Transcript Activity - National Association for the Education of Homeless Children

Family Connection
A Comprehensive Prevention Program
for Homeless Children
A program of Rainbow Days, Inc. (RDI)
Presenter:
Kathy Daley
Training Coordinator
Icebreaker
Stand
Up If …
“Although the world is full of
suffering, it is full also of the
overcoming of it.”
Helen Keller
Rainbow Days’
History
History
Developed
in 1982
Original
target populationChildren of Alcoholics
Target
population expanded
(more later!)
Currently
four program
adaptations
Rainbow Day’s Core Service
Curriculum-Based Support Groups
(CBSG®) Program
Rainbow Days Curricula
Kids’
Connection – For children ages 4-12
Youth
Connection – For youth ages 10-15
Kids’
Connection, Too - For children and youth
Faith
Connection – A Christian-based adaptation
ages 4-15 living in shelters or transitional living
programs
for children and youth ages 4-15
Rainbow Days Curricula
Play Connection:
A Curriculum-Based
Support Group Program
for Families
Building Stronger
Children and Families
through Play
For Parents and their
Children Ages 4-12
What is the
®
CBSG Program?
The CBSG® Program is a multicultural preventive intervention for
selective and indicated populations
of children and youth,
developmental ages 4-15 , whose
high-risk situations, attitudes and
behaviors place them at elevated
risk for substance abuse,
delinquency and violence.
The CBSG® Program is evidence-based and
uses a support group and trained facilitator
to teach children and youth a set of essential
life skills to help them learn how to:
 cope
with difficult family situations;
 resist peer pressure;
 set and achieve goals; and,
 refuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Prevention Framework



Universal – Programs which reach all of the
general population (e.g. all students in a grade)
Selective – Programs which target groups at
risk (e.g. COAs or poor school achievers)
Indicated – Programs are designed for
individuals who exhibit risk-related behaviors
(e.g. students already experimenting or involved
in delinquency)
The CBSG® Program is both
Selective & Indicated
Theoretical Framework of
CBSG® Program
“Reducing risk factors and
increasing resiliency and
protective factors”
Increasing Resiliency &
Protective Factors
Autonomy – I Am
Positive
identity
Self-efficacy
and task
mastery
Self-awareness
Adaptive
distancing
from negative messages
and conditions
Increasing Resiliency &
Protective Factors
Social Competence - I Can
Responsiveness
Ability
to assert
oneself
Empathy and
caring
Respect
Self-Control
Increasing Resiliency &
Protective Factors
Interdependence – I Have
Pro-Social
Bonding
Asking and receiving
caring and support
Intimacy and trust
Identifying safe
people
Increasing Resiliency &
Protective Factors
Problem-Solving Skills – I Will
Critical
/ Creative
Thinking
Ability
to Plan
Ability
to Generate
Alternatives
Normative
Beliefs
Increasing Resiliency &
Protective Factors
Sense of Purpose and Future – I Believe
Goal
Direction
Educational Aspirations
Pro-Social
Ideals/Achievement
Motivation
Personal Commitment
Faith/Spiritual
Connectedness
Protective Factors and the
Major Messages
The CBSG® Program has created a set of “Major Messages,”
based on the protective factor research, which are repeated
aloud by participants at the close of each support group
session. These Messages provide a verbal reinforcement of
the spirit of each protective factor, which is also incorporated
into several session topics for reinforcement.
I Am - Autonomy
I Can - Social Competence
I Have- Interdependence
I Will - Problem Solving Skills
I Believe - Sense of Purpose and Future
Rainbow Days, Inc. is proud that the
Curriculum-Based Support Group (CBSG®)
Program has been accepted
for review by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)
National Registry of Evidence-based
Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Effectiveness
Children and youth participating in a CBSG
demonstrate the following results:




Increased non-use attitudes toward
alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
Increased perception of the risks
associated with alcohol, tobacco and other
drug use
Reduced conduct problems and impulsivity
Increased social skills such as
assertiveness, empathy, self-control and
cooperation
National Replication
Program replication funded by
The Hasbro Children’s Foundation
Houston, TX (2003-2004)
Denver, CO (2004-2006)
Pflugerville, TX (2006)
Oklahoma City, OK (2006)
Family Connection
Program
Supportive Services for
Homeless Children & Families
How Rainbow Days Helps
Services to homeless children began in 1989 Funded originally with a 5 year demonstration
grant from Center for Substance Abuse
Prevention (CSAP)

Serves approximately 1,000 (unduplicated)
children per year in Dallas in 18 area family &
domestic violence shelters

Currently funded by Department of Housing
& Urban Development (HUD)
and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Family Connection
Provides a MENU
of services from
which shelters and
transitional housing
programs can choose from
 Support Groups
 Camps
 School supplies
 School clothes
 Art w/Heart
 Family Outings
On-Site Services
When you pave the way…
you make a difference!
“Kids can walk around trouble,
if there is someplace to walk to,
and someone to walk with.”
From Urban Sanctuaries
by Milbrey W. McLaughlin, et al
Family Connection
Curriculum
Kids’ Connection, Too
For children ages 4-15 living in shelters or
transitional living programs
Kid’s Connection, Too
Curriculum Content
Units
Goals
I Am
To enhance each group
participant’s Self Awareness, Self
Concept, and Self Esteem.
I Can
To enhance each group member’s
social competence.
I Have
To enhance each group member’s
interdependence.
I Will
To enhance each group member’s
problem-solving skills.
I Believe
To enhance each group member’s
sense of purpose.
Session Format






Welcome
Opening Sunshine and Cloud
Guided Discussion
Introduce topic and brief teaching with group
discussion
Activity
"Art", Games, Written exercises, Skill practice
Processing and Closing Summary
Reviewing the topic and the activity as it relates
to personal experiences
Major Message Ritual
Activity
Sunshine
and Cloud
Major Messages
I
Am likeable, capable, unique and valued
I
Can treat others like I want to be treated
I
Have strengths, capabilities and people
who care about me
I
Will make healthy choices and be alcohol,
tobacco and drug free
I
Believe I have a purpose
Activity
Major Message
Rainbow
Activity
Major Message
Closing Ritual
Learning Tool Kits
LTK Activity
Letter Treasure Hunt – using a newspaper, book,
magazine, etc.
What this activity teaches:
 The alphabet
 Capital letters
 To identify letters
 To look from left to right, as you do when you read
 Concentration and problem solving
 To find letters within words
 To find words within sentences
Find a “R”, “D”, and “I” to earn your prize
Family Play Time
Play
Connection
Rainbow Days’ Newest Curriculum
History of Play Connection

Funded in 2004 by the Toy Industry
Foundation (TIF)

TIF Mission: To bring joy, happiness and
comfort to children in need through the
experience of toys and play.

Partnered with Rainbow Days to work
specifically with the homeless population

Five unit Play Connection Curriculum is
in its’ second pilot (10 total sessions – 5
Parent & 5 Family)
Play Connection
Curriculum Content
Units
Goals
We are a family and can play
together
To recognize the importance of
playing together as a family.
We can play and dream together
To recognize how playing and
dreaming as a family creates a
stronger family.
We have family traditions
To identify how play is part of our
culture, history and traditions and
how traditions.
We will communicate and grow
together
To help families understand that
when we play together, we
communicate better and we will
want to “be there” for each other.
We believe in each other
To recognize how play helps
families to be healthier and
happier.
Activity
Newspaper
Basketball
Off-Site Services
Art With a Heart
Family Outings
Kids’ University
Camp Broadway
Outdoor Adventure Camp
Back-to-School
Backpack Drive & Party
Fall Harvest
Community Service
Projects
Training Information
Upcoming Trainings
San Antonio, TX
Dallas, TX
March 25-26, 2009
July 15-16, 2009
Cost: $0 Texas residents
$300 non-Texas residents
For information regarding contracted trainings or
to register please visit www.rdikids.org or
call Janet Mitchell at 214.887.0726
Kathy Daley
Rainbow Days, Inc.
8150 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1600
Dallas, TX 75206
214.887.0726 or 800.889.7828
www.familyconnection.org
[email protected]
YOU are Inspirational!
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that
ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
1901-1978