Rainbows Irelands’ Service provides a community-based approach of early intervention support for children and young people experiencing the impact of a death, parental separation, divorce or relationship breakdown.
At the core of Rainbows is a deep commitment to understanding the impact of loss, grief and family change on children and young people and the privilege and responsibility it is to support them.
Coping with loss and significant change is one of life’s biggest difficulties.
Grief is a natural response to that loss and significant change.
The very foundation of the Rainbows Ireland Framework of support recognises that
- Grief, loss and change are a normal and natural part of life
- The death of someone in a child’s or young person’s life can be profound and life changing.
- Each and every child and young person experiencing a significant death is a grieving person, no matter what their age or stage of development.
- Parental separation, divorce and relationship breakdown of parents can be associated with a diverse range of outcomes for children and young people
- Grief, loss and significant change is a very personal, individual journey different for every child and young person
- Children and young people are active, resilient participants in their own lives
- The dignity of each child’s and young person’s grief, loss and responses need to be respected and supported
- Each child and young person will respond in their own way and in their own time
- Grief, loss and significant change needs to be acknowledged and supported, not denied, buried or ignored
- The emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people impacted by significant life changing experiences is fundamental to their future mental health, wellbeing, and development.