The first lesson in the Extended Family for Kids series is “What’s Your Story” and includes a fun “getting to know you” survey called “It’s All About Me.” Extended Family for Kids (EFK) is an evidence-based curriculum for children in kindergarten through 12th grades who have any loved one who is incarcerated. “It’s All About Me” is effective in getting the kids, whether age 5 or 18, to begin to build trust in the group, which is a crucial first step in creating a safe atmosphere for learning.
The first two questions show the students immediately that they are not alone. We use simple fill-in-the-blank questions to allow students to learn more about each other: My (fill-in-the-blank) is incarcerated; My (fill-in-the-blank) used to be incarcerated. The students have felt the stigma and shame of having a loved one incarcerated and have been conditioned to not tell anyone, which leads to feelings of isolation. EFK begins immediately, with tools like the “It’s All About Me” survey, to remove negative feelings and teach the kids to overcome the stigma, shame, and isolation, starting with creating friendships in their EFK group.
The third question on the survey is used to lighten the tone and let the group have some fun: I wish (fill-in-the-blank) were incarcerated. We get answers ranging from funny (“I wish math were incarcerated” or “I wish my neighbor’s dogs were incarcerated because they bark all night”) to more straightforward (“I wish bad people were incarcerated” or “I wish people who hurt other people were incarcerated”). The most thoughtful answer kids give, which we see in practically every single group, is, “I wish nobody were incarcerated.”
That wish is what drives Extended Family to keep trying to reach every kid who needs our programs. Our primary goals are to keep children from entering the juvenile justice system, reduce the rate of recidivism in adult and youth offenders, and break the cycle of incarceration in families. When we are successful, we can help bring our society closer to making the wish that “nobody were incarcerated” come true for kids and families everywhere.
You can make a difference in the life of a child who is struggling with the effects of having a loved one incarcerated by bringing Extended Family for Kids to your community. Contact us today to find out how by emailing Laure@extendedfamilyhelp.org. We offer Extended Family for Kids Program Leader Training in your community for adults who work with children through organizations that utilize safe-child practices. We need your help to take EFK to every child who needs it. Together, we are changing lives, one child at a time.
