Specialized Services for Abused Parents and Their Children (Demonstration Projects)

The purpose of the Specialized Services for Abused Parents and Their Children is to expand the capacity of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence service programs and community-based programs to prevent future domestic violence. This is done by addressing the needs of children who have been exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence in an appropriate manner. Required activities include providing direct counseling; providing developmentally and age-appropriate services to victims and their children; providing advocacy on behalf of victims and their children; and supporting non-abusing parents in their roles as caregivers and in meeting social, emotional, and developmental needs of their children. Where appropriate, services may also work with a non-abusing parent and child together.

Optional activities include providing early childhood development and mental health services; coordinating with and providing technical assistance to community-based organizations that serve victims or exposed children and providing additional services and referrals to services for children. These may include childcare, transportation, educational support, respite care, supervised visitation, or other necessary services.