Child

Youth intervention

A large number of children live in a family environment marked by domestic violence and this reality is not without consequences.

Youth intervention is defined as being the intervention in the broad sense offered by shelters to counter violence against women and their children, whether through the defense of their rights, accompaniment, protection, indivual or group interventions, follow-up, outpatient consultation, prevention, promotion of our services or screening. 

Youth intervention has two components :

  • intervention with children;
  • intervention with mothers.

Intervention with children aims to reduce the consequences of what they are experiencing or what they have experienced. Regardless of their age, children and teenagers living in a context of domestic violence are also victims. Youth intervention helps children to remove their responsability against the violence, while working on protection strategies. 

Mother-child intervention aims to work in alliance and partnership with the mother, in order to help her support their children and increase their feeling of competence as a mother. 

Children, like their mothers, have special needs and specific intervention is required.

 

The objectives of youth intervention with children

  • Reduce the impacts of violence on children;
  • Engage with children a process of devictimisation;
  • Strenghten child protection and coping strategies;
  • Learn to distinguish power relations;
  • Restore the child’s self-esteem;
  • Develop and strenghten mother\child interactions.                                                        *the youth counselors  can go at schools to meet children.

The objectives of the mother\child intervention

  • Listen, equip and support mothers
  • Consolidate and\or regain their parental authority
  • Strenghten the bond of trust and mother\child communication
  • Raising awareness among mothers of the consequences of violence on their children
  • Stimulate mother\child communication
  • Promote awareness and the implementation of empowerment strategies among mothers and their children

 

All of La Méridienne services are free and confidential. They are offered to all mothers and childen who are victims of domestic violence.

The consequences

The love of loved ones, trust and security are major determinants for development of children.  Unfortunately, when a child witnesses or experiences domestic violence, he has consequences that affect his development.

  • The child can see his daily life marked by fear, threats, indifference or silence.

  • The child can suffer agressions, humiliations or negligence.

  • The child may be constantly on alert fearing the outbreak of violence from the father or the mother’s partner.

  • The child may feel responsible of the violence and believe that it is possible to become better in order to put an end to these aggressions which affect those he loves.

  • The child may feel sadness, shame and develop anxiety.

  • The child may experience difficulties at school both in terms of learning and in relationships with others (isolation/marginalization).

  • The child may experience difficulties to establish and live egalitarian relationships with others.

  • The child may develop problems with sleep, concentration, behavior and possibly mental health.

Testimonials

If you have questions, contact us at
819 877-3050 or toll free 1-888-699-3050
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