Owl Kids

A group for children with separated parents

Owl Kids is a group program supporting children who have or are experiencing family separation. The program provides children with a safe space to develop their emotional literacy through creative therapy, as well as the opportunity to interact with other children in similar situations.

For many children, their parents' separation can change how they view or make sense of the world, their relationships, and safety.

About the group

Owl Kids is a practical child-centred art and leisure therapy group. The program allows children to creatively express themselves through art, drama, and metaphors. This helps them to make sense of their world and navigate through the changes they may experience, and to connect with other children going through similar emotions.

Who is Owl Kids for?

Owl Kids Program is suitable for children who:

• are aged 7 – 12 years old
• are adjusting to some of the difficulties of separation
• have been told or will shortly be told of their parents’ separation
• have been impacted by parental conflict.

When is it running next?

The program runs during school holidays with the next session running 16, 17, and 18 July 2024 in Bankstown.

Children will have the opportunity to:

• explore concepts of family, identity, and differences of families
• process their feelings and experiences, whilst building a better understanding around family circumstances
• process their experience with the reassurance that family separation is never a child's fault
• explore grief and loss experienced in response to family separation
• identify safe coping strategies for their own self-care
• process their experiences of living in two houses
• identify the differences between child and adult responsibilities and acknowledge the rights of being a child
• celebrate their learnings and progress throughout the program.
  
  

How are parents involved?

A parent's information session runs at the same time as the first group session. The session helps parents to understand what Owl Kids is about, what the childrenmight be bringing home, and how each parent can support them.

An alternate session offers the other parent the opportunity to attend at a different time in the same week.

The final session is a presentation for the parents to attend, showcasing the children's progress and work through the program.

Additional support

Parents wanting additional support can receive sessions with our Post Separation Case Managers. These sessions provide an opportunity for parents to:

• ask questions about the program material
• discuss how to apply strategies to support their children as they adjust to family changes during or after the group
• receive support to manage issues of parental communication and/or conflict.

How to get involved?

If you would like your child to be involved in the program or to obtain further information, please get in touch with us by calling 13 18 19, emailing us at reception.frc@catholiccare.org or contacting us online.