When Abuse, Neglect & Domestic Violence Overlap

dA child should be able to focus on being a child: playing with friends, learning something new, or deciding which bedtime story to read. For children navigating abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, those everyday moments can be overshadowed by worry about their own safety or the safety of someone they love.

A national study found that children who witnessed domestic violence were nearly four times as likely to experience abuse or neglect in the same year.

Last week, we joined court, child welfare, and domestic violence professionals at the Wisconsin Summit on Domestic Violence and Child Welfare to strengthen our response to these overlapping challenges. One eye-opening exercise asked us to navigate a survivor’s choices as money, housing options, and support from others became increasingly limited. It brought into focus how quickly options can disappear - and why leaving an abusive relationship is rarely a simple decision.

A key takeaway: court involvement alone cannot meet every need a family faces. Domestic violence can remain hidden, and its effects may not be fully understood even when a family is involved with child welfare or the courts. Nonprofits play an essential role alongside these systems - building trust, offering consistent support, and helping families navigate barriers to safety.

At Canopy Center, we help keep children’s safety and experiences at the forefront:

• CASA volunteers offer a dependable relationship and advocate for children, helping ensure their voices, and their needs, inform decisions about their lives.
• Parent to Child provides supervised visitation with safety procedures tailored to each family, attentive supervision, and guidance for positive parent-child interactions.
• Oasis provides trauma-focused therapy to help children process their experiences, build coping skills, and strengthen relationships with supportive caregivers.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Learn how our programs help children find consistency, support, and space to be kids on our website.

Need support? Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233).

If you are in the Madison area, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) is a local resource. Check out their website, call: (608) 251-4445 or text: (608) 420-4638.

Our 2025 Annual Report is Here

Take a look here to see how your support made a difference for children and families in our community.

Help Us Find Our Next Team Members

Meaningful work starts with dedicated people. Canopy Center is hiring - and you may know someone who would be a great fit!

• Development Director: Build relationships, lead fundraising, and grow the support that makes our work possible.
• Oasis Therapist: Help children and families affected by sexual abuse and trauma find safety and healing.
• Oasis Senior Therapist (part-time): Bring your clinical experience to our Oasis Mental Health Clinic.

Know someone who shares our commitment to children and families? Forward this newsletter or share our openings with your network (really, that’s just as helpful!).

Your Monthly Gift, Steady Support for Kids

Become a steady source of support for kids!

Previous cuts have reduced our federal funding, and the future remains uncertain. Alongside reduced county funding, this makes private support more important than ever as we plan for next year.

Monthly giving helps us plan with confidence - and sustain the advocacy, supervised visits, and therapy children and families count on.

Become a monthly donor with a gift of $25 or more. Your ongoing commitment helps keep support within reach.

Top Posts

None of this happens without you!

To continue your support, please consider donating, volunteering, or sharing this newsletter.

And be sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more regular updates.