What is the Lunch Group?

The Lunch Group is a program designed to help children develop skills to resolve and cope with conflict and to learn problem-solving techniques that they can use at school, home and in the community. This program works with schools to provide students in need with long-term coping strategies.

This program provides a service to a group of children where to source of their problem or struggle is often unknown. It gives students the tools to develop their problem solving and coping strategies.

Building the problem solving and conflict management skills of a student in need, helps the child build skills he or she can use for life.

Which students are most suited for the Lunch Group?

Students who may exhibit some of the following behaviours could benefit from The Lunch Group:

 d Violent/aggressive themes in his or her work and play

 d Nervous mannerisms

 d Aggressive behaviour

 d Use of inappropriate language

 d Limited social skills

 d Low self-esteem

 d Withdrawn behaviour

These are only a few attributes that may indicate a child could benefit from the program. However other children who are known to be going through a difficult time in school or at home could also benefit.

The program is held one day a week for twelve weeks over the lunch hour with eight children per group. The program is most suited (but not limited to) 7-10 year old girls and boys.

The Lunch Group faciliators are experienced in running groups and working with children. Many hold a Child and Youth Worker Diploma, Bachelors of Social Work or Master of Social Work degree.

Have other schools experienced success with the program?

The Lunch Group has been running in Peel sinced 1994 and more than 200 students have participated. In most cases, teachers and parents have noticed an immediate improvement in the students involved in the program.

There are no fees to either the school or students to take part in this program. We do ask that the school provide dessert each week for the children in the group.

 d The Principal and staff decide they would like to offer The Lunch Group to children in their school.

 d The Principal, with the help of school staff, identifies students who are most in needs of this program.

 d After consultation with the Group Facilitators, participants are chosen.

 d Permission slips are sent home with the selected students and the Principal telephones the parents.

 d Group Facilitators meet individually with each student and parent to explain the group and answer questions.

 d Students begin the group. Teachers are asked to fill out a one-page questionnaire per student prior to and at the end

             of the twelve week program.

A free two-evening parent education series, "Helping Your Child Deal with Anger and Conflict", if offered in the school beginning at the mid-way point of The Lunch Group. The school invites all parents to attend, and child-minding is provided at no cost to the school or parents. Families of The Lunch Group children are specifically encouraged to participate.

The focus is on how parents can diminish their own stress response, and develop problem-solving approaches to anger producing situations. The intent is to recognize the important role of parents and to assist them in reinforcing the positive coping strategies that the children are learning in The Lunch Group.

The parent group is led by our staff, with the option of co-leadership by appropriate school staff. The school is responsible for parent invititation, providing rooms for the parent group and assisting us to select the child minder.

 d Provides students with effective coping strategies and use of constructive alternatives to deal with conflict.

 d Gives students techniques they can use for life.

 d Helps the school further build relationships with parents.

 d Offers no cost added benefit for the school.

 d Helps families access other social services in Peel.