NEWBURYPORT — In times of violence and abuse, children are often the ones who fall between the cracks.
With money received from a very competitive national grant, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is hoping to boost programing to help children affected by separation and divorce as well as when parents or caretakers are victims of domestic or dating abuse.
Studies suggest that up to 10 million U.S. children witness some form of domestic violence annually, and research indicates that those who witness or experience domestic violence are more likely to be victims or perpetrators in adulthood.
With clinicians on staff, the center is able to work with children to break the cycle of violence they have seen.
"Kids who come from violence sometimes think violence is the answer in conflict or a way to get power," Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center director Suzanne Dubus said. "We are able to work to change that belief right away."
The Avon Foundation for Women, a national organization, awarded the center a $50,000 one-year grant under the program, "Not Seen, Not Heard: Helping Children of Domestic Violence." The program is an ongoing awards program under the auspices of the Avon Foundation Speak Out Against Domestic Violence initiative, and the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is among one of the 15 grant recipients selected from among 400 applicants nationwide.
"What's great is Avon's mission supports children and that is one area we have never received grant funding for," Dubus said. "The grant will largely go toward our District Court Advocacy Program, which includes having trained staff at district court every day to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking obtain restraining orders. They go to the hearing with the victims and also go to the 10-day hearing where they can help file an extension for up to a year. They walk them through the process."
Grant money will also be used for the children's clinical program at the Crisis Center, which works to protect children affected by separation and divorce in cases where parents or caretakers are victims of domestic or dating abuse.
"None of the programs are 100 percent funded," Dubus said, noting the legal advocacy program is only partially funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Bar Association. "When children are the victims of or witness violence, they need permission to talk about it, a safe place and consistency."
With hard economic times and the holidays on the way, Dubus said they have seen an uptick in victims coming from extreme circumstances.
"We are very grateful to Avon and the community for support they have given us over the years," Dubus said, noting the center often partners with other nonprofits to pool resources. "We have been getting extreme cases where people need a place to stay and don't have clothes or anything to feed their children."
Dubus said currently, the center offers a Harry Potter program twice a year that illustrates how the main character of the book, Harry Potter comes from an abusive family and is a neglected child. The program follows Potter through his journey and helps children feel they have permission to talk about their own experience.
"We talk about how he grows into his power and the need to create a family by surrounding yourself with friends and adults who support you," Dubus said.
The center currently has three clinicians on staff to provide treatment and intervention for children as well as facilitate group work.
"Kids who witness abuse are used to a chaotic situation where they are always trying to read people's emotions," Dubus said. "Here, they are met by the same clinicians, they know where the toys are, and we are never yelling in the office."
The center was awarded the grant after meeting criteria that stems around the organization's ability to offer innovative legal and support services and improve the ability of a custodial parent to manage parenting in a safe way.
The program also aims to develop or expand a model of collaboration focused on assisting with child safety; increasing legal training and direct services in the court process to reduce the traumatic experience of children witnessing and experiencing violence; and providing free technical assistance to attorneys in order to reduce the traumatic experience of separation and divorce on children.
Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women, noted, "The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is delivering critical services to the often-forgotten victims of domestic violence: the children who witness it. We are proud to support their efforts to help end the cycle of violence."
Dubus said the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center differs from other domestic violence programs nationwide as they are able to provide clinicians and attorneys on site to help families in the aftermath of violence.
"Adults don't need us to take care of them in the way children do," Dubus said. "Adults need a safe place to speak their truth, to know what their options are and (get) support on their journey."
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