The stories that professionals and families hear about children exposed to violence are overwhelming at times and can create feelings of helplessness and hopelessness not unlike the feelings experienced by the children themselves. When these feelings emerge, it is important to remember that there are simple things that can be done to support children and to make an essential difference in their lives.
All adults have an opportunity to be helpful and supportive to children exposed to violence.
There are general guidelines for supporting children. These can be found in the How to Support the Child section of this site. Families and caregivers, neighbors, and professionals can be of assistance in specific ways as discussed in the How to Intervene section. Through their support and clinical expertise professionals can open doors to successful interventions. Simultaneously, parents and neighbors are an important resource who can make a difference.