Children, Youth and Families Program

The Children, Youth and Families Program addresses the immediate and multi-faceted needs of child or youth victims ages 6 – 17 and their families by providing crisis intervention, advocacy, emotional support, counseling, financial assistance, and case management services to child or youth victims of crime.

DCCV’s Children, Youth and Families Program helps young crime victims and witnesses of violence understand and cope with their reactions to the trauma and learn healthy options for expressing feelings and conflict resolution. Crisis intervention also prevents further emotional and social disruption that victims and witnesses often experience.

Traditionally, when families experience victimization, the parents are treated first, leaving the needs of children inadequately met or unmet. In order for successful trauma recovery to occur, it is imperative that parents and children go through the healing process simultaneously. It is also important that a child’s emotional, physical and psychological needs be met on an individual basis with a well-trained professional who is dedicated to that child’s particular needs. The Children, Youth and Families Program focuses on each child independently, as it guides the entire family as a unit through the process of trauma recovery.

This program also hosts unique programs geared toward children and youth, including:

BROTHERS™ (Brothers Reaching Out Toward Healing, Exploration, and Respect of Self), an eight-week support group for boys and young men ages 6-17.

The Girls’ Group™, a six- to eight-week support group for girls and young women, ages 6-17, who have witnessed or experienced violence.

Above: Participants of The Girls Group, 2007.