For such a time as this…counseling during COVID-19

Like an unexpected curveball, COVID-19 slammed our schools and residential homes, disrupting the lives of our children and the work of our staff and impacting every facet of Kids Alive ministry. The hardest-hit area was the abrupt separation of our school children from their caregivers – teachers and counselors. As the enormity of the crisis sank in, so did the compounded impact of the challenge of communication, as well as the fact that most of our children come from at-risk situations. Our teachers and counselors scrambled to break the impasse to ensure our children’s well-being. But in the heat of the moment, we probably didn’t realize that God had been steadily preparing us for such a time as this.

Several years ago, two Kids Alive school directors attending a conference filled out a survey questionnaire on emotional stresses faced by children. The list included lack of food, visible fights and violence, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, no running water, and not enough beds to sleep in. It suddenly hit them that they had a whole school full of children who regularly experience trauma, and we (Kids Alive) had little know-how to help children overcome, survive, and begin to thrive under these circumstances.

Ever since then, Kids Alive has strategically invested in building up counseling to provide emotional support to children and youth, building trust and connection with our staff to help pull them through life’s daily challenges. In the last three years, all Kids Alive Dominican Republic staff have been trained in Trauma Competent Care and each of our seven schools now have at least one part-time psychologist and a counselor. In our residential sites, psychologists not only help children but also counsel house parents in techniques to help children self-regulate and build trusting relationships. Overall, we have built a team of 15 counselors, psychologists, and social workers to help over 2,000 children in our programs overcome their challenging circumstances.

Within days of the schools being shut, Kids Alive staff rose to the occasion. Taking the lead, Kaela Precourt, Director of Social/Emotional Care, along with her colleagues, began creating and dispersing weekly video clips via text messages and WhatsApp. These videos targeting parents and children were sent to the parents and community leaders’ cell phones. Topics included:

How to connect emotionally with your child
Five strategies to help your student study well at home
Self-regulation techniques to help a child who is upset or is feeling anxious
The importance of making and maintaining a schedule during times of uncertainty or change

In addition, Kids Alive counselors have been reaching out to students with specific needs to provide targeted counseling. Currently, we are making plans for the new school year where we will be better positioned and equipped to address the emotional needs of our children and youth.

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Counselor Alberto uses sports to teach Christian values and to disciple his players. Alberto builds trust with his players, who seek him out when problems arise in their lives.

Eva Russell School staff connect with their students one on one to help them learn social and emotional skills while making sure they feel connected, heard, and loved.

Constanza School's Social/Emotional Care Coordinator Misael pauses to guide the self-calming technique of blowing on an imaginary bowl of hot soup in cupped hands. Creatively connecting with students, Misael has powerful stories of unimagined transformation.

Constanza School students practice using the conflict resolution tool, the Peace Bridge. The physical ladder gives students a tangible reminder of their goal – moving toward each other in a measured and peaceful way to meet at the midway point.

At Constanza School, Salome uses a variety of techniques to help children connect with their emotions. Teaching students how to understand their own emotions and self-regulate is an important part of counseling.

Prioritizing socio-emotional care, all Kids Alive DR staff have been trained in Trauma Competent Care. Several of them are now certified to train others. All new staff are required to complete the nine-module certification.

ANIJA School social worker, Nany, enjoys walking with the entire family through challenging times. Entering ANIJA at five years of age as a child at risk herself, Nani understands and empathizes with these families.

Biblical counselor Josue makes every child feel important and heard. Gentle and wise, Pastor Josue is gifted at walking with ANIJA School students through challenging family circumstances.

Serving students at both Eva M. Russell School in Monte Plata and Santo Domingo North School, Domingo has been busy during this COVID time. He creatively uses emojis as well as conversations on WhatsApp to stay connected now that he cannot be face to face.

In a video for children who become sick with COVID-19, Ark Jarabacoa psychologist Hilda demonstrates the “mariposa” technique, which can be used to calm down when feeling anxious. A variety of videos have been created during the pandemic addressing social and emotional needs of our students and their families and have been sent out via WhatsApp.

Our students at Constanza School meet once a week in small groups with a specially trained leader. The kids learn how to relate appropriately with others, focusing on the four key abilities for healthy relationships; giving care, receiving care, negotiating needs, and being comfortable as an autonomous person* through fun games and engaging activities.  *(Cassidy, Jude. "Truth, lies and intimacy: An Attachment Perspective" Attachment & Human Development Vol 3 No 2 September 2001).

Learning to build healthy relationships in a connection group at Constanza School.

Implementing principles taught in Trauma Competent Care training allow Constanza School psychologist Salome to connect with a student on a hard day. Our staff have learned to look past the behavior, and see what is driving it, and meeting the need. 

At Santo Domingo East School, Aracelis not only works with the students, but also with their families, most of whom have very challenging circumstances. A blessing to the school, Aracelis is gifted at building trust.

School psychologist Alexandra connects with children at Park School and Care Center as they work on sponsorship projects. With a specialization in educational psychology, Alexandra is able to help struggling students.

Students are excited when ANIJA School counselor Carmen shows up at their homes! Counselors make every effort to connect with kids in and out of school, building trusting relationships which allow for better care of children

As our first full time psychologist at Casa Monte Plata, Yurelis is enjoying building trusting with the children. She recognizes that most residential children have a great deal of pain to work through and is excited to see God’s transformative power in their lives.

An interview with Kids Alive Counselor Domingo Germán, Specialist in Educational Psychology

What have been some of the biggest challenges during this time of the COVID-19 crisis?

Some of our biggest challenges currently are the inability to be close to our children and youth that we are caring for. We cannot visit and/or touch our family, friends, and fellow Christians (hugging and kissing on the cheek are customary cultural greetings) and must live carefully and follow protocols to avoid infecting ourselves or others. Other challenges include finding that a family member, friend, or a brother in Christ is sick or has lost a family member and not being able to support them with our presence.

Tell us about some of your concerns:

I am concerned about our children, they have had to spend so much time at home with their families, and some come from families that mistreat them. Some may not be getting enough food, and someone may harm them or make them do something that isn’t right. I am concerned that no one is talking with them about God.

What have you learned in your communication with children and their families?

I have heard that some of our children are anxious, disobedient, and aggressive, and some of the older students do not want to be at home or comply with established safety protocols. Anxiety and disobedience are common recurring themes. (Most communication is done over the internet via WhatsApp, and sometimes over a phone call.)

What are the greatest psychosocial needs currently?

The needs are many – they include emotional, spiritual, nutritional, and social needs. At Kids Alive we are addressing these needs by using available resources to respond to all cases that are brought to our attention. We try to help initially and then provide appropriate follow-up.

Would you share a story of someone you were able to help with managing COVID-19 related stress?

A 13-year-old girl was experiencing severe anxiety due to COVID-19 imposed quarantine restrictions since she could not connect with her friends nor visit her grandmother. She cried a lot, didn’t eat, and spent a lot of time alone in her room.

In the first session, I listened to her to find out why she felt this way. In the second, I tried to help her understand why she felt that way.

In the third session, I gave her and her family recommendations on how to reduce her anxiety levels. I recommended that she speak with her grandmother via WhatsApp. I also recommended that the family do joint activities, such as, make special and unusual meals, watch family movies and shows, and play board games. I recommended that the student download some books to read and do crafts by checking out video tutorials and using materials she has at home. Currently, I follow up with her to see how she is doing, and thank God she has learned to accept the situation and adjust to it.

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Counseling during COVID-19

For such a time as this…counseling during COVID-19

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