In-House Program
Out in-house program offers shelter, counselling, support, and a therapeutic program to children and youth at the shelter. We offer a child care program and individual counselling in a number of ways: verbal dialogue, art and play.
Children and youth have an opportunity to share their experiences of being a witness/ victim of violence in a safe and supportive environment. Children need the opportunity to express their feelings. They need to understand that the violence happening within the family is not their fault. We also access resources and fun activities within the community.
We offer ongoing parental support to mothers through behaviour modification and consistent discipline techniques. We also encourage them to access parenting support within the community. We offer a weekly Mothers’ group meeting to discuss:
- issues and concerns
- parenting information such as the Family and Children Services Act
- the effects of children witnessing violence
- ways to build a child’s self-esteem and to decrease separation issues
- various parenting topics, based on the issues that occur in the house
Child & Youth Follow-UP Program
We offer children and youth 3 – 6 months of counselling when families leave the shelter. Some families reunite while other families may live independently. Many topics are addressed, such as:
- safety planning
- coping with separation
- identification and behaviour issues
- violence within the family
The follow-up appointments are biweekly within their school or at Tearmann. There is also support for moms in the form of parent meetings and discussions about their child or youth’s progress. We also advocate for youth to various agencies, Provincial Court, income assistance, and case conferencing with Child Welfare.
“We talked about bullying and to be careful online…what you say or do online can change your whole life and to be careful. But other than that talking about different bullying and how it can change and what you say could/would hurt someone. We had a lot of fun.”
Child & Youth Outreach Program
The outreach program offers crisis support, counselling, information and advocacy with youth. We provide counselling to children ages 4 to 18, for 3 – 6 months, depending on counselling goals. We receive referrals from:
- community agencies
- parents
- school personnel
- teen health coordinators from North Nova Education Centre and Northumberland Regional High School
We offer a safe place for children and youth to access services. These can include sessions within their school and/or appointments scheduled at Tearmann House. We offer dating violence presentations to students throughout our catchment area in partnership with New Leaf. We believe youth have the right to information and support regarding healthy relationships. Sometimes students will come for support and information after one of our presentations.
“I like the things we get to do. I just wish it wasn’t over so soon and we had more time. It makes me feel good and beautiful, thank you so much.”
– Participant ME I AM project