Your Kids Come With You — and Their Healing Matters Too
When you're thinking about leaving, your children are probably at the center of every fear you carry. Whether they witnessed things no child should ever see, or you're simply worried about uprooting them from everything familiar, those fears are real and they make sense. At Celebrate Forever Families, children are not an afterthought — they are part of the family we serve. Both our emergency shelter and residential program welcome children, and we have dedicated services designed specifically to help them process, heal, and feel safe again.
Survivor Services
A Safe Place Built for the Whole Family
One of the most common things that keeps a mother from leaving is the belief that she has nowhere to go with her kids. We want to say this clearly: your children are welcome here. From the moment you arrive at our emergency shelter or enroll in our residential program, your children are included — not just accommodated, but genuinely cared for.
We know that children who have lived through family violence carry their own invisible wounds. They may act out, shut down, struggle in school, or have a hard time trusting adults. That is not a behavior problem — it is a trauma response. Our team is trained to recognize it, and our services are designed to meet children where they are.
What Play Therapy Is and Why It Works
Play therapy is a structured, evidence-informed approach to helping children work through trauma in a way that matches how children actually process the world — through play, creativity, and imagination rather than conversation. A trained therapist creates a safe, child-led environment where kids can express feelings they may not yet have words for.
For children who have grown up in homes shaped by fear and unpredictability, play therapy offers something they may never have had: a space that is entirely theirs, where they set the pace and nothing bad happens. Over time, this kind of therapeutic support helps children rebuild their sense of safety, develop healthy emotional responses, and begin to heal from what they experienced.
Our children's services include play therapy sessions delivered by trained staff within our programs. Children do not need to be verbal, cooperative, or "ready" — they just need to show up.
Supporting You as a Parent Through This
Leaving an abusive relationship is one of the hardest things a person can do — and doing it while parenting is harder still. Many of the mothers we serve carry deep guilt about what their children witnessed or experienced. We want you to know: reaching out for help is one of the most protective things you can do for your kids. You are not failing them. You are choosing something better for all of you.
Our parenting and life-skills support is built into the services we offer because we understand that healing as a family means supporting the caregiver too. Services available to parents in our programs include:
- Parenting skills support and coaching
- Life-skills development for daily stability
- Abuse recovery and trauma-informed counseling
- Mental health support and referrals
- Case management to help you plan next steps as a family
- Transportation assistance for appointments and services
Children's Services Across All Three Programs
Whether you are with us in emergency shelter, enrolled in our longer-term residential program, or receiving support through outreach, children's wellbeing is part of how we serve families.
Our emergency shelter provides immediate safety and stability for you and your children for up to 45 days. Our residential program offers a longer arc of healing — structured support over a more extended stay — for families who need more time and more resources to build toward independence. Both programs are designed with children in mind, and both connect families to the full range of supportive services we offer.
If you are not entering shelter but are still in need of support, our outreach services can connect you and your children to counseling, case management, and community resources without requiring you to leave your home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Children's Services
Do I have to leave my children behind or make separate arrangements to enter the shelter?
No. Your children come with you. Both our emergency shelter and our residential program welcome mothers and their children together. You will not be asked to separate from your kids to receive help.What ages of children are served through play therapy?
Play therapy is most commonly used with younger children, though therapeutic support is available for children of varying ages. When you contact us, our team will talk with you about your children's specific needs and connect them with the most appropriate support.My child hasn't said anything about what happened at home. Does that mean they're okay?
Not necessarily — and that is not a reason for alarm. Many children who have lived through family violence internalize their experiences rather than talk about them. Play therapy is specifically designed to reach children who do not yet have the words or the trust to speak directly about what they have been through.Will my children have to talk to anyone about what happened?
No child is ever forced to talk about their experiences. Play therapy is child-led, which means your child sets the pace. Our therapists are trained to work gently and follow the child's cues rather than push toward disclosure.Can I get parenting support even if I'm not entering the shelter?
Yes. Parenting support and counseling are available through our outreach program for survivors who are not entering residential or emergency shelter. Contact us to learn what services are available in your situation.