Program Models
Selected by Promising Futures’ National Scan for their innovative and community driven approach to addressing children experiencing family violence or trauma.
The following evidence-based program models have been carefully selected through over a 15 year long national scan and review of programs and interventions for children experiencing family violence and other forms of trauma. Several programs have been specifically developed for children who have experienced domestic violence or have been adapted to work with children impacted by DV. Other programs are developed for fathers, parents, and children who have experienced other types of exposure to violence including child maltreatment and community violence that have relevance for families impacted by DV.
Program model summaries should be viewed as one important piece of information to consider in selecting an intervention, but their inclusion below does not reflect an endorsement of it by either Futures Without Violence, Promising Futures, nor the Office on Family Violence Prevention and Services, and the Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Promising Futures' Selected Program Models:
Selected by Promising Futures’ National Scan for their innovative and community driven approach to addressing children and family violence or trauma. For more information about the program models including evaluation findings, please contact the program model developer directly.
A Window Between Worlds (AWBW)
A leader in creativity and mental wellness, AWBW supports hundreds of direct service organizations across the country to incorporate creative expression into their work with trauma survivors.
Target age groups for this program model are pre-natal, 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC)
ABC is based on attachment theory and neurobiology. ABC’s efficacy has been evaluated using randomized clinical trials with a range of populations, including children with Child Protective Services involvement, foster children, and children adopted internationally.
Target age group for this program model is 0-4.
Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC)
A components-based model that was designed to be flexibly applied with children across demographic and treatment settings, and ranging in age from early childhood through late adolescence / early adulthood. The framework was developed to target the needs of children and families exposed to complex trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Bonds of Kinship
Bonds of Kinship is a violence prevention program utilizing an Islamic framework to cultivate positive family relationships through skill-building.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Bounce Back: An Elementary School Intervention for Childhood Trauma
Bounce Back is an adaptation of the Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program. Bounce Back is a cognitive-behavioral, skills-based group intervention for children exposed to traumatic events including domestic violence.
Target age group for this program model is 6-12.
Camp HOPE
Camp HOPE America is a year-round camping and mentoring program for children and teens impacted by domestic violence. The program includes Out-of-School Time learning and group mentoring experiences for children and youth impacted by trauma (i.e. domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse).
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Caring Dads: Helping Fathers Value Their Children
Group parenting intervention for men who have been identified as having, or being at high risk for, abuse or neglect of their children or exposing their children to domestic violence. Intervention includes contact with children’s mothers and coordinated case management to reduce risk that fathers may pose to members of their families.
Target age groups for this program model are 18-25 and 25 and up.
Celebrating Families! (CF!)
A skill-building program that applies a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model with families recovering from substance abuse that are at high risk for domestic violence and/or child abuse.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at the Kennedy Krieger Institute
The Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress uses a wide range of interventions including several therapeutic options that have been evaluated and shown to be effective for children experiencing trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI)
A brief psychoeducational and supportive early intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress reactions and prevent the onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among traumatized children by increasing communication and family support.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12 and 13-17.
Child First
Child FIRST is a home-based, mental health intervention for children, parents and families who have or are likely to have involvement with child protection services.
Target age group for this program model is 0-5.
Child Witness Project
Program to prepare and support child and teen witnesses to help them communicate evidence to the court without being traumatized by the challenging process of being a witness.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Child Witness to Violence Project, Boston Medical Center
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is the primary intervention provided by this program. CPP has both child and parent components, includes case management/advocacy, parent guidance, and dyadic and/or individual psychotherapy.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE)
Developed to be used by non-clinical professionals working with traumatized children and their adult caregivers. It is based on several evidence-based parenting programs, including PCIT, Incredible Years, Helping the Non-compliant Child, and PMTO.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
Developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention that utilizes play, the natural language of children and therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent and therapeutic environment in which a child can experience full acceptance, empathy and understanding from the counselor and process inner feelings and experiences through play.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
Weekly, joint child-parent sessions guided by child-caregiver interactions. Interventions often include dyadic play with developmentally appropriate toys selected to strengthen the caregiver-child relationship and foster dialogue about potentially traumatic experiences as a way to make meaning of these experiences and restore a sense of safety.
Target age groups for this program model are pre-natal and 0-5.
Children’s Domestic Violence Response Team (CDVRT)
This program is a partnership between a domestic violence agency and mental health clinicians – Coordinated team response with menu of therapeutic options and case management.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Christians As Family Advocates – CAFA Parenting Program
Parenting classes for parents who have committed domestic violence and parents who have been victims of domestic violence; separate group classes are provided to offending and nonoffending parents. Parents learn skills to help them be healing agents in their children’s lives. Parents practice empathy skills with their children that can also help them empathize with others including their spouse/partner.
Target age groups for this program model are 18-25 and 25 and up.
Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)
The program relies on cognitive-behavioral theory and resilience/positive psychological theory and involves 10 group sessions plus at least one individual session for each student; up to four group parenting meetings and an educational presentation for teachers.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12 and 13-17.
Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT): Empowering Families Who Are At Risk for Physical Abuse
Strengths-based therapy program for caregivers and children in families where caregivers engage in a continuum of coercive parenting strategies. While CPC-CBT is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, it incorporates elements from other evidence-based CBT models as well as motivational, family systems, trauma, attachment and developmental theories.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Community Group Program for Children and Mothers’ Exposed to Woman Abuse
Inter-agency collaborative model that provides group treatment for mothers and children exposed to domestic violence. A community-based program for mothers and children exposed to domestic violence that has been in operation for over 20 years.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Community-Based Group Interventions for Women and Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
Two community-based group interventions for women and children exposed to domestic violence, a goal-oriented group intervention and an emotion-focus group intervention were compared. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of two brief interventions for women and children in a shelter setting. Positive outcomes were demonstrated for children and mothers.
Target age group for this program model is 6-12.
Connections and Breaking the Cycle (BTC)
Connections is an interpersonal violence intervention for substance-involved mothers and children that uses a manualized group curriculum to address the impact of domestic violence on child development, parenting, and substance use recovery.
Target age groups for this program model are pre-natal, 0-5, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Crittenton Children’s Center’s Trauma Smart Model
Trauma Smart offers a robust array of organizational support for educational settings, with a particular focus on early learning settings, to build the internal capacity of child serving organizations to best support children impacted by trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Cue-Centered Treatment (CCT)
Four phase individual treatment that is designed to help youth and caregivers to understand how exposure to trauma may be related to current emotional experiences and how these experiences can be linked to maladaptive behaviors. Combines elements from cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, expressive and family therapies.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12 and 13-17.
Discovery Dating
Discovery Dating is a program model that offers participants space to delve into self-discovery and build healthy relationships in any part of their lives.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Early Pathways Program (EPP)
Home-based, parent-child therapy program designed to treat and prevent disruptive behaviors in young children. Early sessions focus on parent-child relationships and later sessions focus on discipline strategies.
Target age group for this program model is 0-5.
Expect Respect
Expect Respect works at the forefront of prevention and early intervention to break the cycle of abuse in children’s lives and prevent violence from happening in the first place.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Family Foundations
A universal prevention program, Family Foundations offers a series of psycho-educational, group classes to first-time parents before and after birth of their child to improve parent adjustment (stress, depression, anxiety) and self-regulation, strengthen co-parenting and support of each other, and enhance parental warmth and sensitivity.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Fathers for Change (F4C)
Fathers for Change (F4C) is a fatherhood focused individual and family intervention that addresses co-occurring intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. The intervention can be used by child protection services to assess individual family needs and provides services to fathers and all family members.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Group Treatment for Children Affected by Domestic Violence
Group Treatment for Children Affected by Domestic Violence is a group intervention composed of 11 topic- driven modules: why am I here, my world, perceptions/awareness, environmental cues, thoughts/feelings/behaviors, communication, violence information, coping, anger management, blame/responsibility, feelings identification and loss/separation ambivalence. Children and nonoffending parents attend weekly parallel group sessions with similar content.
This program model is intended for children and nonoffending parents.
Homebuilders
HOMEBUILDERS® is an intensive in-home family counseling program for families with children at imminent risk of out of home placement into foster, group, other residential treatment program and settings; families with children in placement and are about to be reunified; and foster families where the placement is about to disrupt.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Honoring Children, Making Relatives (HC-MR)
HC-MR embeds the practices of Parent-Child Intervention Therapy (PCIT; see review) into a framework that supports American Indian and Alaska Native traditional beliefs and parenting practices that regard children as being the center of the Circle.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Inner Explorer
Inner Explorer is a mindfulness-based social emotional learning (MBSEL) program, implemented in preschool through high school classrooms, after-school centers, and summer programs to reduce the biological and behavioral impacts of stress.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Adolescents (ITCT-A)
ITCT-A is an assessment-driven, multicomponent and flexible treatment for multi-traumatized adolescents based on individualized, periodic assessment of the client’s needs and stressors.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Children (ITCT-C)
ITCT-C addresses current trauma-related concerns such as safety, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress are addressed as early in treatment as possible to increase the client’s capacity to explore more chronic and complex trauma issues.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Intimate Partner Violence – Family Assessment Intervention Response (IPV-FAIR)
IPV-FAIR is an ecological, strengths-focused model providing a comprehensive response to families involved with child protection impacted by intimate partner violence.
This program model is intended for parents and caregivers.
Kids Club, Preschool Kids Club, and Mom’s Empowerment
Parent group training/therapy (mothers only) with behavior management plus child group training/therapy with development of social skills.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Let’s Connect
Let’s Connect teaches caregivers to identify and respond to children’s emotional needs and behaviors in a way that builds connection and warmth and promotes children’s social emotional competence, mental/behavioral health, and overall resilience.
Target age groups for this program are 0-5, 13-17, and 25 and up.
Mi Escuelita
Mi Esceulita uses a holistic approach to support both children and caregivers to help begin their healing journey from previous traumas in and away from the classroom.
Target age group for this program model is 0-5.
PALS: Peace-A Learned Solution
Structured creative arts therapeutic program for children who have been exposed to domestic violence. PALS services include weekly individual and group therapy, case management, and afterschool or day care activities.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
A relationship-based, dyadic, behavioral intervention that utilizes step-by-step, live coached sessions with the parent/caregiver and child. The therapist provides coaching from behind a one-way mirror using a transmitter and receiver system. The emphasis is on improving the quality of caregiver-child relationships and changing negative parent-child interaction patterns.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Parent-Child Trauma Recovery (PCTRP)
Therapeutic skills of the psychotherapist are combined with the safety planning practices of advocates to offer families what they may need in the aftermath of domestic violence including safety and access to meaningful resources and an opportunity to repair and strengthen the attachment between children and their protective caregivers.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Parenting Inside Out (PIO)
Parenting Inside Out (PIO) is a cognitive-behavioral, parenting skills training program with curricula for system-involved (substance abuse, child welfare) parents of children who may be at risk for, or are presenting with, behavior problems.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL)
PLL combines group therapy, family therapy and family trauma treatment within one continuum of care. The PLL model teaches families to restore the parental hierarchy, reestablish healthy communication patterns and restore family attachments.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Project Support
Multi-component family intervention that provides mothers and children with social and instrumental supports, helps mothers with problem solving skills, and teaches mothers to use child management and nurturing skills designed to improve the parent-child relationship and reduce children’s conduct problems.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Real Life Heroes (RLH)
RLH is a resiliency-focused treatment program that was developed to broaden the reach of evidence-supported trauma treatments and promote engagement and inclusion of children, adolescents and families with Complex Trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK)
SEEK is an evidence-based prevention model to help primary healthcare professionals (PCPs) identify and address major risk factors for child maltreatment or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including intimate partner violence (IPV). SEEK aims to support parents and parenting, strengthen families, promote children’s health, development, wellbeing and safety, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Target age group for this program model is 0-5.
Safe Harbor Program: School Based Victim Assistance and Violence Prevention Program
The Safe Harbor Program uses a multi-prong approach that focuses on leadership, empowerment and developed social, emotional and interpersonal skills to help students, parents and schools cope with trauma and exposure to violence.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
SAPHAL (South Asian Parents/Caregivers: Heal And Learn)
SAPHAL is delivered through a series of psycho-educational workshops, on a variety of different topics pertaining to building healthy relationships. Using movement and sensation to target neurological structures that support emotional and behavioral regulation, SMART teaches seven regulation tools that help children and adolescents to manage feelings, learn to play with others, fully participate in school and develop a sense of self that isn’t defined by trauma.
Target age group for this program model is 25 years and up.
Seeking Safety (SS for Adolescents)
Present-focused, coping skills therapy for adolescents that targets trauma and/or addiction (e.g., substance use disorder) and can be delivered as group or individual sessions. Seeking Safety was the first psychotherapy for dual diagnosis of PTSD and substance abuse disorder with published outcome results and has been rated as Level 1 for PTSD/substance use disorder (effective) in the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies guidelines.
Target age groups for this program model are 13-17, 18-25, and 25 and up.
Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART)
A somatic and attachment-based treatment for children and adolescents experiencing complex trauma and neglect.
Target age groups for this program model are 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17.
Shelter-based Group Intervention with Parents and Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
Group treatment intervention for children exposed to domestic violence and parenting group.
Target age group for this program model is 6-12.
SIBS Club:
Sibs Club (Siblings Club) is modeled after Kids Club, a support group for children whose parents/guardians are attending the support group for survivors of domestic abuse. However, Sibs Club differs in that it is a guided sibling support group developed to facilitate communication between siblings about a shared trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12 and 13-17.
Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation for Adolescents (STAIR-A & STAIR/NST)
STAIR-A is a manualized, skills-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention designed to improve emotion regulation and interpersonal and social problems among adolescents exposed to multiple trauma.
Target age groups for this program model are 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25.
Stepped Care Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Stepped Care TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is one of the most widely used treatments for young children experiencing trauma, it has been adapted for children in domestic violence shelters and was included in our baseline scan for interventions with children exposed to domestic violence.
Targeted age groups for this program model are 0-5 and 6-12.
Streetwork Project
The Streetwork Project, based on a harm reduction philosophy, focuses on building trust and self-esteem to empower youth to change their high-risk behaviors.
Targeted age groups from this program model are 13-17 and 18-25.
Strong Fathers
Psychoeducational program for fathers and male caregivers who have abused their children’s mothers. The Strong Fathers Program is rooted in the belief that all dads want to be good fathers and that their motivation should be recognized, rewarded, and reinforced without minimizing the effects of their violence or excusing their actions.
Target age groups for this program model are 18-25 and 25 and up.
The Lullaby Project
The Lullaby Project, a project of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs new and expecting parents and caregivers with professional artists to write and sing personal lullabies for their babies, supporting parental/maternal health, aiding childhood development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child.
Target age groups for this program model are 18-25 and 25 and up.
Wise One Within (WOW!)
The WOW! program is designed as a wellness and team strengthening opportunity for service providers, achieving professionals, and individuals in leadership roles. WOW! shares simple mindfulness practices to support grounding, reflection, and calm forward motion.
Target age group for this program model is 25 and up.