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Citations “I Got Flowers Today.” Domestic Violence Toolkit, edited by Belinda Jones, Georgia State University College of Law, 2010, pp. 2.

This poem is very sad and shows the pain of a woman hurt by someone she loves. She gets flowers, but not for happy reasons. Each time her partner hurts her, he says sorry by sending flowers. The abuse becomes worse over time, and she feels scared, trapped, and unsure how to leave. The flowers, which usually represent love, become a symbol of pain and apology for violence. She hides her injuries and suffers in silence because she feels alone and afraid. In the end, the abuse kills her, and she gets flowers at her funeral. This poem shows how dangerous domestic violence can be and why it is so important for victims to ask for help and for others to support them.

Who wrote source? Paulette Kelly

Text/Subject: Dedicated to battered women.

Audience: General US population for people interested in awareness of domestic abuse and prevention.

Context: A powerful poem about domestic violence.

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Citations Domestic Violence Toolkit, edited by Belinda Jones, Georgia State University College of Law, 2010.

The relationship between Domestic Violence and childhood trauma is complex because it is extremely important for children to see healthy relationships modeled. Children who grow up in homes who experience abuse, neglect, or trauma learn that violence is normal, and that the world is chaotic and unsafe. Statistics have shown that children that witnessed domestic violence often grow up to repeat the pattern. Studies have even shown that the brains of the children who have witnessed family violence are more impacted than the brains of those who are battered themselves as adults. Traumatic experiences can impact these children as adults in a variety of ways including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and dissociative behavior. As adults they may struggle to recognize abuse in their relationships because this behavior has been normalized. Some childhood trauma victims may grow up to become abusers themselves adopting abuse as a learned behavior. It's very important to seek professional help so survivors of childhood abuse can heal and recover from trauma, and learn to establish healthy relationships.

Rhetorical situations:

Who wrote source? Belinda Jones

Text/Subject: criminal law and domestic violence

Audience: This toolkit was created for the purpose of providing legal research to individuals who are interested in learning about criminal domestic violence laws.

Context: This source includes information on federal statutes pertaining to the domestic violence against women act (VAWA) including offenses and penalties. It also includes information about the gun control act 18 U.S.C.A. 922 that prohibits domestic violence perpetrators from owning firearms. It also provides definitions for family violence, how to help survivors file petitions in court, and seek protective orders. Finally, this resource provides extensive information on stalking, aggravated stalking, restraining orders, and the penalty for violating restraining orders.

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Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

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Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

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Citation “PRECIOUS - Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” YouTube, thepetrosian, 10 June 2011, youtu.be/GGZVq6CMV1s?si=WakLvU_pf5CJPBnX.

This young lady was sexually abused by her step father while in the same home as her mother. The mother refused to acknowledge the trauma that her daughter was experiencing and did not question the paternity of the two children that were born as a result of the abuse. The mother also mentally, physically and emotionally abuse this young lady. Despite the many challenges that she faced; Precious was able to overcome adversity. She was also able to obtain an education and finish High School all while parenting two children. One who had special needs. I chose to use this source as it relates to childhood trauma because the plot is a very common scenario. Often found in a lot of households from all different ethnic backgrounds. It also elaborates on the many different forms of abuse.

Who wrote source? Geoffrey S. Fletcher

Text/Subject: A story of hope, resilience, and the capacity of people that overcome adversity.

Audience: General US population for anyone interested in abuse, racism, diversity, and poverty.

Context: This film was set in Harlem 1987 reflecting social realities of the time including, poverty, and racial discrimination. This film was created for the purpose of abuse and trauma, and a story of hope and resilience.

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PRECIOUS - Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) - Official Movie Trailer

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Citation “Lilo & Stitch (2002) Movieclips Classic Trailers.” YouTube, 3 May 2018, youtu.be/9OAC55UWAQs.

I chose this source because it's a story about a little girl who lost both parents due to a fatal car accident. Lilo is a grieving girl who struggled to connect with others. Children coping with trauma often have behavior issues and isolation. The sister who is also grieving the loss of her parents, taking on a lot of stress, and becoming a guardian to her sister shows resilience and fights to keep her family together. The alien animal created a bond with the little girl and was able to be an emotional support for her. Childhood trauma can disrupt the brain and it's important to seek treatment. I love this film because most movies have the parents involved and not every child has or is able to live with their parents. It's important for the world to have awareness and understanding of the affects of childhood trauma, and to always be kind to others as you never know what they have experienced in their life.

Who wrote source? Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

Text/Subject: Description of animated movie of a alien animal and a little girl.

Audience: A movie for families.

Context: to show kids/caregivers that it's acceptable to live with a family member/ foster home.

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Lilo & Stitch (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

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Citation Aronson, Matthew et al. “The Opportunity to Change: A Community Needs Assessment for Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in Contra Costa County, CA.” Contra Costa Health, 2024, www.cchealth.org/home/showpublisheddocument/31103/638648533798100000.

Contra Costa County gathered reports, data, and surveys to better understand how young adults are impacted by homelessness. Each year, approximately 13, 506 youths are homeless. Equally alarming, 2, 875 students experience homelessness. Most of these youths have faced childhood trauma that persists into adulthood. A significant number age out of foster care and suffer from emotional distress. Many have endured sexual and physical abuse. Unfortunately, they often lack the support or family to turn to in these difficult times. The community must come together to provide resources for vulnerable youth. The good news is that where there is hope, there is resilience, and people can heal from anything.

Who wrote source? Matthew Aronson

Text/Subject: Community needs assessment for youth and young adults.

Audience: Contra Costa County employees and residents.

Context: Providing results, data of homelessness, and improving community well-being.

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Please click the link above and complete the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) quiz, and read the accompanying article. This activity will help you learn about childhood trauma.

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An ACE score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect, and other hallmarks of a rough childhood. According to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, the rougher your childhood, the higher your score is likely to be and the higher your risk for later health problems. You can take the test below:

So, you've got your score. Now what?

First, remember that the ACE score isn't a crystal ball; it's just meant as guidance. It tells you about one type of risk factor among many. It doesn't directly take into account your diet or genes, or whether you smoke or drink excessively - to name just a few of the other major influences on health.

To learn more, check the CDC's ACE Study website. You'll find, among other things, a list of studies that explore the ways adverse childhood experiences have been linked to a variety of adult conditions, ranging from increased headaches to depression to heart disease.

Remember this, too: ACE scores don't tally the positive experiences in early life that can help build resilience and protect a child from the effects of trauma. Having a grandparent who loves you, a teacher who understands and believes in you, or a trusted friend you can confide in may mitigate the long-term effects of early trauma, psychologists say.

"There are people with high ACE scores who do remarkably well," says Jack Shonkoff, a pediatrician and director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

Resilience, he says, builds throughout life, and close relationships are key. Recent research also suggests that for adults, "trauma informed" therapy - which can center on art, yoga or mindfulness training - can help.

How best to find and help kids who are experiencing abuse and neglect right now?

Child psychologist Hilit Kletter, of Stanford University's School of Medicine, says that to spot these children, she looks for visible signs of stress to understand what might have happened to them and how best to intervene. Some kids have nightmares or recurring thoughts of a stressful event, she says, or may re-enact the trauma through play. Or the child may seem distracted or withdrawn.

"This will come out at school," Kletter says. "Teachers will tell parents [their child] seems to be in a daze in the classroom, not paying attention."

Kletter says reactions to trauma are sometimes misdiagnosed as symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, because kids dealing with adverse experiences may be impulsive - acting out with anger or other strong emotions.

"It's something that's very common in trauma: difficulty in regulating emotions and behavior," she explains. "That's why a lot of these kids get in trouble with the classroom."

Shonkoff's research center at Harvard tests interventions that can build resilience in kids who are growing up with adverse experiences - not just problems in the family, such as those the ACE study investigated, but also trauma stemming from poverty, for example, or from the chronic stress of racial or gender discrimination.

To bolster parents, the Harvard team is testing interventions right now that use video coaching to show moms and dads how to engage their babbling infants, using sounds and facial expressions in a style Shonkoff calls serve and return.

Shonkoff says these early interactions - a kind of conversation - have been shown to help children with later learning and literacy. Even more important, they boost kids' resilience, by helping them build secure attachments with caring adults. Research suggests that just one caring, safe relationship early in life gives any child a much better shot at growing up healthy.

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Take The ACE Quiz - And Learn What It Does And Doesn't Mean

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First developed in the 1990s, the 10 questions of the Adverse Childhood Experiences test are designed to take a rough measure of a difficult childhood. Finding out your score is easy. Now what?