Our Banana Splits Program has ended for the 2004

BANANA SPLITS SUPPORT GROUP
Program Description

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Banana Splits is a support group for children whose families are coping with the effects of separation and/or divorce. We have offered this group continuously for the last fourteen years. We offer two Banana Splits Support Groups; a 2nd and 3rd grade group and a 4th and 5th grade group. Each group meets every other week for a total of ten weeks, from October though March.

Registration for the upcoming program year takes place in August and September. Generally, registration closes by mid fall, but occasionally opens remain after that time for a few weeks.

Our program meets on Tuesdays, beginning at 3:45 PM and ends at 5:00 PM. Each group meets every other week. Please refer to the Banana Splits Schedule to see when your child’s group begins.

All meetings take place in the Youth Advocate’s Office and group meeting room (room 118) in Dartmouth Town Hall, 400 Slocum Road, Dartmouth. Our office number is 508-910-1855. Parents are encouraged to call at any hour and leave a message on voice mail, or send me an email. Additional information about programs, the Dartmouth Youth Commission and my professional background can be viewed here. Because our groups usually fill, I suggest calling or emailing me if you want your child to attend ASAP.

Trained college and high school students assist me with our program. Many of our interns also grew up in blended households and experienced separation or divorce within their families, too. In fact, we have had several former Banana Splits Group members come back as interns once they entered the tenth grade. Our experience has been that interns bond quickly with children and become positive role models in the process.

Request Program Packet: Each year we put together a packet of resource materials that many parents find useful. The Packet contains Signup Forms, current schedule, materials on separation and divorce and availability of local and online support. Packets are frequently made available to school counselors and school based social workers throughout Dartmouth. Please contact me if you would like to arrange to pickup a Banana Splits Program Packet at my office in Town Hall.

If you would like your child to attend our group please follow these steps:

· Please call (508-910-1855) or email me so that we can communicate. If you get my voice mail, I may be with a client or out of the office. Please leave me a detailed message and I will call you back. Sending in the forms online is the easiest method, but you can print and mail/drop-off hard copy as well. Please see below:

· Complete the Banana Splits Group Signup Form. Get printable Form here | Get email Form here

· Complete the Authorized Release Form. Get printable Release Form here | Get email Pickup Form here

· View/print Schedule and Themes Sheet. | View/print here

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Recent Press about our Banana Splits Support Group: Here

Note to therapists and human services workers interested in Banana Splits: Here

Visit our online Parent's Center for addition resources and Support.