COLUMBIANA COUNTY New program to help children who witness domestic violence

There is no charge to victims' families for the service, which is funded by a federal grant.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Kids don't have to be hit to be hurt.
That's the message victim advocates of Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron's office want to convey in promoting a new program to assist children who witness domestic violence.
Kari Cooper and Sherry Morrison, victim advocates of the prosecutor's adult and juvenile divisions, have recently begun to tout the Children Who Witness Violence program to local law enforcement.
"Emotional abuse is just as damaging as physical abuse," said Sherill Liebschner, assistant prosecutor.
Finding witnesses: Morrison said as they discuss the program with police, they are telling them they want to know if children are witnessing violence, even in cases where no charges are filed.
Police often are called to homes, and though nothing may have happened at that time to lead to any charges, they know there is a problem, she said.
Morrison said prosecutor's staff hopes police, clergy, educators, social service workers, family members, friends -- anyone who knows of children who witness domestic violence -- will alert them of the problem.
There is no charge for the program, which is funded through a federal Victims of Crime Assistance grant through the Ohio Attorney General's office, Liebschner said.
"This is a program that has been needed for some time in Columbiana County," said Morrison.
Lifelong impact: She said children who live in homes where domestic violence takes place often grow up to become victims or abusers, or commit domestic violence while they are still juveniles.
Morrison said the prosecutor's office is seeing increases in both adult and juvenile domestic violence cases. She said the prosecutor's staff hopes that through the Children Who Witness Violence program, "we will be able to bring the domestic violence caseloads down and break the cycle of violence."