Supporting Students Through Family Separation: The Banana Splits Peer Support Group
The Banana Splits peer support group is dedicated to helping students navigate the emotional pain of family separation. Through this program, students gain understanding, realize they are not alone, and learn effective coping strategies. With evidence showing that family structure changes can lead to significant childhood trauma, our group aims to calm fears, redirect energy into learning, and help regain stability. Sessions are facilitated by trained professionals in a supportive environment, focusing on building resilience and communication skills.
Supporting Students Through Family Separation: The Banana Splits Peer Support Group
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Presentation Transcript
Banana Splits A peer support group Mission: Help students deal with the pain and sadness of separating families
Why Banana Splits? • Foundation • Helps students to deal with the stress and sadness of a family separating • Assist students in realizing they are not alone • Discover new ways of coping • Calm fears of uncertainty regarding what life might be like post-separation • Causes students to redirect emotional survival energy into the educational learning process • Confront the crisis • Regain a sense of stability and constancy
ASCA National Standards for Students PS:A1.4 Understand change is a part of growth PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups PS:A1.11 Identify and discuss changing personal and social roles PS:A1.12 Identify and recognize changing family roles PS:A2.5 Recognize and respect differences in various family configurations PS:A2.6 Use effective communications skills PS:C1.11 Learn coping skills for managing life events
Why is Banana Splits important? Changes in the family structure are the most common childhood trauma (Messinger, 2009) 60% of all first marriages end in divorce (Messinger, 2009) “Children from divorced families are more likely to be moody, preoccupied, aggressive, high-tempered and act out; abuse substances as adolescences, encounter learning and behavioral problems, feel deceived, and have higher suicide rates” (Marshfield, 2011).
Needs assessment/Referring • Needs assessment among teachers, if needed • Parents, teachers, and volunteers- • “for anyone who has had a change in their family” • Newsletter, PTA/parent meetings • Advertise/announcements • Two groups may be necessary
Delivery • Small group setting • Approximately 6 students per group • Twice a month, until students feel stable • Half hour sessions during lunch recess or intervention • Facilitated by school counselors, teachers, psychologists, nurses, or administrators • Completed through education, interaction, and discussion
Banana Splits Curriculum Guide • Week one/two: What is a divorce? • It’s not your fault, your parents still love you. • Goal setting, confidentiality • Week three/four: Coping Mechanisms/Outlets • How to deal with stress, who can I go to for support? • Week five/six: What might change? • Living situations, money, transportation schedules • Week seven/eight: What do I do when… • Parents fighting, logistics questions • Week nine/ten: After the divorce… • A new normal, parents dating, awkward moments • Week eleven/tweleve: Guest speaker • Another teacher, high school student, judge, lawyer • Week thirteen/fourteen: Wrap up, continue where needed
Management System Pre/post test Survey from students and parents Data will be used to improve program and make necessary changes, advocate for program/job position Advisory council: principals, teachers, parents, students-review program results/make suggestions
Experiential Activity Banana Tags Icebreaker!: Stand with me… Magazine Project
