Sarah Burke House (SBH) offers a broad range of programming for children living in shelter. Children’s Counselors and experienced Children’s Specialists address our young clients’ emotional and developmental needs, working in particular on building their anger management skills and developing their awareness of alternatives to violence. The Children's Services staff is specially trained to be sensitive to the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma and multiple transitions. Services include:

• Childcare: An on-site childcare program - in a beautiful, cheerful space renovated in early 2008 - offers high-quality care to infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers, so their mother can go to work or school or attend to other obligations knowing their children are in a safe secure nurturing environment.
• School-Age Programming: For the older children, after-school, summer camp and tutoring services are provided that offer homework assistance, educational enrichment and time to just be a kid and have fun!
• Children's Support Groups: SBH offers developmentally appropriate children's support groups which provide children with the support and information they need to break the cycle of domestic violence.
• Parenting Support Groups: These groups offer mothers an opportunity to reflect on how their experiences have affected their children, and help them develop strategies for strengthening family relationships and family functioning.
• Mental Health Services: A consulting psychologist who visits the shelter once a week works with children and families who have mental health needs.
• Referrals / Advocacy: Children's Services staff works closely with families to identify the needs of each child in shelter, and to advocate and connect families to needed resources in the community.