For decades, domestic violence (DV) was treated primarily as a private matter, something that happened behind closed doors, addressed only when it escalated into a criminal offense. But today, a growing body of research, and voices like attorney and advocate Barry Goldstein make it clear that domestic violence is not just a legal issue. It is a public health crisis.
Goldstein has compared our current understanding of domestic violence to how society viewed smoking in the 1980s: widely prevalent, deeply harmful, and not yet fully addressed with the urgency it demands. Like smoking then, domestic violence affects far more than the individual. Its impact ripples across families, communities, healthcare systems, and generations.
Domestic violence is far more common than many people realize. In the United States, approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
The impact extends beyond survivors and has a community-level impact, affecting:
- Healthcare systems, through increased emergency visits, chronic disease management, and mental health care
- Workplaces, through lost productivity, absenteeism, and economic instability
- Communities, through increased crime, housing insecurity, and strained social services
It also creates enormous economic costs, from medical expenses to legal proceedings to lost wages. These costs are not borne by individuals alone but are ultimately absorbed by society as a whole.
The Impact on Children and the Cycle of Violence
One of the most devastating aspects of domestic violence is its impact on children.
Even when children are not the direct targets of abuse, witnessing violence in the home is itself a form of trauma. Studies show that children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience:
- Behavioral and emotional difficulties
- Academic struggles
- Substance use
- Future involvement in abusive relationships
Boys exposed to domestic violence are more likely to become perpetrators, while girls are more likely to become victims, perpetuating what is often called the intergenerational cycle of violence. Goldstein emphasizes that the long-term health consequences for these children are severe and measurable, reinforcing that domestic violence must be treated as a serious health risk, not just a family dispute.
Systemic Gaps and Missed Opportunities
Despite the overwhelming evidence, systems meant to protect families can fall short.
Goldstein highlights domestic violence is still too often misunderstood, minimized, or treated as mutual conflict rather than a pattern of control and coercion. Without a public health framework, interventions tend to be reactive rather than preventive, addressing harm only after it occurs.
Why a Public Health Approach Matters
Like smoking, infectious disease, or substance use, domestic violence requires a coordinated, population-level response.
A public health approach focuses on:
- Prevention: education, early intervention, and addressing risk factors
- Screening: training healthcare providers to recognize signs of abuse
- Intervention: coordinated responses across healthcare, legal, and social systems
- Policy change: laws and systems that prioritize safety and evidence-based practices
Healthcare providers, educators, social workers, and community organizations all play a role, not just law enforcement, because domestic violence is not confined to homes. It shows up in emergency rooms, classrooms, workplaces, and courtrooms.
A Collective Responsibility
Reframing domestic violence as a public health crisis shifts the responsibility from individuals alone to communities collaboratively.
It challenges us to:
- Invest in prevention programs
- Support survivors with trauma-informed care
- Train professionals across sectors
- Hold systems accountable for protecting victims
- Address the root causes of violence, including inequality and power imbalances
Domestic violence is not inevitable, and it is not isolated. Like smoking in the 1980s, meaningful change requires awareness, policy shifts, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. The research is clear. The consequences are far-reaching. And the cost of inaction is measured not only in dollars, but in lives, health, and future generations.
About GCFJC
The Greene County Family Justice Center is a non-profit collaborative of local agencies offering comprehensive services to survivors of domestic, sexual, and family violence. Our services are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and we welcome survivors at any point in their process. We partner with local non-profit service providers as well as local law enforcement, the Prosecutor’s office, and Children’s Division to make victim services more accessible and completely voluntary. If you do not want to participate in the criminal justice process, we support you.
Our vision is a future where we all work together to meet the needs of domestic violence and human trafficking survivors through comprehensive and accessible services, education, and perpetrator accountability. Through a coordinated framework and co-located response, we strive to break the vicious generational cycle and community impact of domestic violence and resulting victimizations.
We can help you plan for your safety whether you plan to stay in the relationship, or you are actively trying to escape. All our services are free, confidential and survivor centered. Have questions about what services are available? Visit us at 1418 E. Pythian Street or give us a call at 417-874-2600. We are open 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For after-hours assistance, call the Harmony House/Victim Center’s 24-hour safe line at 417-864-SAFE (7233). If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.