Children exposed to domestic violence get help to interrupt cycle

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The Shreveport Police Department wants to help get vital mental health support to children exposed to domestic violence in the home.

During the city-wide domestic violence forum on Thursday, July 7, 2025, SPD shared how they are working with Caddo Parish Schools to help educators get a snapshot of some of the stressors that children experience at home, which can affect behavior and performance at school.

There has been a rise in domestic violence cases investigated by Shreveport police. Officials say the psychological damage caused by violence in the home can last a lifetime, even when children aren’t the direct victims.

“Even if they’re not a victim and they are present when domestic violence or any other traumatic event occurs, there are long-term effects for that. They’re emotional effects and you have behavioral problems,” said Shreveport Police Captain Janice Daily.

Officers will use a new form when they respond to domestic incidents witnessed by school-age children. The forms will be exchanged with care and confidentiality between SPD and the appropriate Caddo Schools personnel to ensure children receive the necessary interventions.

“We’re seeing deaths of individuals that are impacted by this, which means that there are children that are left parentless because either it’s the mother and father that are happening, you know, our other domestic partners are where we’re seeing, and the impacts are great,” Councilwoman District A, Tabatha Taylor, said.

Officials say the program is already improving communication between agencies, and they hope it will become a model for other cities facing similar challenges.

“We affirm to them that their voice matters. In this room, there’s no judgment or shame, just a listening ear ready to support and hear what they have to say,” said Forensic interview director, LaCie Hadley.

The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office says protecting children is the first step to breaking the cycle.

“Children who witness domestic violence are far more likely to either become abusers or to become victims of violence,” said the Section Chief. Domestic Violence/Sex Crimes Special Victims Unit, Britney A. Green.

The Office on Women’s Health says that 15 million children in the U.S. live in homes where domestic violence has happened at least once and are at greater risk of experiencing domestic violence in their relationships. According to their website, a boy who sees his mother being abused is 10 times more likely to abuse his female partner as an adult. A girl who grows up in a home where her father abuses her mother is more than six times as likely to be sexually abused as a girl who grows up in a non-abusive home.

Children’s reactions to domestic violence by age:

Birth to 5 – Disruptions in sleeping or eating, intense separation anxiety, crying inconsolably, developmental regression, increased aggression, intense anxiety, worries, and or new fears.

6 – 11 years – nightmares, sleep disruptions, aggression, and difficulty with peer relationships at school, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal or emotional numbing, school avoidance/truancy.

12-18 years – antisocial behavior, social failure, impulsive or reckless behavior, truancy, substance abuse, running away, involvement in violent dating relationships, depression, anxiety, withdrawal. Source: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

From law enforcement to schools to advocacy centers, the main goal is to stop the violence and keep kids from becoming the next generation caught in the grip of domestic violence. The purpose is to keep them whole as they prepare for the future.

“That student gets off the bus and cannot handle what they just experienced,” said Caddo Parish Superintendent Keith Burton.