Native Children
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When violence affects a household, Native children deserve age-appropriate ways to seek help while adults carry responsibility for safety. A plan should fit the family and the child’s own community—not assume one approach works for every Nation.

StrongHearts Native Helpline’s current child-specific guidance says safety planning is personal and can change as circumstances change. Adults can discuss where a child may go and whom they can ask for help, without asking the child to intervene in violence. StrongHearts also advises telling children clearly that violence is never their fault.

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center’s July 12, 2024 training for Tribal shelter advocates includes individualized planning with children and youth, confidentiality and warm handoffs. That practitioner material is guidance, not a claim that a particular shelter or service is available in every Nation or community.

As checked September 17, StrongHearts offers Native-centered support by phone, text and chat around the clock. Phone service is available to all ages; online chat is not available to children 12 and younger. Advocates can help tailor a plan and seek local referrals, but cannot transfer a caller to 911. This is an educational focus, not a new incident or a measure of how many children are affected.

Give a child an age-appropriate route to help; keep responsibility for safety with adults.