Nashville and beyond, it disproportionately harms women, but also leaves children bearing the wounds of exposure.

That’s why As We Rise was founded. Our mission is to help women not just survive — but to rebuild, to grow stronger, to reclaim control and dignity in their lives.

We provide support and guidance for women who are ready to break free from the cycle of abuse. Through our program, participants:

• Explore their personal gifts and talents

• Receive job training in empowering, often nontraditional career paths

• Gain mentorship and community support

• Develop financial independence and life skills

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We don’t believe in telling women what to do — we believe in helping them remember who they are.

When a woman rediscovers her strength, her entire world begins to change. That’s the heart of As We Rise — walking beside her as she steps forward, not as a victim, but as the author of her own new beginning.