Domestic and child abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The unfortunate reality is that often the victims of abuse will become violent and become abusers themselves. One effective way to break this cycle of violence is to demonstrate positive nurturing behavior as an alternative to abuse. Sometimes a simple act of kindness by demonstrating safe and compassionate touch can be the turning point in a child's life. We all deserve to feel appropriate gentle touch, to be nurtured and cared for- especially children. Providing children with healthy role models and helping them to understand the difference between good and bad types of touch with the support of their mothers was our inspiration for creating this program.

Heart Touch™ Project volunteer massage therapists, who are also CIMI® (Certified Infant Massage Instructors), donate their time to shelters for domestically abused women and children. The volunteers not only provide the mothers with compassionate touch massage therapy but also with instruction in infant/children's massage and healthy touch games. Their children also participate in the training by learning to give gentle touch to their mothers and siblings.

Infant/Children's massage has been shown to encourage bonding and nurturing between mother and child and so is a very effective lesson for these families in how to interact with each other in a compassionate and gentle manner. The same children who have been exposed to abusive and harmful touch are now learning about loving, nurturing touch.

The long term impact on the families who participate in these trainings will be measured over time but because these mothers and children now understand the impact and quality of compassionate touch they can continue this nurturing interaction and not only begin to heal the hurt of past experiences but also begin to bond more fully with one another. As the children feel more secure and cared for they will have the tools to carry this healthy touch behavior into their adult lives.