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Approximately 25 million American children witness domestic violence in their home each year. 50% of these children are the primary victims of abuse. |
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Children's
Services
Sadly, in families suffering with domestic violence, 80% have children, and 50% of those children are also being abused. Often, these children become depressed, feel powerless and helpless, and have trouble in school. As adolescents, many develop eating disorders, aberrant sexual behaviors, or severe problems with conduct. Many become suicidal.
Interact helps thousands of children each year. In fact, Interact typically shelters more children than adults in its residential shelter program. Often, children have come to Interact with their mothers who have fled their homes after horrific incidences of abuse. Sometimes, the children and mothers have nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
Interact offers children two full-time children’s counselors,
group and individualized counseling using play therapy and other
proven techniques, and two educators from our Y.E.S. program who
teach healthy relationship skills full-time in our schools.
Interact also offers the Pet Pals program which allows children to select a stuffed animal that they can take with them to the Interact shelter or another safe location. Each “pet” comes with a special “Certificate of Friendship” complete with a place for the child to select a name. Often, the child will have their pet present while taking part in counseling and play therapy which adds that extra comfort and security.
For more information, please e-mail our administrative offices at directservices@interactofwake.org.
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