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Divorce Care for Kids:

Abstract and Cover Letter

Deja Croom

Walden University

ABSTRACT

According to a statistical study, 40% of children who live in the United States will experience parental divorce before they reach the age of 18. Consequently, many children are affected by the process of divorce and its finalization. When parents’ divorce, children often face the loss of one parent's constant presence and economic stability; as a result, stress may take a tremendous toll on the children. Although independently these consequences are consequential, they do not address the child's academic and social life, or their perspective on what a healthy relationship may resemble. Further, a child’s age may play a significant role in divorce. Research suggests that while older children tend to suffer when parents’ divorce, younger children, in most cases, suffer more. Our Mental health program is created to help these victims with these sorts of psychological trauma because it comforts them to navigate the system as their needs change due to growth while we ensure that our services are fully rendered. We intend to bring these victims together, train, develop and instill in them that they are not the reason of the divorce proceedings. We’ll work with a peer support specialist with numerous experiences in youth therapy to help with the education of these children in relating to peer pressure having a sense of social responsibility and self-awareness. Our goal is to support these victims who are having these problems and improve their appropriate expression of emotions and bring balance in their lives with the objective of building and developing communication and social relationships and improve managing skills for participants.

COVER LETTER

October 28, 2018

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857

Application for the Mental Health Awareness Training Grants: Victims of Divorce

To Whom It May Concern:

I am overly excited to apply for the Awareness Program of our Mental Health Program under the SAMHSA Grant Program to bring awareness regarding mental health to the community with FOA number SM-18-009 as announced on your website. The reason for applying for this funding is that; In the United States alone, approximately 50% of American children will witness the breakup of a parent's marriage. Children whose parents have divorced are more likely to experience injury, asthma, headaches and speech impediments than children whose parents have remained married. Also, teenagers in single-parent families and in blended families are 300% more likely to need psychological help within any given year than teens from intact, nuclear families. These statistics, coupled with mentioned above, show a dire need for programs that target children who are suffering from divorce and at the same time educate parents who are at the verge of divorce to realize how such move can damage the children at emotional activity levels. Our Mental Health Program would aim to help these kids and youth that are victims to first of feeling comfortable about themselves that they are not the reason that the parents’ divorce. We are requesting $1,620,300 for our Mental Health Program.

This program is aligned with the purpose of SAMHSA as your purpose is to educate individuals about resources that are available in the community for individuals with a mental disorder.

If you should have any questions during the grant review, we are happy to answer your questions and please contact us. We can also be reached by telephone at Phone Number OR via E-mail Address

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Deja Croom

Student

References

1 Paul R. Amato, “The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children,” Journal of Marriage and Family 62 (2000): 1269.

Paul R. Amato and Juliana M. Sobolewski, “The Effects of Divorce and Marital Discord on Adult Children’s Psychological Well-Being,” American Sociological Review 66 (2001): 917.

Elizabeth Meneghan and Toby L. Parcel, “Social Sources of Change in Children’s Home Environments: The Effects of Parental Occupational Experiences and Family Conditions,” Journal of Marriage and Family 57 (1995): 69-84.