Community crises such as natural disasters, global pandemics, political unrest, and community violence can significantly disrupt a young person’s sense of safety, stability, and routine.
How Do Community Crises Impact Young People?
Community crises—regardless of their nature—often leave young people with increased anxiety, fear, and grief, especially when they involve the loss of a home, loved ones, or essential support systems. These events disrupt daily routines, education, and social connections, leading to feelings of isolation and instability. Recovering from such crises can take years, as communities rebuild both physical infrastructure and collective mental well-being. During this time, limited access to vital resources and support can make it even harder for young people to cope and thrive.
How does Rainbows provide support?
For over 42 years, Rainbows for All Children has supported hundreds of thousands of youth through grief, loss, and uncertainty. We continue to serve all young people—regardless of age, race, gender, or financial circumstances. If you or a young person you know is having a hard time with loss or change, [click here] to find Rainbows programming near you. Our programs are always free for participants, anywhere in the world where groups meet.
By joining the Rainbows community— whether as a participant, caregiver, or trained facilitator— you’ll gain access to an engaging, evidence-based curriculum, and a group of peers who understand. Sign up today, and become part of a compassionate, supportive network committed to helping young people process their experiences, grow, and thrive through life’s most challenging moments.
This resource from the National Association of School Psychologists addresses school and community violence and offers tips to navigating these topics with students.
This resource defines childhood fears and their relation to early exposure to violence. It also provides methods for enforcing healthy coping mechanisms for youth.
Rainbows’ Pinterest page has activities that are good for children and/or families when they are stuck inside, fast meals to prepare, and ways to cope when under stress.
Children and teens may have heightened fears and worries; those who have experienced loss are particularly vulnerable to greater anxiety and depression. This Google Drive Folder contains ways to provide support to the children and teens in your life.
The institute uses art to conduct therapy sessions. Therapists only use empirically researched methods and provide them within a continuity of care model.
This institute offers counseling for families who can’t afford therapy. Therapist of graduate-level therapist-in-training. Committed to strength and healing the whole family system by supporting children, adults, couples and families across their lifespan.
Non-profit, social service organization whose sole mission is to support children, families, schools and communities who are coping with grief and death of a loved one.
Financially accessible therapeutic services to children ages 2-17 and families who have suffered a profound loss from death, abandonment or other traumatic loss.
This unique performing arts camp, held at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, brings together young people between the ages of 7 and 14 who have experienced the death of a parent to encourage the healing power of creative play. Through the exploration and creation of dance, theatre, and music, Hearts to Art inspires communication and collaboration, fosters emotional growth, and provides friendship, compassion and community.
Psychology Today highlights how children may react when living with a parent with a chronic illness and how you and others can help in making sure the child develops healthy coping methods.
by Patrice Karst (Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)
The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today’s uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, or distance or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else. Ages 3-7.
This book offers techniques to help children and teens resolve their grief once again and live a life filled with joy and hope. For Parents.
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We provide resources for all forms of grief.
Death
Separation/Divorce
Incarceration
Deportation
Military Deployment
Significant Illness
Community Crisis
Death
Of all the children in America, around 15% will experience the death of a family member or sibling. Even though death is ultimately a fact of life, it can be hard for anyone to experience this kind of loss, let alone a child.
There are about 1.25 million divorces per year in the United States. Of all U.S. children, 50% will witness the breakup of their parents’ marriage, and almost 50% of those children will also see the breakup of a parent’s second marriage.
One in 28 children will have a parent become incarcerated before their 18th birthday. Approximately half of children with incarcerated parents are younger than 10 years old.
Parental deployment is a form of loss that 3% of American children experience. This can be a very difficult adjustment for children, who may not be able to see or speak to that parent regularly, and who also may experience a great deal of stress when worried about his or her parent or guardian’s safety.
Community crises, such as natural disasters, pandemics or political unrest, cause confusing emotions for children. Rainbows’ programs can help children navigate difficult times and provide a sense of stability.
Rainbows’ programs help children grieving the loss of a parent or guardian due to death, divorce/separation, deployment, deportation, incarceration or trauma.
