¿Qué atención reciben los menores expuestos a violencia de género en los centros de acogida?

Abstract

Children of women that are victims of domestic violence are also victims of this violence, sometimes because they suffer direct attacks but, in any case, because they witness violence between their parents and they live in a troubled environment, with the consequent impact on their psychological and emotional development. However, the attention given in the shelters is often focused on mothers’ psychosocial rehabilitation and not on children. The general aim of this work is to study the reality of children sheltered with their mothers in specific centers for battered women from the province of Alicante as well as the intervention services and programs they are offered to meet their needs. The evaluation was based on reports of the shelters, interviews with 64 professionals from the centers and completion of an ad hoc questionnaire on their running. The results of the study show that children living in these shelters suffer impoverishment of their social networks. Professionals believe that the psychological support provided to them as well as leisure are inadequate. Likewise, difficulties in institutional coordination for their proper schooling, extracurricular activities and attention in children's mental health resources are remarked. Despite these difficulties, children get better during their stay which reflects these resources and their professionals are a safe environment, with stable atmosphere and routines that support their emotional recovery.