Children and Youth
Last year, Doorways provided direct services to 144 children.
Domestic violence and family homelessness impact the entire family. We offer services geared directly towards meeting the unique needs of children experiencing family violence and homelessness. From direct intervention to prevention and awareness, we address the family as a whole.
Children’s Services
- Child-Focused Services: Physical, emotional and social support to help children heal from the traumatic effects of homelessness and domestic violence.
Ending the Cycle
Breaking the intergenerational cycle of homelessness and domestic violence is critical.
- Impact of Homelessness on Children: Compared to non-homeless children, homeless children are twice as likely to be sick or have learning disabilities and three times more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems.
- Impact of Domestic Violence on Children: Children who live in homes with domestic violence are 15 times more likely to be abusive themselves.
Prevention and Awareness
- Teen Dating Violence: This issue is on the rise and impacts as many teens as adults. It’s been estimated that almost two-thirds of tweens (age 11-14) say they know friends who have been verbally abused (called stupid, worthless, ugly, etc.) by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Our goal is to raise awareness about this issue by helping teens recognize and call out unhealthy behaviors.
- Youth Mentoring: Doorways is piloting a national program, Girls for a Change, to address the issue of youth empowerment through adult mentoring. Through the program, we facilitate 6th grade Girl Action Teams at both Gunston and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools.
