Same Sky Sharing

Children’s Institute recognizes that children of military families have special needs that require extra support. Over 700,000 children across the U.S. have a parent who is deployed. Same Sky Sharing is a program that focuses on helping children adjust to change and transition. 

Your choice of the Same Sky Sharing curriculum to help children understand family changes is certain to exceed your expectations in its sensitively designed support group format. Parents who are deployed or otherwise separated from their families can reassure their children that: Even though we are miles apart, we still share the same sky.

Audience:

• Counselors, mental health professionals in schools, community groups, after-school groups serving children from Kindergarten to grade 6

Goals:

• Minimize emotional and behavioral problems that may result when children experience military separations in their families
• Increase children’s abilities to identify and appropriately express their feelings and understanding about family change and transitions
• Increase children’s relevant coping skills and help them identify and use support systems
• Enhance children’s positive perceptions and strengths of themselves and their families

Benefits:

• The positive, supportive group environment of peers in the school setting allows children to share their experiences and learn from one another
• Children gain a better understanding of family change and associated feelings
• Children are better able to cope with changes that are beyond their control

How it Works:

• School personnel, community members, or parents refer children to the program
• Trained counselors conduct the groups
• Children meet for eight group sessions
• Specially designed activities including board games ensure that each child receives age-appropriate information and skill-building activities