Kid First and Teen First Sessions
The Children First Foundation is offering a new program geared toward helping children cope with parent divorce and separation called Kid First/Teen First. This is an 8-week program, completed in a group format for kids, ages 5-11, and teens, ages 12-18. The first session begins January 2024.
In the Kid First and Teen First sessions, we will cover the following topics: identifying what divorce is, normalizing any changes your child may experience, giving them the tools to communicate their own feelings, identifying ways to gain social support and much more!
In Belleville, group sessions take place every Wednesday evening. The Kid First group occurs 6-7 p.m. and the Teen First group occurs 7-8 p.m.
In Wood River, group sessions take place every Thursday evening. The Kid First group occurs 6-7 p.m. and the Teen First group occurs 7-8 p.m.
The flyer below lists times, dates, and locations. If you are interested, have questions, or would be interested in future sessions you can contact us at [email protected] or call us at 618-235-6192.
Research Press Publications
In the fall of 2011, Dr. Jeremy Jewell collaborated with the Children First Foundation to produce a series of treatment programs to help children and adolescents cope with parent separation or divorce. They are now available from Research Press Publishers (RESEARCHPRESS.COM/ 800-519-2707). Learn more or to purchase the programs. Both treatment programs consist of eight (8) core sessions and two (2) optional sessions. Similar to the Children First Parenting Curriculum (2011), the contents of these programs were created through a comprehensive review of the literature, and teach youth how to cope with parent separation and divorce. Because the topics in the treatment programs and teen workbook are similar to the Children First Parenting Education Curriculum (2011), they compliment each other.
The Kid First treatment program is appropriate for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade, while the Teen First treatment program is appropriate for teens in the 6th through 12th grades. Both programs are designed to be implemented in a school or clinical setting by licensed mental health professionals. Parents experiencing separation or divorce may also be interested in a workbook that will help teens get through this difficult time. “The Teen Survival Guide to Parent Divorce and Separation” is also available from Research Press. Ordering Information
