International Kid Success -
School Based Counseling Program for Refugee Children
Administering Organization
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
Program Objectives and Unique Needs Addressed
The main objectives of the International Kid Success program
are to:
- Address developmental issues within the context of the
adjustment process for refugee and immigrant students.
- Empower refugee and immigrant students for leadership
opportunities and increase their interaction with their
mainstream peers.
- Address social, emotional and mental health needs of
refugee and immigrant students that concurrently occur with
the adjustment process.
- Educate refugee parents about the Denver, CO school system
and facilitate better understanding between refugee and
immigrant parents and youth.
- Educate school administrators, English Language Arts (ELA)
teachers, and other school staff about issues and resources
for refugee and immigrant families.
- Collaborate with schools and other community agencies
in order to address the unique needs of refugees and immigrants.
Program Description
International Kid Success is a comprehensive school-based
program created to assist refugee and immigrant children and
adolescents adjust to a new school, culture, and home in the
United States. An over-arching goal of the program is to provide
immigrant and refugee children with support through the major
life transition of immigration so they are better able to
focus on and succeed in school.
The program offers group and individual counseling, information,
referrals, and advocacy for both students and their families.
Consultations and in-service sessions and trainings on refugee
and immigrant issues are provided to teachers, administrators
and other school staff. The program also facilitates diversity
education workshops for the general student body, focusing
on tolerance and respect for people regardless of differences.
Resource Materials Used in Program
A Resource Manuel was developed by International Kid Success
staff. The program curriculum includes many different activities
that are age and language-level specific. Prior to running
the adjustment groups, a needs assessment is conducted in
each school, so the curriculum is a guideline of activities
that may differ based on the needs expressed by the individual
schools.
Groups Served by Program
Participating students attend local K-12 schools and include
elementary, middle and high school age groups. The program
provides adjustment groups for refugees and immigrants from
approximately 40 countries (the most prevalent countries being
Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bosnia, Vietnam,
Iraq, Iran, Mexico, Peru, China, Mongolia and Indonesia).
The groups are run during the school day once a week for an
average of 8-12 weeks. The youth are randomly assigned to
groups, which are offered to everyone in ESL classes. The
curriculum focuses on social adjustment and teaches youth
to appreciate their cultural heritage while adjusting to life
in the United States.
Mainstream students are also targeted for intervention, through
the organization of special programs designed to foster cross-cultural
understanding and diminish misunderstandings and conflicts
between American-born and immigrant and refugee students.
Services provided to teachers and school staff include consultation,
and in-service and/or workshop trainings on immigrant and
refugee issues.
The program also provides services to refugee and immigrant
parents. Parental support programming includes information
about: child and adolescent development relevant to refugees
and immigrants (e.g. the effects of trauma, warning signs
of emotional distress); information about the school systems
in Denver, CO; adjustment issues; and community resources.
In addition, special programming is organized in partnership
with local community agencies and refugee resettlement organizations.
Program Funding
The program is funded by a Refugee
Child School Impact Grant from the federal Office of Refugee
Resettlement, which is administered through the Colorado
Refugee Services Program.
Program Staffing and Required Staff Training
Program Staffing: Two staff and two graduate-level psychology
interns are supervised by the Counseling Services Director.
The adjustment groups are facilitated by program staff with
a graduate-level intern assisting in the Fall and facilitating
groups in the Spring, after assisting and completing staff
training.
Staff Training: Program staff are bi-cultural and bi-lingual
and have masters-level training in social work.
Program Evaluation
Near the close of the academic year, student participants,
teachers, and administrators evaluate the services IKS program
provides. Information is gathered in the form of anonymous
follow-up surveys from students as well as through closing
discussions with school staff, students in adjustment groups
and students receiving individual support.
Program Outcomes
Feedback gathered through anonymous student surveys during
the 2006/07 school year shows that:
- 84.2 % of IKS students responded that the program helped
them to do better at school.
- 79.8 % of IKS students responded that the program helped
improve their grades.
- 79.0% of IKS students responded that the program helped
them get along better with teachers.
- 84.2% of IKS students responded that the program helped
them feel more comfortable at school.
- 87.2% of IKS students responded that the program helped
them make better choices.
- 85.8% of IKS students responded that the program helped
them make friends.
- 83.2% of IKS students responded that they can better take
care of things that happen to them.
Program Contacts
Stacey Weisberg, LPC
Counseling Services Director
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
sweisberg@jewishfamilyservice.org
303/597-7777 x 304
Mirjana B. Olujic, MSW
International Kid Success Coordinator
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
mbolujic@jewishfamilyservice.org
303-597-7777 x 343
http://www.jewishfamilyservice.org
Program Dates
This program began in 1998 and it is still operating as of
March 2008.
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