NCFH OJJDP 2010 Safe Start

The Safe Start Promising Approaches Project will develop and support practice enhancements and innovations to prevent and reduce the impact of children's exposure to violence in their homes and communities. The project will help communities implement collaborative and evidence-based practices across the services continuum for children and their families. Exposure to violence includes being a victim of violence or a witness to violence, and encompasses abuse, neglect or child maltreatment, domestic violence, and community violence.
This program is authorized by Sections 261 and 262 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (42 USC 5665-5666). The 10 pilot sites will test various evidence-based enhancements and practice innovations such as AF-CBT, TF-CBT, Strengthening Families Program, Coping Resources and other interventions in community-based settings such as DV shelters, libraries, Head Start, community mental health clinics and afterschool clubs. NCA/NCF

OJJDP has a specific mission to develop and disseminate knowledge about what works to prevent juvenile delinquency and violence and improve the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq authorizes the Administrator of OJJDP to conduct research or evaluations and undertake statistical analyses on a wide range of juvenile justice matters. OJJDP also provides funding to states and localities to carry out research, evaluation, and statistical analyses.

One child in 50 is homeless in America each year and violence plays a significant role in the lives of these children. To address the significant needs of homeless children who have experienced violence and trauma, The National Center on Family Homelessness is implementing START with Kids(Shelter-based, Trauma-informed Assessment, Referral and Treatment), a comprehensive approach to providing trauma-informed, clinically-driven care for children in homeless shelters. Project components include: 1) Building organizational capacity to provide trauma-informed care for children in emergency shelters in Worcester, MA. 2) Offering the trauma-specific group intervention Strengthening Family Coping Resources in shelter; 3) Conducting child-specific assessments and developing service plans for all children in participating shelters; and 5) Providing on-going clinical consultation to participating shelters. This intervention enhances the capacity of homeless service providers to assess, refer and support the children in their programs, expand collaboration among the shelters and the community, and solidify best practices for serving children within the homeless service system in Worcester and beyond.

CA/NCF