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Looking Beyond the Behavior: Supporting Children Impacted by Family Violence
When family violence happens, children are never just bystanders. They see it, hear it, and feel it, even when no one thinks they are paying attention. What a child experiences at home can shape how they learn, how they relate to others, and how they see themselves, often long after the violence has ended.
On October 2, 2026, Joy Chuba, LCSW, MSW, of RISE Community Solutions; Daniel Ortiz, LMSW, of Harbor House of Central Florida; Ilvia Ortiz-Paez of the Children's Advocacy Center Osceola; and Trinity Kimble, LMHC, of RISE Community Solutions, came together at RISE & Shine to discuss the child's experience: what it can look like, what may be happening underneath, and how it can affect a child's life as they grow.
The most important takeaway is that you don't need to be a clinician to make a difference. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members are often the first to notice, and one steady, supportive adult can change a child's path.
Download the handout packet here:
Inside, you'll find:
What One Adult Can Do & Resources: six simple steps (Notice, Listen, Believe, Respond, Connect, Stay) plus a directory of Central Florida organizations that support survivors and their children.
Look Again: The Survival System: a guide to looking beyond a child's behavior and shifting from "What's wrong with this child?" to "What has this child experienced?"
What Exposure Can Look Like Developmentally: how the effects of exposure to family violence can show up from infancy through young adulthood. These are possible presentations, not a checklist, and a reason to look closer rather than draw conclusions.
We encourage you to save it, print it, and share it with colleagues, school staff, faith communities, and families.
If you or someone you know needs support, help is available 24/7:
Florida Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-500-1119
Harbor House of Central Florida: 407-886-2856
SafeHouse of Seminole: 407-330-3933
Help Now of Osceola: 407-847-8562
Victim Service Center of Central Florida: 407-500-HEAL (4325)
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
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