What is SCP?

Strengthening Children’s Program is for youth in grades 3-8 whose families are experiencing divorce or separation.

  • SCP provides children with vital communication and coping skills through interactive and experiential activities.

  • SCP encourages youths’ understanding and resilience that addresses their emotional and social needs during challenging times.

  • SCP includes resources and weekly email updates for parents of youth participants.

  • SCP provides schools, agencies, clergy, and mental health providers with all the information needed to plan, promote, conduct and evaluate the six 45-minute sessions.

Why We Do It

Children in grades 3-8 in fragmenting families caused by divorce and separation are experiencing enormous challenges.

  • Schools, agencies, clergy, and mental health providers are often the first to see the harmful effects these challenges pose.

  • To prevent these children from self-medicating or other high-risk behaviors, this program eliminates myths while they gain insights, understanding, skills and strategies that empower them.

  • Parents also need resources and information that will help them be supportive of their children during these challenges.

How We Do It

The Strengthening Children’s Program (SCP™) provides all the program information needed by group leaders in schools, agencies, clergy, and mental health providers working with children in grades 3-8 experiencing their family’s divorce and separation.

  • Included are materials for pre-planning, recruitment of youth, information for parents, successful program implementation and a cycle’s evaluation component.

  • The personalized digital curriculum can be licensed for use for one, two or three years. For those seeking multiple licensed copies of the curriculum such as a school district with several schools, or agency with multiple chapters, discounts are available.

  • For assistance at any point, staff of SCP are available by reaching out to info@strengtheningchildrensprogram.com.

Testimonials

"The Strengthening Children’s Program fills a void for schools, agencies, clergy, and practitioners who work with children experiencing family fragmentation. As the author of the Children in Between (CIB) Program, edited by Ellen Taner who is also an international trainer, I can confidently say that those in the more than 40 states and multiple countries offering CIB to parents of divorce and separation, will find it an exceptional complement to their services. The in-person group format provides an ideal opportunity for children to gain insights and skills that will empower them during and after their family challenges."

Dr. Don Gordon
Developer, The Center for Divorce Education

"I loved the outlines and the thorough design! It gives everything the facilitator needs to conduct the sessions. The discussion topics touched my heart."

Yu Jiang
Licensed Parent and Family Educator

Meet the Authors!

Caryn Katz-Loffman

Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about designing programs that create lasting change and foster resilience, particularly in healthcare and family dynamics. With over 30 years of experience, I’ve specialized in supporting diverse populations, including coaching professionals on communication, professionalism, and patient-family-centered care. My work focuses on building empathetic, meaningful interactions between people and helping to bridge gaps in understanding and support.

One of my proudest achievements is the creation of an innovative program supporting children affected by separation and divorce. Drawing from my expertise as a licensed social worker, therapist, and certified coach in navigating difficult conversations, I co-authored a curriculum that equips children with tools to manage conflict, build resilience, and maintain healthy relationships with both parents. This program is grounded in the belief that children, when provided a supportive environment, can emerge stronger and more emotionally secure despite their challenges. In addition to this curriculum, I’ve collaborated on developing medical school curricula guiding students through Professional Identity Formation (PIF), embedding professionalism and cultural sensitivity into their training. I’ve also created and implemented patient-centered healthcare initiatives like the nationally recognized “Take a Break” program that improves the patient-family experience. 

Whether working with children, families, or the healthcare community, my goal remains the same: to foster strong relationships and empower individuals to navigate complex emotional and relational landscapes.

Ellen Taner

I bring over four decades of experience as a family science practitioner, specializing in parenting and family education and training. Through my consulting company, Taner Associates, I have partnered with individuals, schools, agencies, and a wide range of national organizations.

My professional journey has been enriched by collaborating with dynamic colleagues in the training, editing, and evaluation of numerous family science programs. These experiences paved the way for my involvement in the development of the Strengthening Children's Program (SCP™), a six-session curriculum designed for schools, agencies, clergy and mental health providers serving youth in grades 3-8 whose families are navigating divorce or separation. The program received overwhelmingly positive responses from facilitators, sponsors, and, most importantly, the young participants in its initial phases formerly, Good Talk for Children. Their feedback was essential in the decision to revise the program into a digital format and expand SCP™ nationwide.

My commitment to SCP™ is deeply rooted in years of overseeing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment funding in New Jersey’s Bergen County with a population exceeding 800,000 residents. There, I observed a common pattern: when individuals sought support, staff frequently learned that the onset of substance use often coincided with parental divorce during childhood, frequently as young as ages ten through twelve. These insights underscored the urgent need for a program like SCP™, which aims to prevent youth self-medication and other high-risk behaviors. Additionally, SCP™ strives to raise parental awareness of the unique challenges children face during family transitions, supporting both children and parents in achieving a successful and skill-focused adjustment.

Contact us

If you would like to speak with an SCP representative, please provide us with your contact information and a brief message.