Rainbows:
Guiding kids through life’s storms
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Author(s): Suzy Yehl Marta
Date of Publication: 1983
Website: www.rainbows.org.au
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Aim(s):
Rainbows is an international, not-for-profit organisation, that provides a healthy path towards healing for those grieving a significant loss or life-altering crisis. The core of the program is centred on trust, acceptance and sharing. Through a culture of openness, Rainbows programs enable those who hurt to better understand their feelings and to begin to move towards resolving their grief.
Target group:
There are a series of individual Rainbows programs which are applicable to children who have experienced a life altering loss or crisis such as death, divorce, separation, adoption, living in a foster family, where a family member has been deployed or a catastrophic community crisis. Specifically, these programs include:
- Sunbeams – for pre-school aged children (3-5 years)
- Rainbows – for primary school aged children (5-12 years)
- Prism – for single parents and step parents
- Silver Linings – a community crisis response program for children of all ages
There are also Rainbows programs designed specifically for adolescents and adults who have experienced a significant loss.
Designed for, or demonstrated applicability to, special groups:
Rainbows is currently being piloted in the U.S. with children living with a parent who has a mental illness.
Program content and components:
Rainbows programs are sequentially based across all age groups and cover twelve core topics:
- Self
- Feelings
- Divorce/Death/Loss/Grief
- Transitions and Changes
- Angers and Hurts
- Fears and Worries
- Family
- Belonging
- Step-family
- Acceptance
- Coping Tools
- Reaching Out
Through these twelve topics, and to supplement the traditional focus on the emotional consequences of loss, Rainbows ensures attention is given to the broadly cognitive processes entailed in mourning. The programs also provide a greater awareness of the implications of major loss on an individual’s sense of identity – which may involve a revision of one’s self-definition – as well as the possibility of life enhancing ‘post traumatic growth’ as one integrates the loss experience. The Rainbows peer support/group process is used to address the reciprocal impact of loss on families and their broader social and cultural groups.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Identified theoretical framework:
Originally based on Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ process of working through feelings of grief, the Rainbows approach to loss and grief consists of six dimensions: feelings, physical sensations, cognitions, behaviour, interpersonal relationships, and spiritual/philosophical.
Evidence of effectiveness:
(according to criteria developed by CASEL for rating program effectiveness)
No evaluations were submitted that met the inclusion criteria, OR the preponderance of evidence does not show positive program impacts on beahvioural measures.
References supplied by program authors:
Farber, M. L. Z. (2006). Rainbows empirical evaluation: Data analysis of children’s communication of feelings in three programs during 2004 and 2005. National Research Center for Child and Family Services, The Catholic University of America: Washington, D.C.
Kramer, L. & Laumann, G. (2000). Supporting children who have experienced parental divorce: An evaluation of the Rainbows program: Final Report. Department of Human and Community Development: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A further evaluation study is expected to be undertaken in Western Australia during 2009.
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Program structure:
Sunbeams, Rainbows and Prism are all small group programs (3-5 participants) led by a trained facilitator. Sessions range from 30 minutes for young children, to an hour for adults, depending on age level and concentration span. The twelve topics are usually spread over two terms (6 weekly sessions) and end with ‘Celebrate Me’ Day/sessions, which are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements and positive changes in the participants, on completion of the particular program. In addition, Sunbeams provides a weekly parent guide, whilst parents of Rainbows are invited to participate in part of the ‘Celebrate Me’ activities.
Silver Linings is a program suitable for whole classrooms or community groups and can be completed in 6 sessions.
Staff professional learning (PL):
Professional learning (PL) is compulsory for all program facilitators (except for Silver Linings which is not compulsory in every State). Each school or site chooses and nominates adults who will train as Facilitators to run groups, after an Information Session at the site and the decision has been made to run the program. Facilitators may be teachers, school counsellors, psychologists or parents who demonstrate good listening skills and empathy. Facilitator training must be conducted by a Registered Director(s) for a minimum of 6 hours at an approximate cost of $120 for the day. Each School also nominates a Co-ordinator who receives extra training and support from their local Registered Director.
Professional Learning is also compulsory for Registered Directors, who are trained at a 5-day National Conference held every two years in different Australian cities. They must also attend Enrichment PD training every 2-3 years.
Program costs:
A complete set of materials for one level of Rainbows with two groups of five children would initially cost approximately $610, which includes Facilitator / Co-ordinator Training as well as all materials. From then on, the first five items will belong to the school/site and can be re-used each year with different groups. Thereafter, the annual cost for 10 participants would be $150.
Site policy and Guideline handbook
Facilitator /Co-ordinator training $240
Co-ordinator manual (one per school) $18
Facilitator manuals/Listening modules x2 $92
Group games x2 $40
Story books x 1 set $70
Journals and keepsakes x10 $150
Total: $610
Silver Linings packs at each level cost $75
(5-8, 9-12yrs)
About the author(s):
Suzy Yehl Marta is both the founder and President of Rainbows, and is the author of the foundation curricula for each of the Rainbows programs (SunBeams, Rainbows, Spectrum, Kaleidoscope, Prism and Silver Linings). Suzy is a member of many organisations and associations including the National Association of School Psychologists, the Illinois Mental Health Partnership, the Children and Divorce Network, and the Association for Death Education and Counselling. She has also authored a number of books designed to support single parents and caregivers in times of divorce, death or crisis. Today, through television, radio, newspaper articles and public appearances across the U.S., Suzy speaks to parents, educators and organisations about grief and the experiences of family members during crisis; offering guidance, insight and hope.
Contact information:
National Office & Australian Distribution Centre
PO Box 75
Richmond Vic 3121
Website: www.rainbows.org.au
National Chapter Director:
Margaret Henderson RSM
PO Box 102
North Hobart, TAS. 7002
Phone: (03) 6210 8888
Email: margaret.henderson@ceo.hobart.catholic.edu.au
Website: www.rainbows.org.au
Eastern Regional Director:
Gemma Schooneveldt
36 Rosella
Road Parkdale, VIC. 3195
Fax: (03) 9587 4665
Email: gemmani@iprimus.com.au
Website: www.rainbows.org.au
Western Regional Director:
Julie Craig
PO Box 421
Melville, WA. 6956
Phone (08) 9317 3500
Fax: (08) 9317 4549
Email: rainbowswa@bigpond.com
Website: www.rainbows.org.au
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It is important to note that inclusion of a program in this Guide does not constitute an endorsement by KidsMatter Primary. All program details were correct at time of publishing.
