Children who come to Stepping Stones with their parent receive important support from our Children’s Advocates in order to help process through things they’ve experienced. We consider children PRIMARY victims, even if they weren’t a direct recipient of violence. Why? Because throughout our 40 years of providing services, we know that witnessing abuse can affect their lives long after the abuse ends.
The parent and the advocates help children to gain self-worth and independence through age-appropriate activities like safety planning and educational groups.
Safety planning helps a child know what to do if they ever feel unsafe. Just like an adult, a child’s safety plan helps them know who they can talk to and what to do to if something is happening in their home.
Educational activities include topics like understanding their feelings, learning about choices, and learning about abuse. These topics help children build their independence and worth as they learn what is and isn’t ok behavior.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse and need to talk to someone, our advocates are available 24/7/365 on our helpline: 928-445-HOPE (445-4673).