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Journey of Hope

NameJourney of Hope
Target AudienceMiddle childhood (6-12 years)
CfC ObjectiveHealthy Young Families
OrganisationSave the Children
Delivery SettingSchool-based
DescriptionTeaches children social and emotional skill building to promote self-efficacy, problem solving and positive coping so they may have the capacity to overcome current and future trauma.
Delivered toChildren aged 4 – 18 years old who have experienced a traumatic event.
Delivered byTeachers, social workers, youth workers.
Program Structure

Journey of Hope is delivered to small groups of up to ten children either once a week over eight weeks or twice a week over four weeks. Program sessions are designed to help children:
 

  • understand and normalise emotions associated with traumatic stress;
  • develop positive coping strategies to deal with these emotions;
  • build on their innate strengths and those of their families, schools and communities to further develop positive coping mechanisms; and
  • instil a sense of hope, empowering them to feel more in control over stressors.

There are four program variants:
 

  • Early Years into Lower Primary – children aged 4-7 years old
  • Middle Primary - children aged 8-11 years old
  • Late Primary to Early High School - young people aged 12-14 years old
  • Mid to late High School - young people aged 15-18 years old

Different engagement and learning techniques are used depending on the age of participants.

TrainingTwo facilitators deliver the program. Facilitators must be qualified with either a bachelor degree in social work, youth work or education and have experience in working with vulnerable children.

A detailed facilitator manual and workbooks with structured session plans are available.
Cost$6000 (includes training, manuals, resource kit, fidelity checks and evaluation tools).
ContactEmail: journeyofhope@savethechildren.org.au
Website: savethechildren.org.au/our-work/our-programs/australia/journey-of-hope
Evaluation and effectiveness

Several evaluations of the program have been conducted including two quasi- experimental studies (Powell & Bui, 2016; Powell & Thompson, 2016).

Powell and Bui (2016) collected data from 116 program participants aged between 11 and 15 years old. Pre-post outcomes were measured using validated tools showing that children in the intervention (n=61) improved their prosocial skills, and communication and tension management compared to the control group (n=49).


In similar findings, Powell & Thompson’s evaluation (2016) examined the outcomes of 102 children aged between 8 and 12 years old and found that children in the intervention (n=48) improved more on teacher report prosocial scales and coping skill measures compared to the control group (n=54).


Powell, T. M., & Bui, T. (2016). Supporting social and emotional skills after a disaster: Findings from a mixed methods study. School Mental Health: A Multidisciplinary Research and Practice Journal, 8(1), 106–119.


Powell, T. M., & Thompson, S.J. (2016). Enhancing Coping and Supporting Protective Factors After a Disaster: Findings From a Quasi-Experimental Study. Research on Social Work Practice, 28(5), 1-11.

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