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On this page you will find information regarding the work our Child Advocates do with the children residing in our shelter. Click on the topics below to find out more.
Children's Enrichment
Program | Child Advocates | Enrichment
Groups
Additional Programming | Other
Services | Vision
Children Who Witness
DV
The
Children's Enrichment Program
The goal of the children's program is to create a safe, supportive learning
environment for residential children to enhance their social, emotional,
cognitive, physical, and linguistic development. Research has demonstrated
that it is extremely important to effectively and therapeutically address
the experience of interpersonal family violence in children. It has established
that it is necessary to help children understand and cope with their emotional
responses to the violence, while promoting their acquisition of positive
behavior patterns. To address these issues, the child advocates and volunteers
facilitate six developmentally appropriate groups throughout the week.
During these groups, we focus on developing social skills, coping strategies,
expressing emotions, conflict resolution, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.
Additionally, the program stresses the importance of education and provides daily tutoring and homework help. Mothers are encouraged to participate in homework help sessions in an effort to teach them how to provide educational support for their children. For children who are not in school or do not have homework, we encourage them to participate in our literacy buddies program. Children who participate in this program will be linked with an adult who will read or do a literacy based project together. Through the children's enrichment program resident children participate in four weekly scheduled groups. We also have fun outlets for children such as guest speakers, guest performers, and field trips.
Child Advocates
We understand that each child and family's experience with domestic violence
is different. At Womens Center of Rhode Island, a Child Advocate meets
with each mother and child to set goals and develop an individual plan
for her children regarding emotional, medical, educational and social
needs. The Child Advocate facilitates the individual plans by coordinating
the efficient use of resources and partnerships while providing support,
validation and active listening. Additionally, parenting skills group
sessions are conducted weekly. Emphasis is placed on helping mothers interact
with their children using non-violent methods of expression. The program
strives to support mothers in strengthening their parenting skills and
understanding of child development so when they leave there are able to
continue to advocate for their child's best interests.
The Child Advocates works collaboratively with other programs/agencies
such as Women-Infant-Children
(WIC) at Providence Community Health Center (Fox Point), Family
Services, Head Start at Friendship Center, Providence
Center (Early Childhood Institute), Family Independence Program
(FIP), Providence Liaison, RISD Children's Program for Community Outreach,
YMCA,
Boys
and Girls Club, Aikido
(Downtown), dental services, health services, Ready to Learn,
Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, and Big Brothers of Rhode Island. Additionally,
the Child Advocates will provide a liaison relationship between mothers,
children, therapists, school departments, health agencies, day care programs,
DCYF, and others. The Child Advocates facilitate the children's enrichment
program.
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Enrichment Groups
Social Skills Group, ages 5-12: A facilitated group
that addresses self-esteem, emotions, diversity, tolerance, problem solving,
conflict management, peer pressure, coping, and boundaries.
Violence Prevention Group, ages 5-12: A facilitated group that addresses bullying, building healthy relationships, discrimination, and anger management.
Self Esteem for Teenage Girls, ages 12-18: A group designed to approach a variety of issues facing teenage girls, particularly young women of color, including body image, peer pressure, at-risk behaviors, dating violence, gender role expectations, and sexuality.
Early Childhood Group for Children Who Witness/Experience Violence, ages 1-4: a group that uses exploratory play to develop a sense of self, begin self regulation, communicate feelings and needs, gain self confidence, and gain responsibility for physical needs.
Interactive Parent-Child Group, all resident mothers and children: A developmentally-appropriate group designed to help mothers interact with their children through non-violent means of expression and to promote the development of a healthy, nurturing, and positive parent-child relationship with guidance and support from staff.
Parenting Group, all mothers residing in the shelter:
Designed to support mothers in strengthening their parenting skills and
to increase knowledge of child development and the effects of experiencing
family violence on children.
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Additional Programming
Teen Time: Between 8 PM and 9 PM every night, teens have the playroom
to themselves to spend time with the other resident teens.
Homework Club: Children and their mothers are encouraged to work on their homework with the help of the advocates and volunteers.
Field Trips: Children participate in field trips to Children's Museum, RISD museum, Roger Williams Park/Zoo, Library, IMAX, Homestead Gardens, Providence Place Mall Cinema, and City Farm.
Special Activities: Different community agencies will often come
in and facilitate special themed groups for resident children- past agencies
have included RISD Worlds of Wonder, Federal Hill House, and the Brown
University Democrats.
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Food and Nutrition: Child Advocates work with mothers to educate them on issues pertaining to age-appropriate nutrition for their children. Furthermore, child advocates provide field trips and internal educational activities pertaining to nutrition and healthy living habits.
Volunteer Program: The child advocacy
program is heavily dependent on volunteers to facilitate children's enrichment
groups and to provide tutoring/mentoring to resident children. Additionally,
Women's Center volunteers have the opportunity to participate in the Volunteer
Advisory Committee to work on curriculum, weekend programming, volunteer
recruitment, and fundraising. For more specific information about volunteering
for the Children's Enrichment Program click
here.
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