Support To Children And Families Exposed To Violence
The Butterfly Project provides children and families who have experienced domestic violence, family violence and community violence with a comprehensive continuum of care. The program addresses the issue of children’s exposure to violence by providing community education, training and direct services to children, ages 0-13, who have been exposed to violence.
The Butterfly Project focuses on the unmet needs of children and families by providing home visiting services, resource and referral, case management, individual counseling, play therapy, family counseling, and other therapeutic services to children, ages 0-13, who have been impacted by violence, but are not involved in the formal child welfare system.
The Butterfly Project reaches the most vulnerable children and families, including families who have not traditionally engaged in family services. This program provides an avenue to prevent children’s exposure to violence and an intervention plan for those children who have already been exposed.
October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month
Each year millions of children are exposed to violence in their homes. Exposure to violence, particularly multiple exposures, can interfere with children’s ability to think and learn and can disrupt the course of healthy physical, emotional, and intellectual development. Exposure to violence is associated with increased use of health and mental health services and increased risk of involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Children’s Home & Aid’s Central Region is participating in a Purple Ribbon Campaign to encourage awareness and prevention of Domestic Violence. We are “painting” the agency campus purple using purple ribbons and we encourage others to join the campaign in any way they are able to. Please contact the Butterfly Project for ways your agency can help spread the word on the prevention of domestic violence. For information on how to help children after exposure to domestic violence, please visit the following websites: >National Child Traumatic Stress Network >Safe Start Center
The Butterfly Project is offered in the Central Region. For more information, please contact Jeannie Higdon at jhigdon@childrenshomeandaid.org.
Funding for the Butterfly Project is provided through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA).