Project WATCH
(What About The Children?)

 Project W.AT.C.H. (What About The Children?) is a two-year planning initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dedicated to creating a coordinated community response to children exposed to domestic violence.  This planning initiative will aid in the creation of a parallel children's component at the Bexar County Family Justice Center.

The Goals of Project WATCH are to (1) develop a coordinated response from law enforcement, health care providers and social supports that diminishes the effects of violence on children & families; (2) use prevention practices that stop children's exposure to domestic violence before it starts; and (3) enhance early intervention efforts, both in terms of our response to perpetrators an in the identification of children experiencing violence.

At the end of the two year planning process, the FJC model will be expanded and improved to include companion resources that address the unique the urgent needs of the local children who witness or are exposed to the domestic violence.  The service delivery design that results from this planning period will be integrated within the FJC, expanding and improving currently available support with a specific programming template that addresses the needs of children.