The mission of the Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse of Southern CT, Inc. DBA: HELP for Kids provides education and support services to families in Fairfield County that strengthen the parenting and life skills of the parents/caregivers designed to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of the children.
HELP for KIDS, a Stamford-based non-profit, protects children from child abuse and neglect, while building stronger, more resilient, loving families. HELP for Kids strengthen Maternal, Child & Family wellbeing.
Home Visiting Programs
Home visiting programs supports families in the home and focuses on building a safe environment, a nurturing atmosphere, builds strong parent/child bonds and offers opportunities to the family and all of the children. Children start to build relationships prior to their birth. They have the ability to hear before they are born. It is important to work with pregnant moms so that they learn all about good prenatal care and about healthy parenting. The more time spent with the moms prior to the birth the better. Education is key to the child’s success, great childhoods begins before birth.
When a child lives in an environment with abuse, neglect, poverty or household dysfunction it can subject them to a level of stress that can become toxic to their developing brains and bodies. Prolonged levels of toxic stress can disrupt brain development, increase the risk of future health problems like heart disease, mental illness, and it can have a longitudinal impact on the health and well-being of the child.
The prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is the first line of defense to a healthy cognitive development. Prevention early in a child’s life or preferably before birth is the key element. In the first two months of an infant’s life is the most critical time for healthy brain development.
Support for Fathers
HELP for Kids includes the 24/7 Dad® curriculum fatherhood initiative as part of all of our home based programs as the research shows us that children do much better physically and emotionally when dad is involved right from the start. In fact, dad’s physical presence at the birth of his child increases the likelihood his child will be a healthy newborn. It also means mom is likely to be healthier. On the other hand, when dad is absent, baby and mom are less likely to be healthy.
For the last two decades, research has suggested that fathers provide necessary exploration and play which helps the emotional development of a child. This development directly helps a child with self-regulation and the ability to manage challenging situations for the duration of their childhood and adult life. On the other hand, it is noted that mothers tend to be more of the comforter in times of distress. For centuries evidence has shown us that the more both parents are involved in the upbringing of children the more a child will thrive.