JOYCE THOMAS: Many children				are witnesses to violence;
many children are victims				of violence.
The environment				can be a risk factor,
but it can also be				a protective factor.
The community worker				really is the glue
to helping particularly families				with limited resources
be able to reestablish				themselves.
JOYCE THOMAS: In environments				where victimization
is commonplace,
the community can make				a tremendous difference.
You might have programs,				services, agencies,
that are geared-up,
and families that are geared-up,				to protect children.
Faith-based communities				make a big difference.
When an entire family				is in crisis,
an offering of friendly support				can be very nurturing.
KIM CLIFTON: HALOS was founded
by a child psychiatrist				and pediatrician
because she saw child victims				of abuse and neglect
coming through				her psychiatric practice.
While the caregivers				were trying very hard
to provide a safe				and nurturing home,
they just didn't have				the resources
to provide things				that all children need,
not to mention children				who were healing
from the trauma				of abuse and neglect.
And the project grew				pretty quickly.
They developed a relationship
with the local Department				of Social Services,
and so Charleston County DSS
would tell them what children
who had open cases of abuse				and neglect needed.
AMBER: I was a rape victim.
And, one day I got tired				of the abuse.
I finally told, and they				did something about it.
After I got removed				from my mother's house,
my granny got custody of me				through the court.
JOYCE BARKER: Being as old				as I am, a senior citizen,
and living on a fixed income,
I was fighting it all by myself				until I got into HALOS,
and they have helped me				quite a bit.
AMBER: HALOS helped me				get my stuff for school.
They just been a--a really good				backbone for the family.
I'm 18, and I have graduated				from high school,
I did a semester in college.
You know, I feel like I got				something to live for now.
And, as far as HALOS,				they helped me do that.
JOYCE THOMAS:				You can't help children
till you help their families.
Parents really need				a lot of support.
They need information.
And when we talk about trauma				and trauma-informed care,
we know we have to listen,
we have to listen				to that trauma story.
So it's important				that the parents are linked
to service providers who can				help them in a structured way.
JIM HENRY: ...and so somebody				who you felt very loved
and you could count on and be				secure with wasn't there...
We know that children, whether				it's child abuse and neglect,
domestic violence,				even community violence--
that parents aren't even aware
of some of the ways they've been				exposed to violence and trauma.
And so we started the Children's				Trauma Assessment Center
to really help people understand				the kids through a trauma lens.
Our project, Project PERK,				is about being able to support
children in Kalamazoo				and their families
when they've experienced				violence,
providing parent treatment				as well as child treatment
to empower them				to help their kids
manage the impact of trauma and				certainly to build resiliency.
ROBERT EZELLE: It's important				that we have programs
that are going				to keep kids safe.
When you have kids that live				at or below the poverty line,
along with that comes				a lot of baggage
and a lot of that baggage				is exposure to violence.
So if we can provide resources				for the kids and their families
that normally would not be				available to them,
we jump at the chance				to do that.
JOYCE ARMSTRONG: Because we do				have the afterschool program
and we do talk				to our parents a lot,
there's a lot of trust,
there's a good foundation				already laid there
to go out and get a group				to come in
and go through the workshop.
JIM HENRY: We've developed				a parent group curriculum
helping them understand				how the impact of violence
has affected their kids
in terms of their regulation				and behavior and learning.
JOYCE ARMSTRONG: What did you				feel was beneficial
for you and your family?
JIM HENRY: The child component				is really helping them
understand what's happening				in their brain,
to help kids learn how				to regulate their affect
and to manage stress.
ROBERT EZELLE: The kids feel				confident that they can engage
in meaningful conversation				with their parents.
Parents are getting				more sensitive
to the needs of their children.
They understand				the exposure to violence
and how that impacts				not only their children
but how it impacts them				as a family unit.
WOMAN: With each class I was				able to use more of those tools.
JIM HENRY:				One of the great things
about having				community partnerships
when they are				neighborhood centers,
like New Genesis				and Boys and Girls Club,
is that people trust this place.
A family coming here				can experience connection
and relatedness				and a sense of safety.
JOYCE ARMSTRONG: The more you				can get the parents involved,
the community involved,
to where you're all saying				the same thing,
using the same language,
you're going to have				greater results.
JOYCE THOMAS: In working				with hard-to-reach families,
cultural factors have come				a long way
in establishing trust				with the community--
people feeling comfortable, just				to know that they are welcome
and that they are not				the unusual one
or they don't belong here--
a place to go for help,
where you have an opportunity				to take home messages.
TAWNA SANCHEZ: NAYA is				a youth services organization.
And people did ask				that question:
Why would you put				a domestic violence program
in a youth organization?
We work with families				who either are on the edge
of losing their children				to the child welfare system
or who have already lost				their children.
And until everybody deals
with the anger, the hurt,
the frustration, and the pain
of all of those things,
they're not going to heal.
We started with				culturally specific
domestic violence services.
As Native people				and as a community,
we try to help them stay				connected with their culture.
On Wednesday night, we'll have				a sibling visit night,
which is an opportunity				for youth who are in foster care
to maybe visit				with other family members
that they don't normally see.
And so the hope is to be able
to bring all of those siblings				and family members together,
share a meal together,				share an activity together,
and just be able to bond some				as a family.
Family culture night works				because mom and/or dad,
and grandma,				and several children--
they're engaging				as an entire family.
They have something				to consistently participate in
on a regular basis,
and they feel connected.
JOYCE THOMAS: When we think				about protecting children
and violence,
we really have to say				it's everybody's responsibility.
