Children living in homes where one parent repeatedly exercises coercive control over the other face significant emotional trauma. The constant use of manipulation, favoritism, and threats by the abusive parent destabilizes family functioning and undermines healthy relationships. The trauma is worsened when children witness one parent hit, push, beat, humiliate, injure the other or threaten to do so.

Many children in such homes are also more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse and suffer long-term psychological and behavioral problems. Early intervention with families experiencing domestic abuse can mitigate many of these negative effects. Successful early intervention requires a strong community commitment to collaboration among law enforcement, child protective services and support agencies.

Guidelines for Effective Response to Domestic Abuse (GERDA) outlines the best efforts for those professionals in Los Angeles County who respond to and work with families where there is domestic violence (also known as intimate partner violence - IPV). Implementation of this protocol will help establish that the immediate and long-term safety and emotional needs of the children and victim will be met. It will act to improve the overall public safety of domestic violence victims and their children throughout the county.