Multicultural Initiatives

Project GROW: Girls Relationships Offer Well-Being

Project GROW is a Group Program for girls funded by the United Way's Today's Girls, Tomorrow's Leaders Initiative.  The Program focuses on the particular challenges that are unique to "girl world", such as navigating the complexity of shifting friendships in the middle school years and creating and maintaining a positive self image in a world where girls are pressured to grow up faster each day.  The curriculum includes the use of structured activities and multimedia and discussion, to provide girls with strategies to cope with the "isms" of sexism and racism, while highlighting the strength and resiliency girls have in finding their voices.  In addition to groups that are open to all girls, we offer groups for Asian American girls who are adopted.

For more information, please contact Mariko Sakurai, Ph.D. at 617-277-8107.

 

The Brotherhood Towards Success

The primary goal of Brotherhood Towards Success (BTS) is to assist Black male METCO students to define themselves, rather than being defined, at a time that is critical to their identity development.  BTS begins with a five-week pilot program to introduce 8th grade boys to Brookline High School.  During these meetings, the boys discuss their challenges and strengths resulting from their elementary school experience.  With the support of Black male staff and METCO administration, Black male BHS seniors and school staff mentor the young men on how to be successful in their high school career. 

Following the transition to Brookline High, the group meets weekly throughout their freshman year providing continuing support and mentoring, and promoting a successful high school experience.  The young men have the opportunity to share experiences of alienation, isolation and stereotypes, and reframe these potentially harmful experiences in ways that can lead to greater resilience and positive identity formation.   BTS has a model where adult Black men provide young Black men with guidelines for achieving and maintaining success by defining themselves within a positive strength based culture.  This provides an opportunity for members to solve problems more adaptively and better manage the stressors they face. We believe that this intervention, at a time of increased vulnerability, mobilizes the rich internal resources shared by young Black men, and promotes a successful future.

BTS has three primary objectives:

1) To develop a positive self-identity in the face of difficult racial stereotypes.

2) To encourage academic and social success.

3) To give back to the school and home communities. 

For further information, please contact Phil Laidlaw, Psy.D. at 617-277-8107. 

 

The Children’s Acculturative Stress Alliance (CASA)

The Children’s Acculturative Stress Alliance (CASA) is a prevention program designed to help immigrant children and families with their adjustment process.  The name CASA means “home” in Spanish and connotes safety and comfort.  The primary purpose of the Program is to facilitate the healthy emotional development of immigrant children and families who are in the process of transitioning to a new culture. 

The Program model consists of a twelve-week school-based group that focuses on three major themes.  These themes include: building social support networks to prevent feelings of social isolation, exploring the positive aspects of one’s cultural identity (original culture and new culture), and developing coping strategies for discrimination.

CASA has four primary objectives:

1. To help promote students’ feelings of social connection and minimize feelings of social isolation.

2. To promote a healthy sense of cultural identity.

3. To help students develop strategies for coping with discrimination and teasing.

4. To provide students the opportunity to meet and learn about other students from a variety of cultures.

For further information, please contact Gary Pfeifer, Ph.D., at 617-277-8107.

 

The Israeli Families Support Initiative (IFSI)

The Israeli Families Support Initiative (IFSI) is a grant and donation-funded community outreach program to benefit Israeli families affiliated with the Brookline schools, most of whom are newcomers and planning to return to Israel within 1-5 years.

Psycho-education and school-based support groups for children and parents are designed to foster adaptive coping with cross-cultural transition issues that are unique to Israeli families.  Groups are led in Hebrew by Hebrew speaking clinicians.  In addition, consultation is provided to teachers regarding the acculturation needs of Israeli students.

For further information, please contact Oria Shadmon, Ph.D., IFSI Program Director, at 617-734-3443, x255 or oriashadmon@brooklinecenter.org