Program Summary
The Safe From the Start (SFS) program provides developmentally and culturally appropriate services to children ages 0 to 5 who have witnessed or been exposed to violence. These services are also provided to their families or caregivers. SFS serves young victims of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment, and/or who witnessed domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes.
SFS Core Components
• Coalition-Building: Partnerships with community-based agencies and other local and state organizations serving children exposed to violence and their families.
• Direct Services: Assessment, service plan development, individual/group therapy and case management, re-assessment, psychoeducation.
• Public Awareness: Community outreach and education.
Coalition-Building and Collaboration
Coalition building, collaboration, and coordination are central components of the SFS program model. SFS coalitions build relationships with community partners that can both make referrals into the program and link program participants with other resources. Additionally, SFS coalitions focus on broader program implementation, organizational change, information sharing enhancements, protocol creation, and other tasks related to service collaboration and coordination.
SFS coalitions include state and local government agencies, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and other allied professionals. Required partners represent key points of entry for prevention of violence exposure and trauma and intervention services. Recommended partners provide additional support resources. Required and recommended partners may vary based on program need and communities’ existing service delivery systems.
Required partners:
- Child advocacy centers
- Child welfare agencies
- Victim service agencies, including but not limited to domestic violence and sexual assault services
- Head Start; pre-school and early childhood programs; and childcare providers
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services/child welfare agencies
- Law enforcement agencies
- Sexual assault agencies
- Healthcare providers including medical and mental/behavioral health professionals
Recommended partners:
- People with lived experience
- Partner Abuse Intervention Programs
- Community leaders/stakeholders, including members with community influence
- Court personnel: Judges, attorneys, guardians ad litem, court-appointed special advocates, victim-witness advocates, administrative staff of dependency/juvenile, family, domestic violence, and drug courts
- Crisis nurseries
- Early intervention programs, such as your local Child and Family Connections for ages 0 to 3
- Faith-based leaders
- Family case management: WIC, child protective services, family support services, child welfare agencies, foster care programs
- Hospitals, emergency medical services, primary health care providers
- Housing authorities
- Local parent groups, such as parent-teacher associations
- Schools, including special education programs
- Social service agencies
- Substance use disorder prevention and treatment services
- Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Councils
- Culturally specific organizations
- Public health departments
Direct Services
SFS primarily serves young children from birth to 5 years of age who have been exposed to violence in the home or community and their families or caregivers. Children older than five years may be served if the primary client is aged 0 to 5. Exposure to violence occurs with being victimized or witnessing abuse, neglect, or maltreatment or a witness to domestic, physical, or sexual violence, or other violent crime.
While sites may operate differently, a core group of case management and clinical staff must provide direct services, including intake, assessment, and clinical support to children and their families. Staffed by community-based professionals, SFS sites also provide confidential referrals for additional services and resources.
When a child or family is referred to the SFS program, a staff member meets with the primary caregiver and child clients to share SFS service information and assess their needs. During the first few visits, assessment tools are completed with the primary caregiver for each child receiving services. These assessment tools allow staff and the SFS program and evaluation team to understand what the child clients are experiencing and how to best support them. They also serve as an educational tool for the caregiver and can facilitate relationship building between SFS staff and family.
Public Awareness
The SFS program model’s third component is public awareness. Essential efforts include community member involvement, increased public awareness, community-informed planning, education about the scope and impact of childhood exposure to violence, and promoting healing services. Public awareness activities range from community presentations and events to professional trainings and media campaigns.