Children exposed to violence often experience heightened levels of depression and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, fear, rage, and aggression. They can have great difficulty making friends and sustaining relationships, accomplishing developmental tasks, and participating in everyday activities like school and play. The Nation is facing the consequences of previous inadequate investments to protect its children. Childhood experiences affect a lifetime, and too many youth are reenacting the violence they have experienced, damaging their lives and the lives of others through criminal violence. Thus, every day that society fails to address this tragedy increases the suffering of future generations. . . .
Most children are remarkably resilient.
This means that the way society understands and responds to the violence children experience can determine its impact on their lives in the long run. The impact of these different kinds of violence varies greatly and depends on a number of factors, such as frequency, predictability, the age of the child, and the nature of the relationship between the perpetrator and the child. This variability, in turn, requires flexibility in the type and depth of interventions available. Prevention strategies can reduce the incidence of trauma. Providing early treatment that is appropriate to children s needs can help them begin to heal.