Domestic Violence, Homelessness, and Children's Education

This brief discusses the effects of domestic violence on children and their education, the connection between domestic violence and homelessness, and federal legislative responses that help ensure that children affected by domestic violence and homelessness have stable and safe school experiences. It discusses helpful policies and practices for schools and service providers, and lists resources for more information.

This manual provides background information on the complex topic of domestic violence and addresses the following practice issues: the overlap between child maltreatment and domestic violence; the basics of domestic violence; modifying child protection practice with families experiencing domestic violence; enhancing caseworker safety and support in child protection cases involving domestic violence; and building collaborative responses for families experiencing domestic violence. Appendices include a glossary of terms; child, victim, and alleged perpetrator domestic violence assessments; safety plans; and information about developing a memorandum of understanding.

This manual from Massachusetts Advocates for Children will assist advocates working with families affected by domestic violence in understanding and enforcing the education-related rights of homeless children who have suffered domestic violence in providing education-related advice to their clients. The manual briefly covers the effects that the combined traumas of domestic violence and homelessness can have on children in school, and then describes in detail what advocates can do to mediate these effects.

This research brief from the Institute for Children and Poverty (ICP) explores the issue of intimate partner violence among homeless mothers in shelter. Children's exposure to intimate partner violence impacts their social-emotional functioning, relationships with parents and peers, and academic achievement. Analysis of a national study reveals that children's fathers victimized greater percentages of poor mothers experiencing homelessness or residential instability than residentially stable mothers, and poor children experiencing homelessness or residential instability witnessed a physical fight between their parents at higher rates than residentially stable poor children.

The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) is one of the nation's premiere organizations working to prevent domestic violence and prevent more women and children from having their lives devastated by abuse. FVPF was a driving force behind the Violence Against Women Act, and continues to fight for laws to support victims and prevent family violence.

This webpage from the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women (VAWnet) provides a variety of informational resources about the connection between housing and sexual violence. The webpage includes resources for victim service professionals and other service providers, and information about federal laws related to sexual violence and access to affordable housing.

This packet from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty was compiled for an October 2007 training on issues of domestic violence and homelessness. It contains various resources to assist in improving services and stability for survivors or domestic violence.

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence designs, provides, and customizes training and consultation; influences policy, promotes collaboration; and enhances diversity with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence.

In September 2009, 83 percent of identified domestic violence programs across the United States participated in the National Census of Domestic Violence Services (NCDVS). For the fourth consecutive year, NNEDV conducted the one-day, unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence services in the U.S., documenting the number of individuals who sought services, the types of services requested, the number of service requests that went unmet because of lack of resources, and the issues and barriers that domestic violence programs are facing as they strive to provide services to victims of domestic violence.

The National Domestic Violence Helpline (NDVH) provides victims of domestic violence access to help and support via a toll-free helpline, available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. With a database of more than 4,000 shelters and service providers across the United States, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Hotline provides callers with information they might otherwise have found difficult or impossible to obtain. Assistance is available in English and other languages at 800-799-7233. Assistance for the deaf is available by calling the TTY line at 800-787-3224.

This Toolkit was developed by and for advocates in the runaway and homeless youth (RHY) and domestic and sexual assault (DV/SA) fields to help programs address relationship violence with runaway and homeless youth better. The Toolkit organizes information, resources, tips, and tools drawn from the lessons learned by collaborative projects funded by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. DV/SA providers will find information designed to increase their understanding of runaway and homeless youth and the network of programs and services working with them and, converselyRHY, providers will find resources on intimate partner violence and the programs and networks that provide protections and support to victims of violence.