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SIBS Club - Promising Futures
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Programs

SIBS Club

Overview

Delivery Approach:
  • Group
Delivery Format:
  • In-Person
  • Virtual
  • Hybrid
Provider Requirements:
  • DV/SA Advocate Led
Type of Experience Addressed:
  • Domestic Violence
  • Verbal/Emotional Abuse
  • Trafficking
Engagement Methods:
  • Talk-Based
  • Art-Based
  • Experiential
  • Play-Based
  • Somatic/Physical Expressions
Level of Intervention:
  • Intervention
Length:
  • 7-12 weeks
Setting:
  • Community-Based Agency
Program Details:
Type of services provided:

Sibs Club (Siblings Club) is modeled after Kids Club, a support group for children whose parents/guardians are attending the support group for survivors of domestic abuse. Kids Club members may not know each other and may have very different lived experiences with abuse. However, Sibs Club differs in that it is a guided sibling support group developed to facilitate communication between siblings about a shared trauma. Although siblings may have lived through the same events, they don’t always experience it the same. Sibs Club allows them to process their own unique experience in the safety of siblings and teaches them how to support each other. Parents do not participate in any part of the Sibs Club curriculum. Instead, Sibs Club sessions are typically conducted in their home or other safe spaces while the parent is meeting with their advocate. SIBS club is offered in addition to other agency services to provide clients with domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking advocacy.

Program setting:

Community-based organizations, DV shelter, foster care, home, homeless shelter, residential.

Length of program/number of sessions:

7-12 Weeks: The Sibs Club curriculum has 10 sessions that could be completed in fewer or more sessions depending on the needs of the sibling group.

Type(s) of trauma/concerns addressed:

Domestic Violence,  Verbal/Emotional Abuse, Trafficking

Education level of providers:

While there is no education level requirement, program implementers must have a strong background in understanding the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The program is best implemented by a DV/SA advocate.

Unique/Innovative Characteristics:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual and hybrid adaptations were created to provide online programming. Since many rural communities do not have participant numbers to form full-sized children’s support groups, program creators adapted an existing program model, Kids Club, to be implemented in sibling groups. This program model gives children and youth a space to process their experiences in a group-like setting with their sibling(s).

Date Added/Updated:

January 9th, 2024.

Population Served

Age:
  • 6-12 years (Childhood)
  • 13-17 (Adolescent)
Population Language:
  • English
Ethnic Racial Group:
  • Asian
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Indigenous People – American Indian/Native American, Alaskan Native
  • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
  • White
Client/Audience:
  • Child and Non-Abusive Parent/Caregiver
Population Adaptations:
Age range of children served:

6-12 (Childhood), 13-17 (Adolescent), 18-25. Sibs Club serves any child dependent exposed to domestic violence and their sibling group. 

Are parent/adult caregiver(s) included in intervention?

No. While parents do not participate in the Sibs club curriculum, they do work with their advocate while children/siblings meet simultaneously with their Sibs club facilitator in most cases.

Ethnic/racial and other groups served:

Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous People – American Indian/Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White.

Languages that service/resource is available:

English 

While materials are not available in Spanish, bilingual Spanish speaking facilitators have been able to translate and facilitate content in Spanish.

Evaluation

Foundation:
Goals of the program/services:

To provide comprehensive services to domestic violence, children affected by domestic violence, dating violence and stalking survivors.

Basis of Knowledge:

Practice-Based Evidence –  The program model is based on various treatment approaches and supports derived from and supportive of the local community culture. SIBS club was modeled after Kids Club and based on over 10 years of practice based evidence in the field.

 

Evaluation Studies:
Has there been any evaluation?

Yes.

Key Evaluation Results:

Sibs club surveys child participants to assess impacts of the program on the parent-child and family relationships. Feedback also supports improving and growing the program model. Youth participants have expressed that the program gives them an outlet to process their experiences in a confidential space and creates an opportunity for all siblings to share their own unique experiences. Some families report that the sibling group continues to meet as a group beyond program participation.

Is there an evaluation currently in progress or planned?:

Sibs Club continues to survey child participants.

Training & Resources

Training Language
  • N/A
Training Available:
  • No
Training Details:
Training manuals/protocols:

The Sibs Club guidebook can be shared upon request.

Training Contact:

N/A.

Program Contact

Trish Johnson

Domestic Abuse Resource Center, a program of Helping Services of Youth and Families

tjohnson@helpingservices.org

1-800-383-2988

https://www.helpingservices.org/services/domestic-abuse-resource-center/