Child Abuse Violence | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 9/14/2012

Children are aware of violence, even at a young age.

"Children will know that the abuse is going on at home even if parents think they are sleeping, I bet they are sleeping with one eye open," said Children Coordinator Ashley Counts.

Domestic violence is a serious issue and it is on the rise in Minot.

"The population is rising, and with that, comes more people and when there`s more people, there`s more violence. Absolutely, we can say their numbers have been a lot higher this year," said Counts.

There is a link between domestic violence and child abuse. Sometimes the children experience the violence first hand, while others are just witnesses.@

"If they are living in a violate home we certainly don`t want the children to be abused or even if it`s not intentional," said Counts.

The program helps the children set up a safety plan, where they can teach the child about a safe place to go or who to call when violence occurs.

"Domestic violence is a cycle. So children grow up seeing this kind of behavior they may end up forming relationships that are just as abusive when they begin dating. So we want to kinda stop that cycle," said Counts.

While child abuse continues, we only hope that parents utilize programs like the crisis center to help their children work through the violence.

Counts says if the child is under the age of eighteen, they will need a permission to treat form before coming to the center on a regular basis.

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