Family Violence Program

 

The Family Violence Program provides services to families who have been exposed to domestic violence. We serve children from infancy to eighteen years old, and their non-offending adult caregiver. Home-based counseling is provided within the strictest safety parameters. Although a family is eligible for some services, no home-based services are provided if the perpetrating adult still resides in the home.

The program is designed to decrease the negative outcomes for children who have witnessed domestic violence. We do this by increasing parents’ understanding and ability to deal with their own areas of emotional, physical and practical loss. We provide interventions that help children become school-ready and/or improve academic and social performance, if school-aged.

The Family Violence Program is a home, agency and community based program. Home-based counseling allows us to work with families in the completely natural environment of their homes. Our agency becomes the “home” to our groups that we run for children as well as the groups we run for the non-offending adult caregiver. The community allows us the stage to offer community presentations and thereby increase community awareness about the negative impact of domestic violence. It is also the place where we advocate for our clients in the form of court and school advocacy and support.

 

Our services are offered to families whether they are in the abusing relationship, have recently left the relationship, or have left the relationship some time ago. The Family Violence Program is a Monday through Friday program, and does accommodate working mothers, and school age children, by providing one evening group a week, the remainder of our services take place from 9AM to 5PM.

 

Our services are voluntary and free of charge, and are delivered via a six-month treatment protocol. Service povision occurs in a multitude of ways:

Outreach – We distribute free, easy-to-understand information packets which address the impact of domestic violence on children. In addition, we offer community trainings on the impact of witnessing domestic violence on children.

Advocacy – We accompany parents to court and offer support in seeking out orders of protection, and helping them navigate a sometimes frightening and confusing system. In addition, with permission, we can offer insight into a child’s coping mechanism with other key players in the child’s life, including law guardians, teachers, and outside mental health counselors.

Counseling – We offer individual, group and family systems counseling. The counseling is evidenced-based and is specifically designed to address negative outcomes of familial violence.

Childrens Groups/Hearts and Homes - We provide therapeutic groups for children who have witnessed violence in their homes.

Hearts and Homes In Harmony - We also offer adult education groups for non-offending parents. The groups educate parents on the ways to offer constant and consistent support to their children, as well as ways to enhance their own journey of recovery and self-care.

Contact Information

Please contact Hilda Saltos for any further information at

585-325-6101 Ext. 215. hsaltos@spcc-roch.org

 

Family Violence Program is funded by:

New York State Crime Victims Board

Monroe County Youth Bureau

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Legislative Grant - Senator Robach