Keeping Kids Safe at Home
Safety & Awareness | May 1, 2023
By Sadie Olson Ingenthron, Events & Communications Specialist, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.
At Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, we believe that all kids deserve to feel safe.
Unfortunately, some kids don’t live in a home that allows them to feel that way. This is why we have advocates that work specifically with children and teens who have witnessed and/or experienced domestic abuse and/or dating violence.
One-on-One
Advocates from Christine Ann work one-on-one with kids ages 4-19 to help process trauma, talk about what healthy relationships look like, work on coping skills, grow self-esteem, and de-normalize abuse. By doing this, we are helping to keep the cycle of abuse from repeating.
Support Groups
Support groups are also available through Christine Ann. These groups focus on healthy relationships and are usually held alongside community partners. If you or your child are interested in participating in a support group, reach out to our Youth Team Lead for more information.
Presentations
We also offer youth presentations, which can be catered to different age groups. The topics we discuss include healthy friendships
and relationships, red flags of abuse, boundaries, and the services that are available at Christine Ann. Presentations can take place in schools or at various youth groups.
Help is Here
If you know a child that could benefit from our services or feel that you, yourself, would like to receive services, please reach out to us at (920) 235-2998. Meeting with an advocate is free and confidential, but we do need permission from one safe parent to meet with children on a regular basis.
Feeling ready for services can be a big decision, but in the meantime, we want to share some tips with you in order to keep you safe.
Safety Planning for Children:
- Do not try to break up fights between adults
- Go to a safe space (like a bedroom)
- In case of an emergency, get out of the house and tell a safe neighbor that you need help
- Call 911
Please remember, abuse is never your fault, and you are never alone! Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services is here for you.
Quick tip for parents:
Work with your child(ren) to establish a code word for when to call 911 or go to their safe space.
