Family Communications - Scenes from a Shelter: Talking About Domestic Violence

Scenes from a Shelter: Talking About Domestic Violence

"We are all surrounded by violence, and there doesn't seem to be much we can do to make it go away. But we do need to remind ourselves that our children will learn a lot about expressing their feelings by watching how we express ours."
-- Fred Rogers

	Background
	Workbook Preview
	Book Preview
	Video Previews
	Advisors & Funders
	PDF Handout

Scenes from a Shelter is designed to help young children who have been exposed to domestic violence. The materials help children's advocates, teachers, counselors, and other professionals as they work with young children from violent homes.

Family Communications developed this project in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and an advisory committee of experts in the field. Generous support for this project was provided by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment.

This comprehensive resource package includes two short video programs, a storybook to be used with children, and a workbook with discussion and activity guide for adults working with children.

Two Videos: Something Broken, Something Fixed and Taking Care, depict life in a shelter through the eyes of children, and talk about domestic violence honestly and directly. Both videos use puppets to voice children's fears and help them know that they are not alone and not to blame for what's happening in their family.

Written by psychologist and puppeteer Dr. Susan Linn, these programs can help children explore difficult issues raised by their experience of domestic violence. Each video is approximately 15 minutes in length and is designed as a springboard for discussion. See video previews.

Book for Children - A 24-page illustrated storybook , I Do and I Don’t , written by Fred Rogers and Hedda Sharapan, helps children know that they can have mixed feelings about many things - even about the people they love. See book preview.

Workbook with Discussion and Activity Guide - A Workbook with discussion and activity guide helps professionals working with children use the materials effectively either in a group or with an individual child.

These materials have been newly revised and expanded. The new content reflects feedback from those in the field and new research into the impact of domestic violence on children.

In response to frequent requests, the video material is now available on DVD, the activities have been expanded, and we have created a black and white version of the story book so children can have a personal copy which they can use as a coloring book.

"We were privileged to work with Family Communications on the Scenes From a Shelter materials for children who have witnessed domestic violence. Their sensitivity, creativity, and expertise about young children greatly enhanced the information we wanted to share with our colleagues in Domestic Violence agencies. The enthusiastic response to these materials makes the release of this updated and revised version another important step in serving children who struggle to deal with the difficult and conflicting emotions arising from domestic violence."

- Susan Kelly-Dreiss, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence


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