Program Statistics 76 families with 95 children served in 2005 100% of families identify as low-income 86% of families from diverse backgrounds

Children With Voices: A Child Witness to Violence Program is a collaborative project between The Guidance Center, local battered woman shelters, such as RESPOND, Inc. and Transition House, and other local agencies.

In the News
In the past three years, 23% of homicides in Massachusetts have been domestic violence related.

Gail Council, a Guidance Center Family Advocate, participates in "Cut it Out Cambridge," a program that offers salons an hour-long training session to help stylists recognize the signs of domestic violence and to give them access to important resources for their clients. Watch a short video about the project here.

What is the Goal of Children With Voices?
The program focuses on enhancing and facilitating services for child witnesses of domestic violence and their caretakers. We seek to help improve the safety of children and families and increase awareness of domestic violence issues and their effects on child growth and development. Special emphasis is placed on parenting, stress management and women’s health and mental health.

Who Does Children With Voices Serve?
Children With Voices serves residents of Cambridge and Somerville, as well as those from other communities. The program works with children, birth through age 18, who have witnessed domestic violence and their non-offending (non-abusive) parents.

Programs and Services
Children With Voices services are provided within an empowerment and strength model by clinicians from diverse backgrounds. Please click here to download a brochure.

We offer the following services to children and families in the community:

• Evaluation and Assessment: Therapeutic assessments, which may take place at a school, shelter or The Guidance Center, are provided for children.
• Treatment Planning: Addresses the child and family’s mental health needs, as well as housing, income, court and other needs present as a result of domestic violence
• Psychological Testing
• Psychiatric Evaluation, Medication Consultation and Monitoring
• Individual, Family and Group Therapy: Children and parents are referred for individual therapy at The Guidance Center or elsewhere in the community. Children, along with their non-offending parents, also may be referred to family therapy. For information on groups, please see below.
• Consultation and Training: Provided in addition to our weekly multidisciplinary team, which is open to the community of providers.
• Monthly Community Roundtable: Discussions with colleagues on issues related to working with families affected by domestic violence.
• Annual Conference: Understanding Trauma and Caring for the Caregivers. Past speakers include Dr. Herbert Benson, Dr. Robert Brooks, Thema Bryant, Kevin Creeden, Dr. Richard Jacobs, Robert Macy, Betsy McAllister Groves, Saranne Rothberg, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Maxine Weinreb.

Groups Offered
The Guidance Center offers support groups, including mother/child(ren) groups and parenting groups for non-offending parents who have survived domestic violence. Referrals also may be made to other groups available in the community. Referrals for groups are accepted throughout the year. Please see below for information on how to make a referral. Click here to see groups currently offered.

Languages Spoken
Children With Voices services are provided in the following languages:

• English
• Spanish
• Hebrew

Eligibility Criteria
There are no specific eligibility criteria. Anyone interested in Children With Voices should contact the program directly (see below).

Participant Fees
Many of our group services are provided free of charge. For other services, we accept most insurance plans and also offer a sliding fee scale for eligible families.

Referrals
Referrals can be made by phone or fax by any of the following sources:

• Individuals
• Department of Social Services
• Domestic violence services and shelters
• Police
• Courts
• Transitional living programs
• Schools
• Community-based organizations
• Hospitals

To make a referral or for more information, please contact:

Dr. Ilana Amrani-Cohen, LICSW
Program Director
111 South Street
Somerville, MA 02143
Tel: 617.284.5130
Fax: 617.591.0239

Gail Council
Domestic Violence Coordinator
Tel: 617.284.5130
Fax: 617.591.0239

PLEASE NOTE: Do not include any participant information when communicating via email. Email is for general inquiries only.