Children's Program

Our Children's Program is designed to reduce feelings of isolation caused by homelessness and domestic violence, enhance self–esteem, and improve communication skills. Three nights a week, the Child Advocate at each site leads activities for children which include gardening, cooking, art, movement, drama, and reading; the Child Advocate also provides weekly family activities. Our activities schedule not only guarantees variety but also specifically targets various developmental needs. For example, we might help a child with gross–motor deficiencies through gardening, drama, and movement activities. To strengthen communication skills, the Child Advocate might work one–on–one with a particular child on an art project, talking with that child about what she is creating.

A typical summer week might look something like this:

Monday	Gardening
Circle time:	Talk about vegetables and how they grow; go over gardening safety rules
Activity:	Staff and volunteers help children plant tomato seeds, harvest ripe vegetables, water garden.
Clean-up:	Put away garden tools. Play outside until snack time
Snack:	Fresh vegetables from garden plus graham crackers and milk
Story:	Chosen by child or adult
Tuesday	Art Night
Circle time:	Talk about things we like to do
Activity:	Staff and volunteers help children make collages that show who they are
Clean-up:	Put away magazines, glue, scissors. Help children hang their collages on the bulletin boards. Play outside until snack time.
Snack:	Applesauce.
Story:	Chosen by child or adult
Wednesday	Nutrition ("Good Food") Night
Circle time:	Talk about our favorite foods. How do different foods affect our bodies?
Activity:	Pizza: Staff and volunteers help children grate cheese and cut up mushrooms, peppers, onions.
Clean-up:	Put away utensils and food. Put pizza in oven. Play outside while pizza cooks.
Snack:	Pizza
Story:	Chosen by child or adult
Thursday	Family Night
Circle time:	Mothers and children check in, talk about their week.
Activity:	Staff and volunteers support mothers, who work with their children painting flowerpots. Next week's gardening project will involve transplanting houseplants into these pots.
Clean-up:	Put away paint and paint brushes. Put flowerpots on counter to dry.
Snack:	Carrots and peanut butter.
Story:	Chosen by child or adult

Child Case Management

Child Advocates meet with every mother to develop individualized case plans for each of her children. Case management focuses on:

• Updating well visits, immunizations and dental care
• Addressing childcare and school issuess
• Assessing emotional well–being
• Connecting women and children to on–going community services and support.

Teen Case Management

Child Advocates meet with teens individually on a weekly basis. Together, the Child Advocate and the teen client set goals. A teen might identify goals as disparate as finding volunteer work, accessing contraception, or making plans for college. The Child Advocate also helps teens to problem-solve issues surrounding school, family, or the shelter environment itself.

Developmental Assessments

Each child is assessed to ensure that he or she is at an age–appropriate developmental level. We integrate individualized development practice into fun activities in the Children's Program (see above); we also connect children to community services, as needed.

Group and Individual Therapy

We provide individual therapy, a support group for children, support groups for mothers, and parenting support and education groups.