Project Lemonade

Children’s Peace Alliance Foundation collaborates directly with local agencies and schools to implement an evidence-based prevention program for children. Specifically, the children’s educational prevention program is designed to help children cope with challenging family changes, is based on over 25 years of research, and offers 4 distinct age-appropriate curricula. Further, the program provides children regular contact with peers with similar experiences.

In order to be most accessible to children and reach children on a consistent basis in an anchored environment - i.e. the child’s own school - the foundation collaborates directly with local agencies and school personnel to have the program delivered to children while they are at school.

The curriculum for the Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP), was developed at Children’s Institute by JoAnne Pedro-Carroll, Ph.D., Sara E. Sutton, Ph.D., Aaron E. Black, Ph.D., Linda Alpert-Gillis, Ph.D., and Sharon Sterling, Ph.D.

Program Goals:

  • Minimize the emotional and behavioral problems that may result when children experience divorce in their families

  • Increase children’s ability to identify and appropriately express their divorce-related feelings

  • Increase children’s understanding and acceptance of divorce-related concepts

  • Reduce children’s anxiety and worry about their family circumstances that can interfere with academic achievement

  • Build confidence by teaching specific skills to help children cope with a variety of challenges

Benefits:

  • Reduced desire of children to blame themselves or someone else for the divorce

  • Increased coping skills and the ability to solve personal problems and to let go of problems that are beyond their control

  • Enhanced positive perceptions of themselves and their families

  • The positive, supportive group environment of peers in the school setting allows children to share their experiences and learn from one another

How it Works:

  • School personnel, community members, or parents refer children to the program

  • Trained group leaders conduct 12-15 group sessions at school

  • A series of four procedure manuals and specially designed board games target different age ranges to ensure that each child receives age-appropriate information and skill-building activities

Awards & Recognition:

  • Evidence-Based Program - National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

  • Lela Rowland Award for Outstanding Prevention Program - National Mental Health Association

  • Award for Program Excellence - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: SAMHSA

  • Exemplary Program - Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

  • Successful Program - New York State Education Department

For further information, please visit: https://www.childrensinstitute.net/programs-and-services/codip