Extended Family offers two programs for children, Extended Family for Kids (EFK) and Extended Family Leadership Academy (EFLA). EFK is an evidence-based, 9-lesson Curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12 and teaches them how to cope with the daily stresses of having a family member incarcerated and make good choices to improve their quality of life. EFLA is an 18-week series designed for students in high school who are planning for their future and focuses on exploring the qualities of their dream job, learning to lead healthy lives physically, mentally, and in their relationships, and enhancing their communication skills. Both programs share three common goals: to break the cycle of incarceration in the family, prevent children from entering the juvenile justice system, and to instill in each one the simple yet powerful message, “You matter.”
When a child’s loved one is incarcerated, especially if that loved one is the parent or primary caregiver, the odds of that child getting into trouble increase exponentially. EFK and EFLA programs can interrupt that cycle by showing children a different path and by encouraging children to dream and plan for their futures, while reiterating to them that their dreams can come true, even though they have a loved one who is incarcerated.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in 2019 the number of youths in residential placement in the US was more than 36,000 (www.ojjdp.ojp.gov). Although this number reflected a slight decrease from the previous years, the focus has turned to prevention on the national, state, and local levels. EFK and EFLA Programs are solutions-based, typically offered during the school day so that children can easily access them and are always free for each participant.
Extended Family Board President Tony Monroy describes the importance EFLA holds for students, “This is their Beta Club!” We want these kids, who are often identified as “at-risk,” to have that sense of belonging and self-worth, two very important first steps in preventing children from following the pattern of poor decision-making set by their incarcerated loved ones.
We sometimes assume that every child recognizes their value, but, sadly, this is not always the case. It is such a gift to watch children who are shy and withdrawn at the beginning of the program grow and gain confidence over the course of the lessons and become leaders – even if it is only to better lead themselves! If you would like more information about Extended Family or our programs, please visit our website www.extendedfamilyhelp.org.
