The Need?

The Need

Why do families need help in times of loss?

When a death, divorce, separation, or abandonment occurs, it deeply affects everyone in the family. Parents or adult caregivers may be too overwhelmed by their own needs to provide the emotional support their children need. Parents need to understand and process their own grief and tune in to their child's grief. Too often we grieve silently, and alone.

Grief can surface in debilitating ways, including:

A loss of self-esteem

A change in school or job performance

Increased conflict with family and friends

A closing down of communications

Depression

Children need and deserve support during the grieving process because they do not have the life experiences and coping tools that adults have. Grief carried unresolved into adulthood can affect one's physical and emotional health, job performance, and the ability to develop healthy, lasting relationships.

Rainbows is a peer support program for children ages four through eighth grade. We provide a trained adult whom the child can talk to and trust, someone who will guide him or her through the grieving process.

Silver Linings is a six-session support program for children ages 5 - 12 dealing with a crisis event.

Adolescents need a chance to express their feelings. They may be too unsure of themselves, however, to take the risk. Like adults, they fear rejection or lack of understanding. Because of their own pain, parents may be unable to help their hurting teens.

Spectrum is a peer support program for high school students. The Spectrum setting provides the emotional stability that the adolescent needs to verbalize his or her feelings.

Silver Linings is a six-session support program for adolescents dealing with a crisis event.

Adults are often overwhelmed by loss.

Prism is an adult support group. This program helps participants understand and process their own grief. Parents may become more attuned to their child's grief, and with enthusiasm and love, recreate "family" again. The purpose of this program is to help adults mend the memories, heal the hurts, and once again have hope for a bright future. Prism is designed to have you take an honest look at the person you are today.

Silver Linings is a six-session support program for adults dealing with a crisis event.

Comments or questions?
Rainbow Kids
824 Superior Ave.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Phone (920)452-2838 - Fax (920)208-4382
E-mail: rainbowkids@excel.net