Children Exposed to Violence

The Children Exposed to Violence program provides children with the opportunity to process and to understand the abuse, power and control they were exposed to.

It also provides support to the mothers so that they can best understand their children’s perspective and in turn be supportive to them as they progress through the program.

The group helps children:

• Identify and express emotions surrounding the abuse and their parents’ separation
• Learn to recognize and to express feelings such as shame, fear, guilt and/loss and to understand that their feelings are very important
• Deal with these feelings constructively
• Dispel the destructive myths regarding abuse, male/female roles and relationships
• Understand who is responsible for the abuse
• Learn positive conflict resolution strategies
• Talk about their experiences in a safe and positive environment
• Develop safety plans in the event of further abuse in order for children to make safe choices for personal protection
• Children build on their self-esteem as the group progresses.

Who is Eligible?

Any child or youth between 6 and 16 years of age who has been exposed to any form of abuse and/or power and control towards their mother and who is no longer living in an abusive environment is eligible for this program at no cost

Our Partners

The Sudbury Counselling Centre offers the children’s program in partnership with the YMCA Sudbury and the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin.

For your information

• Groups are offered four(4) times a year and a last from 8 to 12 weeks.
• Sessions are held once a week and last 1.5 hour
• Financial assistance may be available for childcare and transportation
• Children may be referred to the program by an agency or by their mother

Please note: An interview is required before participating in the groups.

For more information about the children’s program, please contact the Intake Worker at : 705-524-9629, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.