The Shelter Children's Specialist and the Children's Group Specialist provide individual, group, and crisis counseling, recreational activities and referrals to other community resources. Additionally, support programs are provided for the mothers in the form of parenting education, support groups, family counseling and activity groups designed for parent-child interaction. Parenting Groups assisting parents with obtaining childcare, medical treatment, mental health treatment, clothing, etc. Just ending its 7 th year, this program provides educational services to homeless children and youth throughout the New River Valley. Our school program has been cited as a model program on both a state and national level.
Children coming to the shelter often find the changes quite traumatic.
Whenever possible, our teacher uses the children's actual textbooks from the previous school and works in conjunction with the students' teachers and guidance counselors. For many students, this is the first time they have been able to attend school without the distractions of an abusive home. They feel safe and are able to concentrate more on learning and less on survival. Children are taught at the shelter but are counted present at their home schools. Assistance in enrollment or transfer to new schools.