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Help
A Child
 The
stories that professionals and families hear about children
exposed to violence are overwhelming at times and can create
feelings of helplessness and hopelessness not unlike the feelings
experienced by the children themselves. When these feelings
emerge, it is important to remember that there are simple
things that can be done to support children and to make an
essential difference in their lives.
All adults
have an opportunity to be helpful and supportive to children
exposed to violence. There are general guidelines for supporting
children. These can be found in the How
to Support the Child section of this site. Families and
caregivers, neighbors, and professionals can be of assistance
in specific ways as discussed in the How to Intervene section.
Through
their support and clinical expertise professionals can open
doors to successful interventions. Simultaneously, parents
and neighbors are an important resource who can make a difference.
It is when professionals, parents, and members of the community
work together that intervention is most effective. In fact,
one of the primary ways to support families and provide meaningful
interventions is to remember not to do this challenging work
alone.
One way
to collaborate is to refer families to other appropriate services.
However, when children need referrals for ongoing support
and therapeutic treatment, it is not always easy to choose
the best pathway for making that referral. Reviewing the materials
provided in the When and Where to Seek Help section of this web site
will provide tips for when to make a referral, who to contact
and the type of institutions that provide the needed help.
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