Children’s Program

Angel Step Inn provides a strong emphasis on supportive services and counseling for children entering our shelter. An estimated 85% of children entering our shelter are developmentally delayed and traumatized from witnessing domestic violence and parental addiction. Additionally, a large percentage of our children were abused emotionally, physically, or sexually in their lifetime; usually by their mother’s batterer.

The Angel Step Inn Children’s Program provides a developmentally appropriate, nurturing environment for children who are residing at the shelter with their mothers. Additionally, the Children’s Program offers case management services that include, but are not limited to service planning, individual counseling, and tutoring for the children residing at the shelter. Services are delivered via a partnership between Angel Step Inn staff and participating mothers. In this partnership, the Angel Step Inn Children’s Program provides a learning environment in which each child’s mother learns new parenting skills that will promote the healthy development of her child(ren) both physically and emotionally.

Angel Step Inn Child Care Program Goals

1. To help mothers recognize common emotions, reactions, and behaviors shown by children after experiencing trauma.
2. To help mothers realize that children are individuals that have feelings and react to situations in different ways.
3. To offer effective parent/child communication techniques.
4. To provide on-site childcare for children living at the shelter.
5. To empower mothers desire to break the cycle of abuse.
6. To increase mother’s knowledge about developmental-appropriate child activities.

Components of Family and Child Program

1. Infant/child health assessment
2. Service Planning
3. Parenting class
4. Bonding class (Mommy and Me)
5. Individual consultation with Angel Step Inn Child Care Coordinator concerning specific parenting issues
6. Developmental assessments of infants, toddlers, and school-aged children
7. After-school program and homework assistance for school-aged children