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Children's Services
Domestic violence is family violence. When a parent is suffering in an abusive relationship, the children also are in pain - physically or emotionally.
In fact, national studies have found that half the men who frequently assault their wives also frequently abuse their children.
On average, two-thirds of the residents at Harbor House are under age 18. To help the youngest victims overcome the effects of domestic violence, Harbor House offers a number of services:
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Assessments - Trained childcare advocates assess every child who enters the shelter to determine the exposure to domestic violence, and development progress. The advocate then creates a plan for the child's stay at Harbor House to deal with any issues uncovered during the initial screening.
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Onsite Childcare - (available to shelter residents only) A Child's Place - Harbor House's onsite childcare facility - provides a safe, fun, educational environment where children can play. In addition, the service gives the survivor the ability to focus on their individual healing process while knowing their children are in a secure, stable environment.
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Parent Education - By taking Harbor House's parenting classes, survivors can learn how to support their children as they overcome the effects of domestic violence.
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Support Groups - To help children deal with the ramifications of domestic violence, Harbor House facilitates support groups for residents four to 18 years old. Through interactive activities, discussion groups, literature and videos, children learn how to relate peacefully to their parents, siblings and peers.
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Advocacy - Harbor House advocates for the protection and safety of children exposed to domestic violence. By collaborating with other agencies, we promote the elimination of domestic violence and protect the children in our community.
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Violence Prevention - By implementing a nationally recognized, award-winning curriculum, Harbor House teaches children how to cope with feelings of anger, impulse and empathy without resorting to violence.
