Children are often the forgotten victims of family violence. Children who witness family violence may have difficulty learning and limited social skills, exhibit violent, risky or antisocial behaviour, or suffer from depression or severe anxiety. Sometimes they lose the ability to feel empathy for others. Others feel socially isolated due to social discomfort or confusion over what is acceptable.
The impact family violence has on:
Ahakoa iti, he pounamu - Although it is small, it is of greenstone
Putting children first is a core value of Family Focus. Children deserve to be happy and healthy. We offer a single point of contact for services for children and families/whanau. The service provides support, guidance and referral to specialist targeted services for parents and caregivers who are worried about a child or a young person.
How we can help you
- We can assess a child to gain an insight into what might be going on for her or him
- We can provide options and information to the parent/caregivers
- We can make a referral to an appropriate organisation such as the infant, child and adolescent Mental Health Service (iCAMHS) or The Children’s Team.
Family violence hurts children no matter what age they are:
- Preschool-aged children have increased anxiety around strangers and experience signs of terror such as hiding away, yelling and nightmares.
- School-aged children often show a loss of interest in social activities, low self-esteem and confidence, poor school performance and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Teenage children are more likely to increase risk-taking and antisocial behaviour such as substance abuse.
When children who witness family violence become adults they may abuse their partners, family and others, suffer from depression and have substance abuse problems and have low self-esteem.
Poipoia te kakano kia puawai - Nurture the seed and it will blossom
Children have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect and; safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. We offer a programme to help children understand that violence and abuse in their home is not their fault.
Programme Content:
- Providing opportunities to develop self-esteem and confidence
- Promoting awareness that abuse of any kind is NOT OKAY
- Teaching children problem-solving strategies
- Assisting children to put in place a personal safety plan
- Encouraging children to gain positive outcomes from the choices they make
- Helping children express their feelings and emotions
Group and Individual Sessions: On an as is required basis