Family ConnectionA Comprehensive Prevention Program

for Homeless Children

A program of Rainbow Days, Inc. (RDI)

Presenter:Kathy DaleyTraining Coordinator

Icebreaker

Stand Up If …

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

Helen Keller

HistoryDeveloped in 1982Original target population- Children of AlcoholicsTarget population expanded

(more later!)Currently four program

adaptations

Rainbow Days’ History

Rainbow Day’s Core Service

Curriculum-Based Support Groups (CBSG®) Program

Rainbow Days CurriculaKids’ Connection – For children ages 4-12Youth Connection – For youth ages 10-15Kids’ Connection, Too - For children and youth ages 4-15 living in shelters or transitional living programsFaith Connection – A Christian-based adaptation 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

The CBSG® Program is a multi-cultural 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.  

What is the CBSG® Program?

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.

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)

Prevention Framework

The CBSG® Program is both Selective & Indicated

“Reducing risk factors and increasing resiliency and

protective factors”

Theoretical Framework of CBSG® Program

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 CanResponsivenessAbility to assert oneself

Empathy and caring

RespectSelf-Control

Increasing Resiliency & Protective Factors

Pro-Social BondingAsking and receiving caring and support

Intimacy and trustIdentifying safe people

Interdependence – I Have

Problem-Solving Skills – I Will

Increasing Resiliency & Protective Factors

Critical / Creative Thinking

Ability to PlanAbility to Generate Alternatives

Normative Beliefs

Sense of Purpose and Future – I Believe

Increasing Resiliency & Protective Factors

Goal DirectionEducational AspirationsPro-Social

Ideals/Achievement Motivation

Personal CommitmentFaith/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 SkillsI 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

Program replication funded by The Hasbro Children’s Foundation

Houston, TX (2003-2004) Denver, CO (2004-2006) Pflugerville, TX (2006)Oklahoma City, OK (2006)

National Replication

Family ConnectionProgram

Supportive Services forHomeless 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

Provides a MENU of services from

which shelters and

transitional housing programs can choose

from

Family Connection

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 Sanctuariesby 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, TooCurriculum 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 groupdiscussion

Activity"Art", Games, Written exercises, Skill practice

Processing and Closing SummaryReviewing the topic and the activity as it

relatesto 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 Play ConnectionConnection

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 ConnectionCurriculum 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

Upcoming TrainingsSan Antonio, TX Dallas, TXMarch 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 DaleyRainbow Days, Inc.

8150 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1600Dallas, TX 75206

214.887.0726 or 800.889.7828www.familyconnection.org

kathyd@rdikids.org

Training Information

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