Extended Family programs are not counseling but we do stay informed about issues regarding children’s mental and emotional wellbeing. In recent years, health professionals have begun to learn and understand more about how traumatic events affect children. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) defines trauma as the result of a child feeling “intensely threatened by an event he or she is involved in or witnesses.” A majority of the children with whom we work have experienced the trauma of having a loved one incarcerated.
The NCTSN further explains the hold trauma can have on children, “For reasons that are basic to survival, traumatic experiences, long after they are over, continue to take priority in the thoughts, emotions, and behavior of children.” We work to teach children how to experience emotions without taking actions based on those feelings that will get them into trouble.
One of our most effective Lessons is Stress Busters, which teaches children (and sometimes adults) how to recognize the physical symptoms of stress. When people learn to recognize the early signs of stress, they can begin to manage their responses in ways that are healthy and will help relieve their stress without acting out negatively and damaging themselves or their relationships with others.
The second part of the Stress Busters Lesson involves giving children fourteen different coping mechanisms which can be used at home, at school, and in the classroom. We encourage the students in our programs to practice the Stress Busters so that these techniques will be effective the next time they feel those signs of stress. By recognizing and taking control of their emotions during stressful situations, the children are better equipped to express their feelings without them becoming negative behaviors.
Stress Busters is just one of the Lessons in our Extended Family for Kids (EFK) curriculum. If you are interested in becoming certified as a Program Leader to be able to offer EFK for children in your community, visit our website at www.extendedfamilyhelp.org for information about upcoming trainings, or contact us at info@extendedfamilyhelp.org for information about scheduling a training in your area. Extended Family for Kids is evidence-based and successful for children ages kindergarten through 12th grade and is helping to break the cycle of incarceration in families.
