In early 1997 Rollercoasters was pilot-tested at seven sites in three cities, involving more than 50 children from families of divorce. The majority of parents said they would recommend Rollercoasters to someone experiencing a divorce. In addition to the parents survey, a brief survey of the children indicated that all the children liked the program and none cited anything they would change. This initial research effort shows that intervention can effectively deliver the content of the curriculum and that, based on parents' ratings, some children benefit noticeably from participating in the program.
Families First is a multi-service, nonprofit family and children s agency in Atlanta, Georgia.
More than 170 nonprofit agencies in 39 states have been trained and licensed to deliver the program. The program consists of eight themes, addressed in a group format through structured discussion, and a set of supplemental activities. Some of the most common reactions from children age 9-12 include anxiety, grief, loneliness, and powerlessness. Each group operated as an eight-week curriculum with group meetings once per week for approximately 50 minutes. A primary goal of the pilot study was to conduct an initial examination of the impact of the curriculum on the participating children.