Safe Start
Safe Start, a part of the DHS Office of Community Services is a program dedicated to improving outcomes for children who witness violence either in their homes or communities. Safe Start provides trainings to professionals and families about how to recognize the effect witnessing violence has on young children and how to assist them in processing their responses. These trainings are based on the Safe Havens model developed by Family Communications, Inc.; Safety Kids, Inc.'s program Charlie Check-First and the American Psychological Association's ACT: Raising Safe Kids. Additionally, Safe Start Behavioral Health staff provides consultation and collaboration with program sites where an agreement has been reached to meet the individual needs of parents and families related to child development and their children’s exposure to violence as indicated through assessments and referrals.
Anti-luring Tips
Helpful suggestions for children and their parents about how to be aware and stay safe in a neighborhood setting.
Training Programs
Parent Pages
Newsletters
Contact us: 412-350-3693 or safestart@alleghenycounty.us
Available Training Programs
- Safe Havens, produced by Family Communications, Inc.
- Charlie Check-First, developed by Safety Kids, Inc., and other safety trainings for children, teachers, and parents
- ACT: Raising Safe Kids, developed by the American Psychological Association
- Stress management for parents and children
- Domestic Violence
- Effects of violence on children
- Children and domestic violence
- Helping children following traumatic events
- Grief and loss in children
- Separation and loss
- Attachment in children
- Teaching children to self-manage
- Taking good care of yourself
- Preparing your child for kindergarten
- Communication Skills in Families
- Communicating with your child
- Anger management
- Dealing with difficult people
Back to Top
Safe Start Parent Pages
These one-page documents contain tips for parents.
Bedtime Battles
Building a Relationship with your Child's Teacher
Consistency
Creating Attitutes of Gratitude
Dealing with Death for a Small Child
Does My Child Need Help?
Halloween is Scary!
Hands Are Not for Hitting
Helping a Child Deal with Angry Feelings
Holidays are Fun and Sometimes Overwhelming!
I'm Bigger Now, I am Four
I'm Three, Oh My!
I'm Two, Wow!
Kindergarten Readiness
Morning Arrival and Evening Pick-up/ Social Skill Practice
Nighttime Fears
Nurturing Ideas
Paying Attention
Problem Solving Ideas
Transitions
What Parents Can do to Decrease Exposure to Media Violence
Why Telling A Child To “Be Good” Sometimes Doesn’t Work
Newsletters - ACT Raising Safe Kids
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 4-2012
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 2-2012
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 12-2011
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 10-2011
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 8-2011
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 6-2011
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 4-2011
Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 2-2011
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 12-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 10-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 8-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 6-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 4-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 2-2010
Parents Raising Safe Kids - Newsletter 12-2009
Back to Top