Children’s Advocacy Program (CAP)
The Children’s Advocacy Program (CAP) provides a safe, welcoming, culturally competent, and nurturing space where child witnesses and survivors of domestic violence can heal from trauma. CAP advocates help children explore their feelings in an open and positive environment. They provide advocacy, support, case management, and crisis intervention to families and children receiving services from WC&S.
CAP offers advocacy and support to the families and children receiving services from WC&S. This may include childcare, school enrollment, or helping supply family needs such as diapers, clothes, or school supplies.
Within the program, we offer several areas and activities designed to serve a range of needs for children and families. These include:
- The Infant and Toddler Nursery
- The Early and Middle Childhood Space
- The Zen Zone
- The Teen Zone
- The Piazza – Creation Station
- The School and After-School Space
CAP’s services provide a parent time to engage in self-care, attend support groups, court hearings, job interviews, mental health and physical health appointments, house tours and housing appointments, and more. We also keep children engaged, entertained, and educated while in shelter, and assist children in working through and understanding personal trauma. In addition, we provide specialized advocacy for children and teens working with WC&S.
Serving Families and Children
CAP is available to families living in our emergency shelter, WC&S clients who are pregnant (regardless of age), and any parent or family currently receiving services from WC&S. It may also be available to WC&S clients who have children and have Children, Youth & Families (CYF) program involvement who require a safe place for supervised visitations.
To be referred to CAP, an individual or family must be involved currently or have previously been involved in a WC&S program, and must complete appropriate CAP intake before receiving services. Contact our Hotline to speak to a trained advisor for more information.
Partnerships
CAP regularly works with several community partners to provide fun, supportive, and educational programming for the families in shelter. These partners include, but are not limited to,:
- Children’s Museum’s “Museum on the Move”
- Homeless Children Education Fund (HCEF)
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)
- Beverly’s Birthdays
- Jeremiah’s Place
- VolunTots
- Attack Theatre
- Art Expressions
- Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
- Children Museum’s “MuseumLab”
Related Healing and Supportive Services
- On-site Children’s Individual Therapy
- On-site Children’s Behavioral Support Advocate
- On-site CYF team
- Children and parent-centered support groups (for example, Mom’s Support Group, Art Expression Workshops)
