Child Safety Project
A collaboration between the Child Witness to Violence Project at Boston Medical Center and the
Probate and Family Courts of Middlesex and Suffolk Counties.
What is the Child Safety Project?
The Child Safety Project (CSP) provides free, confidential counseling services to court-involved families who have been exposed to violence, conflict in their homes or communities, or scary experiences.
Important things to know before coming to CSP:
What Should Families Expect from CSP?
Counseling services can benefit both children and their caregivers. Many caregivers report that after services, they:
How do families get connected to CSP?
Does CSP offer trainings for providers?
CSP provides a variety of trainings focused on resilience, the impacts of violence exposure on children, and ways systems can respond to the needs of children and families impacted by adversity. If you would like to schedule a training, please contact Katie Thomas.
The Child Safety Project (CSP) provides free, confidential counseling services to court-involved families who have been exposed to violence, conflict in their homes or communities, or scary experiences.
Important things to know before coming to CSP:
- CSP can provide services to children between the ages of 0-16.
- Children over the age of 16 will be referred to other agencies.
- For sessions with young children, the protective (legal) caregiver is expected to participate in sessions.
- The protective caregiver is expected to meet with their CSP therapist for weekly, regularly-scheduled appointments.
- With permission, the CSP therapist may coordinate services with other agencies for the family.
- CSP counseling is not the same service as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), or an Attorney Representing Child (ARC). CSP therapists do not make recommendations to the court regarding custody.
- Sessions are held at Boston Medical Center. Parking vouchers are available for families who demonstrate need.
What Should Families Expect from CSP?
Counseling services can benefit both children and their caregivers. Many caregivers report that after services, they:
- Noticed improvements to their child’s challenging behaviors.
- Increased their skills in managing their child’s behaviors.
- Supported their child as s/he recovered from experiences that felt scary, sad, or unpleasant.
- Learned new ways communicate with their child.
- Understood their child’s thoughts and feelings about what s/he experienced.
How do families get connected to CSP?
- Families that appear in Probate or Family Court may be referred by the judge or court staff.
- Court staff will assist the protective caregiver in filling out a referral form. After receiving a referral for a family, a CSP therapist will call the protective caregiver to conduct a phone screening.
- Once a phone screening is complete, the therapist will schedule a voluntary intake, if the family wishes to proceed.
- Participation in CSP is not mandatory. A judge may make a referral but it is not a court order.
- In addition to court-based referrals, families can refer themselves or be referred by other agencies. To make a referral, call 617-414-3603.
Does CSP offer trainings for providers?
CSP provides a variety of trainings focused on resilience, the impacts of violence exposure on children, and ways systems can respond to the needs of children and families impacted by adversity. If you would like to schedule a training, please contact Katie Thomas.
Katie Thomas, LMHC
Mental Health and Intake Clinician
Child Safety Project
P: 617-414-3603
Mental Health and Intake Clinician
Child Safety Project
P: 617-414-3603
This project is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
