When Home Hurts: The Hidden Impact of Domestic Violence on Children

By Melanie Pignotti, LCPC, CAC Chief Executive Officer

We like to believe that "home" is a safe place--a space filled with warmth, comfort and love. But for many children, home can be confusing, frightening and unpredictable when domestic violence is part of daily life.

Domestic violence (DV) isn't limited to physical harm. It can include emotional, sexual, financial and psychological abuse. While it's often viewed as an issue between adults, the impact on children is both significant and long-lasting.

What happens when kids are caught in the middle?

Even when children are not physically harmed, witnessing violence between caregivers is deeply traumatic. It's a form of child maltreatment. Children may feel afraid, angry, helpless or even...

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Welcome, CAC Interns

K.C. Dix is an MSW student at Aurora University. She is on the school social work track and is particularly interested in working with children and families. She is looking forward to incorporating art and play into her social work practice. K.C. will be with CAC until May 2026.

Nada Arif is studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northeastern Illinois University. She'll be facilitating individual, group and parent-child therapy at CAC. She is also a group facilitator at New Moms has had the privilege of working with children and adults. She is looking forward to contributing to the team while gaining valuable insights from my peers! Nada will be with CAC until August 2026.

Dora Training Update

Dora, CAC's Therapy-Dog-in-Training, turned nine months old on October 1. She and her handler, Bilingual Trauma Therapist Yesenia Hernandez, continue to attend weekly training where Dora receives praise from the trainer for her steady progress. Yesenia hopes to move to the advanced obedience class soon. Once Dora completes that, she and Yesenia will move into the more rigorous therapy dog training program, hopefully in the spring.

Want more Dora? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn where we regularly share photos and videos of Dora's and Yesenia's journey.

To make a gift to support Dora and the Mental Health programs, click the button below.

Make a gift to support Dora

In October we celebrate the work anniversaries of:

Grace Ording, Family Advocate, 3 years

CAC board member and donor Bob Tucker leverages IRA QCD/RMD gifts to support favorite nonprofits.

Move over, #GivingTuesday! Earlier this month in conjunction with DAF Day on October 9, CAC's Development Team shared their first donor education article on Tips for Smart Giving. These strategies help donors preserve cash but still support the charitable causes they love. Options include:

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On behalf of CAC's Board of Directors, staff and the Golf Outing Event Planning Committee, we'd like to thank each and every golfer, sponsor, donor and volunteer.

Together we raised $45,000 to advance CAC's work!

Event proceeds are immediately reinvested into CAC's daily programs that provide free, expert services for young survivors of abuse or violence. By golfing for good, you help children reclaim their childhoods and find hope for the future. What a powerful gift!

View 2025 golf outing photos

December 2

#GivingTuesday

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Volume 47 | October 2025