Parent and Child Health: Substance Use Awareness Virtual June Conference Series 2025

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2025 • 12 pm to 1 pm

Virtual

Training Sessions

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Youth and Prevention

Abstract

Children and youth who experience domestic violence—either as direct victims or witnesses—are profoundly impacted across emotional, behavioral, physical, and societal dimensions. This presentation explores domestic violence, expanding awareness beyond physical abuse to include emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic harm. Participants will learn how children are exposed to abuse, the developmental impacts across age groups, and the compounding effects of displacement and homelessness.

We will address how children interpret violence, how abusive parents may manipulate or use them, and the long-term lessons they may internalize about relationships, conflict, and self-worth. Through a trauma-informed lens, we’ll examine key warning signs and age-specific indicators of abuse, while offering practical guidance for identifying and supporting children at risk.

In addition to understanding the effects of domestic violence, this session will highlight proactive violence prevention strategies, including school- and community-based programming, healthy relationship education, and bystander intervention models. We will also explore how professionals can engage with youth, families, and community partners to foster safety, healing, and long-term resilience.

Objectives

  • Define domestic violence and identify its multiple forms, emphasizing that abuse is not limited to physical harm but includes emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse—many of which directly or indirectly impact children and teens.
  • Examine the prevalence and impact of domestic violence on children and youth, including statistical outcomes, age-specific responses, and effects of experiencing domestic violence and additional trauma by displacement or homelessness.
  • Explore how children experience and internalize violence, including their interpretations based on age and development, how they may be manipulated by abusive parents, and what harmful lessons they may learn from witnessing abuse.
  • Identify behavioral, emotional, and physical indicators of trauma in children and teens exposed to domestic violence, with a focus on recognizing signs across different age groups, how to respond using supportive responses.
  • Explore strategies for intervention and support, including how to talk to children and victims about domestic violence, available community resources, and the role of professionals, and service providers in fostering healing and resilience.
  • Present violence prevention strategies that empower communities and professionals, including early intervention, healthy relationship education, school-based programming, bystander training, and connecting families to local resources and experts.

Accreditation

PHYSICIAN (CME)

The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

NURSING (CNE)

A maximum of 1.0 nursing contact hours will be awarded. Participants will be able to claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the program.

SOCIAL WORK

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 continuing education credits.

Psychologist (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

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