Our team is very excited to move forward with our SOAR program -- Support, Ownership, Advocacy, Resilience -- for age groups 7-12 and 13-17, after such a positive listening session with parents in our community. If you are interested in having your child participate in our new peer program please fill out the form so that we may coordinate into age and similar interest groups.
Annie Gunning, Hope for HIE's Child Life Specialist, will facilitate this program. We will begin as one group as we get to know each other, but have the option to do break-out groups as needed depending on ages and interests.
Our hopes for those who participate in our program:
- Decrease feelings of isolation and gain a sense of belonging
- Increase social connections with peers and develop relationships
- Engage in fun topics and activities, but also know that our group is open to topics that come up naturally and support those conversations
- Learn self-advocacy skills
- Opportunity to engage with other kids who have shared experiences
We will have two age groups:
- 7-12
- 13-17