Making a Difference

During the COVID-19  pandemic we have saw a rise in Domestic Violence. Children are increasingly caught in the crossfire due to the strain and lack of resources their parents are experiencing. Home is not always a "safe place". Capturing the true impact of Childhood Domestic Violence statistics during the COVID-19 lockdown is difficult because some cases went unreported.  Community organizations and outlets i.e. counselors, teachers, healthcare workers, and other family members were not available to these victims while stay at home orders were in place. In many cases these outlets are life lines for these victims.  These children were left behind closed doors without a voice. The impact on children will be seen for many years to come.

The Thumbprint Project Foundation is asking you to keep an eye out for children that are in trouble. Contact your local authorities and or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7234 to report concerns.

Awareness and taking action let these children know that "we see you, you matter."

Understanding the  definition of domestic violence can help you to take more effective action against its many manifestations of abuse. 

Globally, the victims of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women. Domestic violence is among the most underreported crimes worldwide. It is often hidden by a perpetrator's success in life. Success is the warmest place to hide.

According to the United States Department of Justice - Office on Violence Against Women - the definition of domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner. Abuse comes in many forms some of which are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, and psychological abuse. 

The costs of intimate partner violence in the US alone exceed $5.8 billion per year; $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion.

Childhood Domestic Violence, also known as CDV, is the exposure of a child to  abusive behavior  or violence in a home between two intimate partners or perpetrated on one partner.

Studies suggest that up to 3.3 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually in the US.

There is acknowledgment that a child who is exposed to domestic abuse, both physical and verbal, during their upbringing will suffer developmental and psychological damage. Verbal abuse can be even more damaging than physical abuse. Children are especially sensitive to verbal abuse. Typically, the more verbal abuse a child suffers, the more problems the child is likely to develop as a result. It does not matter how old the child is when the abuse occurs for it to have a damaging and lasting effect, nor does the economic status of the family or the gender of the child matter. Exposure to violence in the home negatively wires and encodes the child's developing brain ( negative neural pathways are formed— forming  a  “thumbprint”  ). This "thumbprint" shapes a child's behaviors, sense of self, and how they view others.  These negative behaviors will be assimilated into their lives and it will perpetuate.  As a child, this exposure sometimes manifests into bullying in schools and as we grow into adults it becomes to take form as abuse on your intimate partner.

The new emerging profile in our society is women with children who flee, rendering themselves homeless. Sometimes they are forced to flee in the middle of the night. These women leave with nothing in their hands except the small hands of their children, protecting them at all cost, hoping to give them a better life. These same children are  at risk of repeating homelessness as an adult, repeating the domestic violence behavior, at risk for substance/drug abuse, and at high risk for becoming a victim of human trafficking. 

JOIN THE THUMBPRINT PROJECT FOUNDATION TODAY TO HELP BRING  AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDHOOD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROTECT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. To speak to someone about domestic violence related services available throughout San Diego, call the San Diego 24 Hour Access and Crisis Line at 888-724-7240 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day at : 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224.