Rainbows is the world’s largest grief support organization dedicated to helping children and teens cope with the emotional pain of life-altering loss and crises. It is based in the United States. Although originally focused on youth, it has since developed some programs for adults.
The people Rainbows helps fall into two categories, those struggling with disruptive family events like death or divorce and those suffering from the aftermath of large-scale crises and disasters, such as school violence, war and natural disaster. Since 1983, Rainbows has served nearly two million youth. Rainbows does not charge participants.
Rainbows was established by Suzy Yehl Marta, after she was unable to find any resources to help her three young sons cope with her divorce. The organization began with three pilot sites in the Chicago area. Today, Rainbows has a global network of 6,500 community-based program sites and 40,000 trained volunteer facilitators who work directly with grieving children throughout the United States and in 17 other countries.
The Rainbows mission, Guiding kids through life's storms, is based on the premise that while the pain of loss cannot be avoided, it doesn’t need to hurt forever.
An independent study details how Rainbows helps its youth participants:
80% discovered more effective ways to solve problems
83% discovered better ways to communicate their feelings
55% learned new methods of anger management
56% performed better academically.
Rainbows has received numerous honors, including awards from the Children's Rights Council and the Points of Light Foundation. Supporters include The Alliance Group, Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
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Grief Support addresses the emotional pain of families in transition
Sunbeams – for children, ages 3 and 4
Rainbows – for children, from K to eighth grade
Spectrum – for adolescents, from 9 to 12th grade
Alumni – for children who wish to re-enroll in Rainbows
Kaleidoscope – for adults, college age and up
Prism – for single parents and stepparents
Crisis Response addresses issues arising from large scale disasters and crises
Silver Linings –a community crisis response program with editions for children, K through High School, and for adults.
Child-to-Child – helps children living with a mentally ill parent
Luminaries – aids developmentally disabled adults with loss/transitions
MVP (Message on Violence Prevention) – developed for the DeAngelo Hall Foundation and used at workshops for at-risk adolescents
Rated “Best in America Charity” by Independent Charities of America
Rainbows Cope Children's Trust Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number: 2743297 | Registered Office: Lark Rise, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2HS | Tel: 01509 638000 | Registered Charity Number: 1014051
Rainbows trust
80Head Office: 6 Cleeve Court, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7UD North East Office: Forster House, Forster Business Centre, Finchale Road, Newton Hall, Durham DH1 5HL North West Office: Unit 8, Building 12, Tameside Business Park, Windmill Lane, Denton, Manchester M34 3QS