We want to take a moment and acknowledge that we’ve not been able to provide two week’s worth of FYI’s as our tribal administration buildings were closed due to COVID. Haven provided services to clients but worked remotely.
Beginning this week our offices opened and our FYI for this week focused on preparedness and a contest for employees. For our blog, we’re focusing on preparedness centered around safety planning and children who experience violence. We researched and found that the National Domestic Violence Hotline website had the most condensed and accurate information.
This week’s blog is provided by the National Domestic Violence Hotline website https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/supporting-your-children/
“Children and domestic violence
Children who experience abusive situations are forced to process complex emotions, often without access to the resources they need to do so. Planning for your children’s physical and emotional health is essential for their short-term and long-term wellbeing, no matter how old they are.
Remind them that their first responsibility is their own safety
even if they want to protect you or someone else in a moment of crisis. Teach them that you want everyone to be safe and that the preparations you’re making are to ensure their safety and everyone else’s during an emergency.
Your partner may try to use your children to harm you
by also abusing them, or by threatening, harassing, or manipulating you or your children depending on the situation. Examples include preventing you from seeing your children, calling or threatening to call police or immigration enforcement to gain custody of your children, humiliating you in front of them, using your children to monitor your behavior, or lying to your children to turn them against you.
Never blame your children for their responses to your partner’s abusive behavior
especially if they intentionally or unintentionally reveal your plan to leave. Make sure they know the violence isn’t their fault and that abuse is never okay, even when it comes from someone they love.
It’s important that your children have access to people other than yourself who they feel comfortable talking with and expressing themselves to.
Help them identify these people in their life and make sure they can contact them when needed. If possible, enroll them in a culturally relevant counseling program or therapy specializing in child counseling. Many domestic violence shelters offer children’s counseling – contact a Hotline advocate today to find out what local resources are near you.
Above all else, remind your children that you’re there for them
and that you love them unconditionally.”
If you have questions or would like to research more – please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website at https://www.thehotline.org/ or call our office and speak with an advocate 918.554.2836. We can also be found at Facebook: HavenTribalAdvocacyProgram and Twitter: @ProgramHaven
