Children and youth often lack the words to describe their experiences. A Window Between Worlds collaborates with multiple agencies and education centers nationwide that provide essential services to youth who have witnessed or experienced violence, along with those who are in the foster and juvenile justice systems.

As a Windows Facilitator from the South Gate Police Department shared, “Normally, teens come into my group not wanting to talk or participate. The art helps break down barriers and encourages communication.” This communication is key in opening up new directions for the future.

Children who witness domestic violence are 3 times more likely to repeat the cycle in adulthood.* At our partnering agencies, including Supporters of Abuse Free Environments, “AWBW provides children and youth a safe space to be creative, express their feelings, develop self-esteem and recognize the characteristics of a healthy relationship. This breaks the generational cycle of abuse and decreases the long-term impact of domestic violence.”

Another Windows Facilitator told us, “The most rewarding thing in these workshops is watching young people come to know there is another way to be besides functioning in a world of violence.” The consequences of experiences in the earlier years of life are profound and long-lasting, but art-making can make a strong difference as youth move forward into new futures.

If you work with youth, and are interested in using the AWBW arts program with your clients, visit our Facilitator Trainings page for more info.

*Childhood Domestic Violence Association