Head Start Collaboration Project
Safe Futures Institute

For many young children violence is a reality every day—in computer games, cartoons, movies, newspapers, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and in many homes. Young children may experience violence, even before they are born, as victims, witnesses, or simply by being aware of the violence around them. Regardless of their age, children can be affected by violence. The effects can be long-lasting and can also change the way a child develops.

To support Head Start program efforts to meet the needs of children and families address issues of violence, the NYS Head Start Collaboration Project is sponsoring a series of Safe Futures Domestic Violence Prevention Institutes across the state. Safe Futures: Supporting Children and Families Affected by Domestic Violence is a project for staff and managers based on a family-centered, community-based, team approach that is rooted in the Head Start Program Performance Standards. The project explores culturally competent prevention and intervention strategies that support both children and families.

Expected outcomes of the Safe Futures project are:

• Head Start staff will enhance their knowledge, attitudes, and skills in working with families affected by domestic violence.
• Participating teams will have the skills and knowledge needed to enhance their program’s capacity to serve families affected by domestic violence.
• Communities will build stronger networks of support for families related to the prevention and intervention of domestic violence.

As staff, programs, and communities achieve these outcomes, families will find improved access to domestic violence prevention and intervention services, and children will feel safer, and, therefore, be more ready to learn.