During school hours “Raymond”, age 6, worried a lot about his mother.  They had moved to the shelter to leave his abusive father who terrified and traumatized Raymond by beating his mother right in front of his eyes…  more...

Each year thousands of children in Massachusetts, and millions across the country, are exposed to violence in the home, as either witnesses of violence between their caretakers or as direct targets of abuse.  The ensuing trauma can lead to a wide range of learning, behavior, and social problems which if not properly addressed at early ages can have a devastating impact on a child’s education and health. 

Through our intake, we have found that a high proportion of children who are suspended or expelled for difficult or challenging behaviors at school or who struggle with learning and social relationships have been traumatized through exposure to chronic violence in the home.  Often, such children do not receive the supports they need to achieve at early points in their education and, as a result, later require intensive services or sometimes segregated placements.

Compelling new psychological and neurobiological research now explains why exposure to violence in the home can profoundly affect the many skills children need to thrive academically, behaviorally and socially at school.  Unfortunately, schools and teachers are often unaware of this link, and they thus respond as best they can to the symptoms, sometimes resulting in inappropriate interventions that can do further damage to the child.

CLSP has responded in two ways: by convening the Task Force on Children Affected by Domestic Violence, and by establishing the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative to implement many of the Task Force goals.