Success of "Growing Happy and Confident Kids" Program Sees Tripling of Participants

I used the first of the books with a 4th grade girl. Her teacher referred her to me because she reported to the teacher that the class is "full of bullies." This shocked the teacher. The teacher reported to me that the girl is a new student who tries to avoid class. I selected the book My Secret Bully since it seemed the bullying was not obvious to the teacher. The book helped the student open up and talk about feeling like the students were bullying her by leaving her out. I know this is a form of bullying. We were able to discuss examples of when this happened to her. Using the ideas in the book, we role played how she could respond. After using the book My Secret Bully, she willingly returned to her class with more confidence in herself. When I saw her in the hallway today, she had a smile.

- A School Counselor participating in the ACAF "Growing Happy and Confident Kids" Program

The ACA Foundation program, "Growing Happy and Confident Kids" is proving to be an early success, providing support to some 175 schools and community organizations nationwide. While the expectations were that the program would continue to grow steadily over the past year, the level of explosive growth it has experienced has been rewarding and exciting, as well as challenging.

This innovative program was established to help insure emotional literacy among elementary school children. Through this project, ACA members are able to gain access to materials to promote self-esteem, self-efficacy, understanding of emotions, coping strategies and living successfully in a diverse society for the students with whom they work.

GHCK, as it is commonly known among participants, uses a library of more than 30 works of children’s literature for individual and group interaction. Counselors who work in a school, community organization or counseling center, may apply to receive a supply of books of their choice from the overall library. The books then serve as the basis for programs to help participating children become more aware, expressive and confident, qualities that the Foundation developers of this program believe will add to their potential for succeeding in school and society.

One of the biggest challenges now facing the program and the ACA Foundation is to be able to continue its rapid rate of growth and the positive service it is providing to so many schools and counseling programs across the nation.

"Growing Happy and Confident Kids" grants are currently available to ACA members. Additional information about the program, including an online application and a listing of the books available through the program, is available through the ACA Foundation website at http://www.acafoundation.org/articles/ghck. Information is also available by contacting the ACA Foundation office at 1-800-347-6647, x 376, or by email to GHCKproject@counseling.org.

How You Can Help!

"Growing Happy and Confident Kids" is a compelling and innovative program currently making a significant impact in more than 170 schools, community organizations and counseling centers across the U.S. But there are thousands of other such places where help is critically needed. Your donations are what make this and all the other ACA Foundation programs possible.

Your donation, in any amount, combined with the generous gifts of so many other counselors, can help make a real difference in providing programs such as this to those in need.

To support the "Growing Happy and Confident Kids" program, please send a check, payable to "ACA Foundation", to ACA Foundation, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304, or donate online at the ACA Foundation website at www.acafoundation.org