One of the children in After School Groups was not able to go out to his lunch recess at school due to his poor behavior.   In addition to working with him on his behavior in group, his group worker began visiting him during lunch time at his school.  She was able to take him out to lunch recess and help supervise his interactions with other children.  After a few months, he was able to resume having his lunch recess on his own, while knowing that if he felt like he was going to get in trouble, he could leave the playground and go visit a favorite teacher.   In addition, his group worker was able to connect with his classroom teacher, who invited her to observe him in her classroom, which allowed the worker more insights on how to help him change his behavior.

Each October, one of our After School Groups creates a “haunted house” for the other groups to enjoy.  With the guidance of their worker, they are able to plan how to set it up, how to make it scary but not TOO scary, and how to include everyone in the group.  The result is a fun experience of putting together the event and sharing it with other children in the program.  They learn how to work together and work out problems and feel proud of what they can accomplish TOGETHER.

One of the children in our Summer Day Camp program received a visit from a CPS social worker at the park.  After talking with the worker, the child returned to her group in tears.  When her friends in group asked her what was wrong, she told them that she was afraid of being “taken away” and that it was “all her fault.”  A very meaningful discussion took place, with some of the children and her worker reassuring her that it was not her fault.  Other children shared their own experiences of  being removed from their homes, and returning (or not).  The child realized that others in the group cared about her.  She also realized that she was not the only one growing up in a challenging situation.