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Children Who Witness Violence

By Frank Quennell

Good morning, everyone.

I am pleased to be with you here today at the Saskatoon Community Services Village.

The community groups who came together to create this wonderful, innovative facility, really had a modern, forward-looking vision of community.

Each of the community partners in the Village heals a wound, feeds the body or the spirit, or otherwise fulfills a need. Separately, each of you are doing important, and indispensable work.

Together, you have re-defined community and modernized the concept of the village for a new century. There’s an old adage that states: “ It takes a village to raise a child.” The Saskatoon Community Services Village appears to have been built upon a similar foundation—that it takes everyone in a community working together to support families and children in need.

Thank you to the Saskatoon Community Service Village for allowing us to use their facilities today.

The issue of interpersonal violence and abuse is a tragedy that touches individuals, families and communities across our province.

According to police-reported crime data from 2003, two out of three victims of violent crime in Saskatchewan knew their assailant.

Alarmingly, about one in four are victimized by family members.

Family violence is a complex problem, in which a number of different factors play a role.


But we do know that most abusers are in a position of power over their victims.

And we know that domestic violence is a misuse of power and a violation of trust.

Domestic violence and abuse is particularly tragic for our most vulnerable citizens – children.

Over a five-year period ending in 2004, almost 400,000 children in Canada were aware of spousal violence against a parent.

Saskatchewan’s share of this number is estimated at almost 13,000 children witnessing spousal violence in their homes.
In general, children witness violence in 37 per cent of cases of spousal abuse. This grows to 50 per cent of cases involving Aboriginal victims.

The scars of children who witness domestic violence and abuse cut deep and take a long time to heal if, in fact, they ever do.

Many become victims of the abuse themselves.

And many later become perpetrators of violence as they grow to adulthood.

The wounds left on one child who witnesses family violence, the learned cycle of violence and abuse, can infect families for generations to come.

If not morally, then simply from enlightened self-interest, we need to take every reasonable step we can to stop this terrible cycle.

Building safer communities in which Saskatchewan people can live, work and raise a family is a top priority of this NDP government.

In our province, violence and abuse in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

That is why our government recently adopted a comprehensive policy framework for Stopping Interpersonal Violence and Abuse.

This strategy envisions a society:
• that recognizes the equality of all citizens; and
• where people in interpersonal relationships are free from violence and abuse; live in safe environments; and treat each other with dignity and respect.

This strategy is founded on the belief that individuals, families, communities and governments have a joint responsibility for the prevention of interpersonal violence and abuse.
I am here today to announce an important element of this strategy.

Since 1994, the Children Who Witness Domestic Violence programs have been effective in helping to break the cycle of abuse.

This year, our government will be investing an additional $370 thousand to offer new and enhanced programming for children who witness domestic violence and abuse.

We intend to establish new programs in the Buffalo Narrows, Estevan, Moose Jaw and La Ronge regions of our province. These funds bring the total program funding to $450 thousand.
Justice officials will be calling for requests for proposals in the near future, to begin the development of these new community-based programs.

There are currently four Children Who Witness Domestic Violence programs operating in Saskatchewan.

In Prince Albert, the program is delivered by Catholic Family Services.

The YWCA delivers the program in Regina.

A joint initiative by Catholic Family Services and Family Service Bureau Saskatoon operate the program here in Saskatoon.

And, in September 2005, an additional program was put in place to support children whose families were taking part in the Battlefords Domestic Violence Treatment Court. The Children Who Witness Domestic Violence program in Battlefords is housed with Catholic Family Services.

These agencies provide services to about 180 children annually.

I am pleased that we are now able to provide additional funding to these agencies to allow for a greater number of children to receive services in their communities.

This new funding is just one of the ways that your NDP government is providing additional support to children and families who are at risk, including $700 thousand to ensure quality child protection services on-reserve; $60 million to expand affordable housing through HomeFirst; and $40 million to support inner-city initiatives in Saskatoon and Regina.

I am pleased to note that representatives from all of the Children Who Witness Violence programs are here today. And I want to take just a moment to address you directly, and express my gratitude, and the gratitude of your provincial NDP government, for the work you do each and every day.

We know that often those who witness domestic violence and abuse suffer in silence and fear. You offer children in your communities a safe place where they can talk openly about their experiences.

You offer these children hope.

You help them realize that they are not alone.

You help children and parents learn how to cope more effectively with their own anger.

You help children and parents learn about how to stay safe, when there is conflict or violence in the home.

And thanks to your efforts, these children begin to heal. Thanks to you, they have the chance to grow up safe and healthy.

And thanks to you, our communities will benefit from the contributions that these happier and healthier citizens will make in the years to come.
Every day, you prove that, when a village comes together to raise a child, the village is lifting up itself as well.

I understand that you will be meeting later today and tomorrow to do strategic planning for your programs.

Justice officials will be working with you, and seeking your advice, as we develop parameters and guidelines for the new programs.

The funding that I am announcing today will provide a needed boost in the resources available to the Children Who Witness Violence programs.

But it is with your help that we will ensure that families feel safe and secure in their homes and communities.

Thank you all for being here this morning.