Kids’ Club & Moms’ Empowerment

Overview

Allegheny Children’s Initiative’s Kids’ Club and Moms’ Empowerment Program is an evidence-based support group for mothers and their children who have been exposed to serious conflict in intimate relationships. Ten sessions, each lasting one-hour, are provided in various locations throughout Allegheny County. Dinner, transportation assistance, and childcare for children under 4 is provided at no cost to the participant. The program has proven effective in improving coping skills, reducing behavior problems for children, and providing empowerment and parenting support for moms. 

Program Objectives

Kids’ Club groups provide age-appropriate material aimed at improving social skills, building self-esteem and decreasing the acceptability of violence, while helping children identify feelings and fears surrounding violence, practicing appropriate conflict resolution skills, enhancing coping and safety planning, and exploring family roles and gender composition. 

The goals of the Moms’ group include building on positive parenting strategies, providing education on the impact of IPV on child development and behavior, enhancing positive coping and stress management, exploring cycles of violence within families of origin, and identifying and linking mothers to any appropriate community supports/resources.

Program Eligibility

Kids’ Club and Moms’ Empowerment Program is for Allegheny County women and their children ages 4 to 12 who have been exposed to intimate partner violence in the last year. There is no cost for participation and families can self-refer to the program.