Children who witness or experience domestic violence cope with more than just fear and confusion—of the five million children exposed to abuse each year, many struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, learning difficulties, lower IQ, and problems with attention and memory, as well as a higher risk of entering future abusive relationships.
Children who witness abuse lose the essential feelings of safety, joy, playfulness, and protection that promote healthy development. As a result, for families experiencing abuse, proper medical, emotional, and community support can greatly brighten a child’s future. Recognizing this need in more than 50% of its clients, HAWC develops programs and raises funds to help child witnesses of abuse grow, thrive, and have fun. While our programs are robust, there are many more services HAWC wishes to offer families who have experienced abuse. Without your help, HAWC cannot bring these life-altering services to fruition.
By donating to HAWC’s Children’s Fund, you will sustain a program that helps reinvigorate children of abuse during every step of the healing process, from relocating to a safe home to making new friends.
100% of your contribution will directly finance:
- HAWC’s clinically researched Parent Child Trauma Recovery Program, which pairs our clients whose children have PTSD symptoms with specially trained therapists to reduce trauma symptoms, increase a feeling of safety and well-being, and rebuild the sense of trust between the child and their protective parent. This program runs in conjunction with the survivor parent working with their HAWC advocate on their journey to safety.
- Activities such as summer camp, ballet classes, little league, and other opportunities for community engagement, where a kid can be a kid.
- Daycare for abuse survivors’ children while the survivor seeks employment.
- HAWC’s “Mommy and Me” support group, which strengthens the bond between children and parents during their journey towards healing.