Children staying at Women’s Advocates arrive with their caregivers who are escaping domestic violence. Children who have experienced trauma require healing. We help provide healing by creating positive transitions, establishing predictability, honoring child-choice, facilitating age appropriate healing and emotional expression, supporting their caregivers, building on their strengths, and collaborating to build trust. Our experienced and caring Children’s Program staff work in collaboration with Women’s Program team members to ensure both the victim/survivors and children have the tools to be safe and well both now and in the future.
Sheila Wellstone Children’s Program
Children's Advocacy and Safety Planning
Children’s Program staff work with each child and their caregiver at the shelter to nurture each child’s development as the family plans for a stable and peaceful future through discussions about what safety means to each child and parent.
We also conduct an intake assessment with each of the victim/survivors who arrive with children. This assessment gives us a foundation for goal setting for each child and parent.
Drop-in Child Care
We provide child care for residents while they attend support groups, meet with their advocate, or attend job or housing interviews. Located in the shelter, victim/survivors can ensure that their children are well cared for while they attend groups, meetings, or appointments during their stay.
Lean On Me
Each year, over 50 young people enroll in the Sheila Wellstone Children’s Program at Women’s Advocates. These youth are the leaders of tomorrow. They are creative. They are passionate. They are resilient. What they need is support from mentors and a community that rises up in the face of domestic violence to say, “Lean on me,” while walking with them towards brighter and safer futures.
Through your support, we are able to provide:
- Full-time children & youth advocacy services for over 50 youth each year
- Groups on healthy relationships, boundaries, and coping with trauma for kids ages 4 to 17
- Black male role models for BIPOC youth in crisis
- Connections to support through school, mentorship, and other community resources