There are suggested activities in Kids’ Connection and Youth Connection that lend themselves to a virtual format.

Consider posting videos of yourself and sharing with your students. One great example of this is our friends at Mid-Coast Family Services who are using video messages to help students remember the Major Messages and reminders of lessons they have learned during support group.

Most personnel from schools and community-based organizations continue to work remotely during this time. Connect with your contacts and identify ways you can work together to reach children and youth with CBSG messages and activities.  You have our permission during this time to modify discussions and activities for use with larger groups.

Remember, once you are trained by Rainbow Days Training as a CBSG Program Facilitator, you may purchase any of our other Facilitator Manual Adaptations. For example, Kids’ Connection, Too, for children and youth in transitional living environments, is designed for group participation to change from session to session due to the transitional nature of the population being served.  There are 5 Units, one for each of the Major Messages (I AM, I CAN, I HAVE, I WILL, I BELIEVE) with 20 to 30 activities in each Unit.  If you wish to purchase this adaptation, or any of the Facilitator Manual Adaptations, please complete and return the order form.  The regular price of $150 per Manual is reduced by 50% ($75) during this time. 

While in person training has historically been our only method of training, we are also adapting to current realities. We have developed a new 7-hour virtual training experience available during this time of physical distancing.  If you are interested in participating in a virtual training please contact us at info@rainbowdaystraining.org.  Also please look for scheduled virtual trainings on our website.

If ever there was a time for flexibility it is now! As the CBSG Program Developer we encourage you to be as flexible as you can regarding implementation fidelity.  It is important for you to work with your CBSG Program funding source(s) and follow their guidelines.  That said, if you need us to write a letter or speak with your funding source(s) during this time about your implementation adjustments, please let us know.  We will consider each organization’s plans on a case-by-case basis and work with you to enable your implementation of groups when they are needed more than ever.

The requirement for Pre and Post Assessments varies according to funding source requirements. Our current suggestions for implementing pre/post-support group assessments include completing a Survey Monkey poll, assessing the whole group with an online poll and/or suspending this requirement temporarily.  Again, check with your funding source(s) and let us know if we can help.

Both Rainbow Days and the Rainbow Days Training Division publish monthly newsletters.  We will continue to offer program updates, encouragement and suggestions in both these publications. 

Please share with us your ideas, successes, videos, etc. We are considering virtual ways for Facilitators to connect, but in the meantime, we will be happy to share (with your permission) what you send us on our website and in our publications.

You can reach out to us at info@rainbowdaystraining.org with specific questions, suggestions, etc. You may also call Cathey Brown, CBSG Program Developer, at 214-802-6024.  In addition, we will also periodically post resources, etc. on our Training website.

As you are probably aware, we have now updated our Major Message domains. Be looking for more details on how these domains are even more relevant during this unprecedented time in world history.

It is important to remember to take care of yourself as you care for your families, neighbors, co-workers and those you serve. Performing small acts of kindness for others is one positive way to lift your spirits and be helpful to others. Whether offering to go to the store for someone, walking a dog for those who may not be able to get out, sending a note of encouragement, thanking grocery store clerks, medical personnel and other front line workers, praying — whatever it might be, these small acts of kindness go a long way. And as always, leave some time and acts of kindness for yourself.  Take stock of how you are doing mentally, emotionally and spiritually and identify ways that nurture you. Taking a time out for yourself to read, walk or do things that restore you emotionally are just as important as serving others.