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Children are welcome and cared for Here

Children’s services are provided in shelter and at our Outreach Center.

Victims of domestic violence are welcome to bring their children for services. Children’s services are provided in our shelter and at our Outreach Center. Individual and group counseling, support from a trained advocate and domestic violence prevention programs are available. For in-shelter children, there is also educational support and child care. We are also in the community, working to prevent future violence.

Children’s Services

In-Shelter Children’s Services

Domestic violence victims who come to shelter are welcome to bring their children with them. In fact, nearly half of our shelter residents are kids! Adult residents are often impressed by all Hubbard House offers their children, and most kids truly love being here.​

In shelter, children have their own beds and sleep in the same room as their parent. Just like home, their meals are prepared by their parent who selects the foods they prefer from the Hubbard House pantry and cooks them in one of six residential kitchens. Each kitchen is also furnished with a dining table so families can eat together.

Children in shelter also have an advocate, and can, with parental permission, attend counseling and a group with others of the same age. Children, newborn to preschool age, can also attend Hubbard House’s free-to-residents Child Care Center and older children can receive educational support. In all cases, Hubbard House works toward child safety, healing and empowerment.

Child Care Center

Child Care Center

In 1979, Hubbard House became one of the first domestic violence shelters in the nation to provide therapeutic childcare for infant, toddler and preschool program participants. Today this means in addition to receiving loving care from specially-trained staff, our youngest participants benefit from a curriculum that addresses their needs as witnesses of domestic violence; for example, they participate in self-esteem building exercises and learn non-violent conflict resolution skills. Meanwhile, since the Center is in a secure shelter setting, parents can go to work or look for work, go to court hearings, etc. and know their children are not only safe but also healing and learning.

Education Support

Educational support

At Hubbard House, children of shelter residents in kindergarten through eighth grade have access to educational help in an environment of safety and concern. The children receive individual attention from teachers who, besides offering the traditional school course work appropriate to grade level, have experience with children who have witnessed violence in their homes.

Children counseling

Individual Counseling for Children

Individual counseling is available for children, ages 4-17, who need help dealing with the effects of violence in their lives. This counseling includes the use of children’s art and play therapy, which is especially helpful with children who cannot adequately express their emotions in words. Individual counseling is available to children in shelter or on an outreach basis.

Children group

Children’s Groups

Children in shelter are placed in age-appropriate groups with trained advocates or with the Children’s Counselor. They focus on intervention designed to help the child heal from trauma they have witnessed or experienced.

Outreach Center Children’s Services

Individual Counseling for Children

In 1979, Hubbard House became one of the first domestic violence shelters in the nation to provide therapeutic childcare for infant, toddler and preschool program participants. Today this means in addition to receiving loving care from specially-trained staff, our youngest participants benefit from a curriculum that addresses their needs as witnesses of domestic violence; for example, they participate in self-esteem building exercises and learn non-violent conflict resolution skills. Meanwhile, since the Center is in a secure shelter setting, parents can go to work or look for work, go to court hearings, etc. and know their children are not only safe but also healing and learning.

children's groups

Children’s Groups

Available to children on an outreach basis, HARK (Healthy and Resilient Kids) is a free-to-attend therapeutic intervention and prevention program for children who have been affected by domestic violence. The children are separated into age-appropriate groups where they learn life-enriching skills, like how to identify and express emotions in a healthy way and how to resolve conflicts without violence.

Clarence’s Story

Clarence, 9, a resident at the shelter, shared his dreams with Hubbard House staff. He wanted his mom to be safe, to sleep in a real bed of his own and to be at his grade level in school.

At Hubbard House, all his dreams came true. His mom was finally safe. His bed was his alone. And, after receiving lots of extra help with his schoolwork and working very hard with his Hubbard House teachers and advocates, he tested at his age-appropriate grade level.

The day Clarence and his mom left Hubbard House was a joyful one. Clarence’s mom had a job and had secured a safe place for Clarence and her to live, and Clarence was thrilled, over the moon, in fact, to be entering the third grade.

Prevention Services

Hand raised

Hubbard House works with students in various schools and afterschool programs by teaching school-aged children about healthy relationships, anger management, conflict resolution and bullying. The classes lay a foundation for healthy relationship behaviors and how to prevent future abusive relationships.

Contact us at our Hotline, (904) 354-3114, to get help or for more information.