Enhancing Services for Children Exposed to Violence

In just one 24 hour period in 2010, 20,406 children were living in a domestic violence shelter or transitional living program. Yes, they might have been safer, but they also had to give up a lot. Leaving their homes, jobs, friends, schools and community, these children and their mothers were displaced. Many domestic violence programs do not have the capacity to respond to all of the needs children bring with them, whether emotional, or physical, concrete and tangible.

To support these families, the Children’s Program at Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, was chosen to be a national technical assistance provider for the US. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Expanding Services for Children and Youth program. In this capacity we provide tools and resources to support state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions and local domestic violence programs to increase their capacity to respond effectively and with a research informed approach.

In 2010, four states (Alaska, Idaho, New Jersey and Wisconsin) were awarded grants under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to increase their states capacity to respond effectively to children who live with domestic violence. These states will help lead the way for others, creating a ripple effect until every state has an action plan to address the needs of children who come to local DV programs because they and their mothers are unsafe at home.

National Clearinghouse of tools to help children’s programming (Coming Soon).

View all resources related to the Children's Program.

For more information, email childrensteam@futureswithoutviolence.org.