Family First for Children

 

Family First provides an early intervention approach to address the devastating impact of domestic abuse for women and children.

 

Family Support Domestic Abuse Specialists work with mums and children in the family home and in refuge providing intensive one-to-one family support, hands-on practical assistance and group work.  We support women to reduce risk and increase safety, strengthen family relationships, improve mental health and well-being and address the devastating impact of domestic abuse.

 

Domestic Abuse Specialists work with mum to identify her strengths and build on these, focusing on children’s safety and well-being.

 

We work together with mums to develop a family support plan focusing on safety planning and protection measures, safeguarding, positive-parenting, healthy-eating, sleep routines, family activities and play. 

 

We support mums to understand the cycle of violence and recognise the impact domestic abuse has on their children.

 

We provide one-to-one therapeutic support for children enabling them to cope with the trauma they have experienced.  We provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to talk about their experiences and explore their thoughts and feelings, where they will be listened to, their voice will be heard and they will be believed.

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Through one-to-one support, Domestic Abuse Specialists enable children to explore issues including:

 

• Understanding domestic abuse

• Safety planning and support networks

• Impact of family breakdown

• Healthy and unhealthy relationships

• Confidence and self-esteem

• Anxiety and stress 

• Positive mental health and well-being;

• Managing emotions and resilience

• Strategies to cope with trauma

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"Family First offers children an opportunity to restore hope and begin the healing process."

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Domestic Abuse Specialists will advocate for and with women and children, working towards a positive outcome, helping mums to be the best parent they can be and supporting families to recover from the impact of domestic abuse.

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