The Center for Child Protection offers intervention to children who have made a confirmed outcry of abuse within the criminal and civil justice systems and their protective caregivers. The Center's clinical staff who work directly with children and families are trained, licensed professionals who hold Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and/or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentials. Interns from area universities participate in the provision of services under the supervision of both university staff and the Center's licensed staff.
Therapy
One of the core programs of the Center for Child Protection is the therapy and counseling services provided to children and their families in English and Spanish. By creating a safe, therapeutic relationship, children and their families are able to process their experiences and begin healing from the abuse they have endured. Each client's treatment is individualized to meet his or her emotional, psychological, and developmental needs. Services are offered to children, siblings, and to non-offending caregivers.
Therapeutic Groups
(Download the 2008 Group Schedule as a MS Word document.)
Protective Parenting Group
The Protective Parenting Group is a class that meets for two hours each week for 10 weeks where parents are court-ordered to attend because of involvement with Child Protective Services. This parenting group (available in English or Spanish) is designed to address issues related to trauma, family dynamics, and child protection. Child care is provided.Parent Education Classes
The Center's Parenting Education Class (available in English or Spanish) meets for an hour and a half each week for seven weeks and is designed to share information about child development, communication skills, misbehavior in children, conflict resolution, and appropriate discipline. Child care is provided.Sexual Abuse Dynamics Group
The Sexual Abuse Dynamics Group (available in English or Spanish) meets for an hour and a half each week for seven weeks. Priority registration is given to individuals who have an open case with CPS. This group is designed to assist protective caregivers by thoroughly addressing issues related to the dynamics of sexual abuse. The group is a psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic format. Through education, support and understanding of the dynamics of sexual abuse, the non-offending parent can increase their ability to support and meet the needs of their child as well as their own needs in a productive manner.Trauma Education
Trauma education is available to protective caregivers who are interested in learning about the impact of trauma on a child. The Center's clinical staff provides in-depth educational information about the nature of trauma, differences between crisis and trauma, stress factors, the process of therapy, and therapeutic interventions to assist in resolving trauma symptoms.Empowerment Series: Financial Planning Class
This six-week class will empower parents and caregivers to make good financial decisions when money is tight. It teaches personal finance, cash strategies, budgeting priorities, and how to work with credit. Download a flier (Word format)
Intensive Case Management
Intensive case management supports at-risk families one-on-one for a longer period of time to prevent child abuse or neglect. The Center's clinical staff make home visits to assess a child's developmental needs and to provide support.
Family Advocate Program
The Family Advocacy Program's primary focus is to provide protective caregivers with immediate crisis intervention, ongoing case management, therapy and follow-up so caregivers have the support they need to take care of their child, their family, and themselves.
Emergency Funds
The Center offers emergency funds for children and families in crisis. We have provided car seats and beds for caregivers who have chosen to become guardians of their relatives' abused children, deadbolt door locks to keep children safe from perpetrators of violence, and clothes for a child who must make an appearance in court to testify against an abuser. It has allowed the Center to give bus passes to mothers with no means of transportation to enable them to make the long journey across town to keep counseling appointments for their children.
Donation Drives
The Center conducts donation drives throughout the year to support children and families. Project Graduation is a year round drive for teenagers aging out of foster care to help them start their own household. The Backpack Project helps children with school supplies at the start of the school year.
Information and Referral
Center staff are available by telephone to the community to provide information about child protection issues and community services available to children and families. A directory is maintained of mental health professionals who agree to take referrals to their practice from the Center. Center staff are also available to consult with community professionals concerning the dynamics and treatment of child abuse. Read more under Help for Families.
