For Children’s Day, Shine promotes action to keep kids safe

1 March 2013

For Children’s Day on March 3rd, Shine promotes action to keep kids safe

On Children’s Day, this Sunday March 3rd, many parents will be taking their children out to enjoy the day at one of many community events being organised throughout the country. (For more information on Children’s Day, visit http://www.childrensday.org.nz/)

This year the Children’s Day theme is ‘Treasure our Children.’ Shine would like everyone to remember the many children who do not feel treasured, and who live in a world of fear and uncertainty. The children we speak of are those living in a family where domestic abuse is ongoing.

Shine makes homes violence free. A critical aspect of this work is our KIDshine service, which is now in its 10th year of operation.

Jill Proudfoot, Shine’s Services Director, says,

“KIDshine is one of the few services that works directly with children who are distressed and frightened by being exposed to domestic abuse. The service is a short term intervention, but we usually see quite dramatic changes in the children we work with and in the relationship they have with their protective parent, usually their mother who is the primary victim of the abuse.

This is the first time many of these children have spoken openly about the abuse they’ve witnessed and experienced, and many of them are then able to understand and believe that they are not responsible for the abuse.

We cannot protect these children from the effects of future incidents, but we can help them to understand that they are not responsible for the abuse, and to rebuild their relationship with their mother. Part of the process is to assess their safety, and to make a simple age-appropriate plan to stay safe should future incidents occur.”

People who want to help these children can visit Shine’s website at http://www.2shine.org.nz/ to learn more about KIDshine, how they can support Shine with a donation, come to one of our fundraising events or get involved as a volunteer.

Shine makes New Zealand homes violence free. We are a leading national agency providing a range of specialist services and programmes all aimed at assisting victims of domestic abuse to become safer and preferably remain in their own home.
Shine’s Free Helpline: 0508 744 633
www.2shine.org.nz

ENDS

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