CFGC and Su Casa Collaborate on Domestic Violence Grant

In March of 2010, Community Family Guidance Center and Su Casa Domestic Violence Shelter began a collaborative effort to provide mental health services to women and children who have experienced, or been exposed to domestic violence. Through a grant written by Su Casa, and funded by the City of Long Beach, CFGC and Su Casa are offering a weekly multi-family group for women and children from Su Casa's Outreach Center.  The group is held in Spanish and is co-facilitated by a CFGC therapist, and a counselor from Su Casa.

 Research shows us that children who are exposed to domestic violence have lower school attendance, and poorer academic performance than their peers, and that they often have higher incidents of school related behavior problems.  Women in relationships where domestic violence occurs are often more isolated than other women, and as a result have fewer social and practical resources available to them.  The group aims to address these issues by increasing communication between the mother and her children around the topic of domestic violence, and by teaching and modeling positive social skills to children.  In the group, women and their children meet together with other families to learn how domestic violence impacts families, to share resources, and to gain support from other families who have similar histories.  By increasing the social supports of women exposed to domestic violence, and teaching positive social and communication skills to children, the group aims to improve the overall functioning of the group participants.