Rainbows Newsletter- Spring 2020
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First and foremost, Rainbows extends our heartfelt gratitude and love to all of our supporters and community of facilitators, donors, alum, partners...all of you we consider part of the Rainbows family. This is a
difficult time and we recognize that many of us are struggling with feelings of grief, loss, anger, fear, sadness and worry. What you are
feeling is normal! We will get through this, and life will go on, but that doesn't make this time any easier. We are in this together, and we are here for you, just as you have been here for us. Please reach out if there is ANYTHING we can do to support you, or if you just need someone to talk to! We can be reached via
email, but can also call you if you provide us a number and good time to reach you.
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Ways to Support Children and Teens
NOW
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- Rainbows App: lots of "mood booster" activities. Search "Rainbows for All Children" on Google Playstore or iTunes to download the free app.
- Virtual Groups: in case you missed the e-blast on April 7th, here it is again!
- Check-in's: if you are not able to lead virtual groups, please consider at least checking in with your group participants to make sure they are okay.
- Website Resources: Rainbows has a number of resources for grieving families and for anyone feeling grief and loss as a result of the pandemic.
- Connect: if you are on social media, please "like," share and comment on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In and Pinterest pages to help generate greater awareness! There are LOTS of good resources for support there.
- Training Discount: we realize the economic turmoil our country (and world) is facing currently, so we have reduced the facilitator training to just $96--a 40% discount. Please consider recruiting others in your community, school, district or faith-based organization. Now is a great time to get certified to be ready for fall!
- Get Ready: there are likely going to be MANY traumatized children and teens coming out of this pandemic. Studies after 9/11 showed that children were feeling the effects, and demonstrating trauma behavior, even six months afterward. Now is a great time to get prepared to lead groups as soon as possible to support those grieving loss. Make sure you are fully certified, review materials, familiarize yourself with the Facilitator Dashboard, etc.
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Rainbows is hosting bi-weekly
Zoom calls for children, teens and adults to provide education, activities, meditation and more to help relieve stress and anxiety during this challenging time in our world.
Anyone is welcome to join the calls, so please share widely and jump on when you can.
Recordings of the calls can be found
here, if you are unable to get on live.
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Crisis Text Line: text 'HOME' to 741741
85258 in the UK or 686868 in Canada
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CHICAGOLAND AREA:
Hearts to Art
is an award-winning performing arts camp for young people, ages 7-14, who have experienced the
death of a parent
. Using dance, theater, and music, Hearts to Art inspires communication and collaboration, fosters emotional growth, and provides friendship, compassion, and community. Now going into their 16th year, this program brings together children of all backgrounds who have experienced similar loss to encourage the healing power of creative play and let campers know that they are not alone.
All programs are offered at
no cost
to our families!
In these uncertain times, now more than ever, children who are grieving from loss need support. Heart to art's hope and plan is that camp moves forward in person this summer, but they will be exploring all options to keep families safe while continuing to provide essential services.
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NATIONWIDE
Largest national weekend bereavement camp for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
Camp for youth who have been impacted by substance abuse in their families.
One weekend long, and can attend multiple weekends.
Free week-long, overnight summer camps and other programs for youth impacted by a parent or sibling's cancer. Virtual groups will be held this summer.
Empowers youth experiencing grief from the loss of a parent, guardian or sibling to fully realize their capacity to heal, grow, and lead more fulfilling lives. Also offers a family camp and a program for young adults.
**All camps are offered FREE OF CHARGE to families!**
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Entertainment
Recommendations
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We are pleased to present,
Birds of a Feather
, a new book on loss and recovery for young children. This sweet, thoughtful story follows a young child spending summers with his grandfather in a small town. His beloved granddad dies and now nothing feels right. Then an unexpected encounter with two birds on a subway train provides hope, comfort, and healing.
An excellent tool for opening a discussion about loss,
Birds of a Feather
portrays the range of emotions children feel and lets them know it's okay to feel that way.
Book by Tom Crice, illustrations by Ellen Rakatansky, for ages 5-10.
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Troop Zero
available on Amazon Prime Video
In rural 1977 Georgia, a misfit girl dreams of life in outer space after her mom dies. When a competition offers her a chance to be recorded on NASA's Golden Record, she recruits a makeshift troop of Birdie Scouts, forging friendships that last a lifetime.
A light-hearted, humorous, and touching film appropriate for ages 8 and older. Bring your tissues as it is also a tear-jerker! View the trailer
here
.
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Research Assistance Needed
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Andreya DeLarco
, a clinical psychology doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Chicago Loop,
is
seeking participants between the ages of 18-40 who have personally experienced the death of a sibling at some point during their childhood
. A primary goal of her research is to give voice to a population (siblings) often overlooked following the death of child, one that may be particularly vulnerable to traumatic grief reactions. Further, she hopes her research will contribute to the normalization of dialogue surrounding death and grief, as well as support the development of effective bereavement interventions for children. Her dissertation is a qualitative study of the experience of sibling bereavement following sudden and accidental death during the living sibling's childhood. If you meet the criteria and are interested in being a part of her study, or know someone who is, please
email
her.
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Giving Tuesday Now
#GivingTuesday is launching another opportunity to help support non-profits survive in this time of COVID-19.
On May 5
th Rainbows will be participating in #GivingTuesdayNow because now more than ever children and their families need grief support. Please help us by liking, sharing and donating any way you can on or before May 5
th during our #GivingTuesdayNow campaign.
If you would like to contribute TODAY to support children and teens who are grieving, please click
HERE
. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will help us create even more programs to address trauma, loss and grief with youth and their families. Thank you!!
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Please help us welcome our new Rainbows sites who joined since February 2020!
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Asbury Park, NJ
Bond County Community Unit 2, Greenville, IL
Soul Garden Recovery Center, Danville, IL
Regional Office of Education #33, Monmouth, IL
St. James School, Gouverneur, NY
Lincoln Elementary, Brookfield, IL
Home Elementary, Stickney, IL
Costello Elementary, Lyons, IL
Robinson Elementary, Lyons, IL
NEWARK, NJ PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
Barringer, Park Elem, Speedway Ave, Louise A. Spencer, Malcolm X Shabazz, Hawkins, First Ave, Lafayette Street, Mount Vernon
Grant Elementary, Melrose Park, IL
Roosevelt Middle School, Bellwood, IL
St. Mary’s Elementary, Manhasset, NY
Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, Joliet, IL
Rich Central High School, Olympia Fields, IL
Rich East High School, Park Forest, IL
Rich South High School, Richton Park, IL
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