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- Individual Level – Reduce the impact of witnessing violence on Chatham County 0-8 year olds by creating, enhancing, and expanding serve coordination and therapeutic services.
- Community Level – Reduce children's risk of exposure to violence by strengthening Cahtham County neighborhoods.
- Systems Level – Reduce the impact of violence on all Chatham County 0-8 year olds by facilitating system integration and collaboration.
Every day children are exposed to violence in their homes and communities. In Chatham County, as amny as 250 children witness violence each year. Seeing or hearing violence can hurt children, including infants and toddlers, even when they are not physically injured. These children may feel extreme fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, or hopelessness.
They may:
- Have trouble sleeping or have nightmares
- Have trouble separating from their parents
- Behave aggressively toward other children
- Return to younger behavior, such as thumbsucking, babytalk, or bedwetting
- Act more irritable than usual - increased crying or fussiness
- Act out violent events in play
- Lose interest in friends and favorite activities
- Have trouble making friends
- Feel too worried to play or learn in school
Childrens exposed to violence learn to view the world as an unsafe, scary place at a time when they should be exploring their environment, playing, learning new skills, and building trusting relatinoships. Exposure to violence can have a lasting impact on a child's behavior, emotions, or health.
- Listen to the child
- Establish regular routines and a familiar environment for the child
- Remain calm and patient
- Ask questions gently
- Talk to the child at eye level
- Use words the child can understand
- Tell the child it is okay to talk about what happened
- Let the child know that it is not his fault
- Reassure the child that it is okay to cry
- Encourage the child to play, draw, or tell stories to express her feelings
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Safe Start Goals