Rainbows..... is a support curriculum for children who live in single-parent families or step families. The dramatic impact of divorce or death greatly affects each family member. The parents, who are wrapped up in their own pain usually are unable to reach out and help their children who are hurting as well. It has been found that children grieve as much as their parents, but because of their age, they are the silent mourners and have a much harder time expressing their hurt feelings.
A school, church, synagogue or agency can help provide the emotional stability that the children need to verbalize their feelings. This setting can provide the guidance and nurturing of caring adults, peer support and a secure place to grieve so healing and acceptance may take place.
For these reasons, Rainbow has been created.
- Rainbows peer support meetings may be implemented at a school, church, synagogue or agency.
- The curriculum consists of twelve weekly meetings, divided into two six-week parts. Each part concludes with a Celebrate Me Day.
- The support group is comprised of three to five children. They participate in activities and discussions that focus on particular topics that pertain to the change in the family unit.
- The small support group of children is facilitated by a qualified caring adult who may be a counselor, teacher, parent or administrator. They are specially trained and provided with the materials needed to effectively carry out the aim of Rainbows.
RAINBOWS is an international, not-for-profit organization. Support curricula available: Rainbows (elementary edition), Spectrum (adolescent edition), Kaleidoscope (college and adult edition) and Prism (single parent edition). The youth curricula are available in religious or secular format.
This year's Rainbow could not have been possible without 2 fantastic facilitators: Mrs. Edie Mahon and Mrs. Henryetta Covarrubias. It is their dedication, love and sensibility to helping these children which make a program extremely successful.
For more information, please call
EDIE A. MAHON
St. Stephen Martyr School
Tel: 626-573-1716 Fax: 626-573-3251
