A 3-year-old drew this picture when she first arrived at STAND’s emergency shelter.

It’s Halloween today, a time when kids love to don their costumes, eat sweets, and maybe, if they’re feeling brave, get a little spooked at a haunted house or out trick or treating. Today also marks the last day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which raises awareness of the fact that way too many kids live in fear every day – and not the kind associated with Halloween.

One of the most devastating events a child can face is the trauma experienced by exposure to domestic violence and the violation of safety and security in the home. Children under age five are more likely to live in a household where domestic violence occurs than older children. This is especially alarming given all we know about early brain development in the first five years. Continue reading →