JP Morgan Chase Helps Kids Cope With Sept. 11th
By Jessica Shi

Although the immediate shock and confusion of Sept. 11th are over, the long-term effects of this disaster are still in question. While most of the monetary and personnel attention have concentrated on the rescue and recovery efforts, certain organizations, including JP Morgan Chase, are beginning to focus more on younger children.

JP Morgan Chase recently partnered with Mercy Corps and with Bright Horizons Family Solutions to launch a program called ‘Comfort for Kids’.

“In launching this program, JP Morgan Chase reaches out to community groups in hopes of impacting early childhood education, especially in low-income, ethnic neighborhoods where access to counseling is limited,” said Joy Bunson, Senior Vice President and one of the coordinators of ‘Comfort for Kids’ at JP Morgan Chase.

The program has four components. The first component, a booklet and video entitled “What Happened to the World?” aim to help parents, teachers, and child-care providers deal with the emotions of their children, as well as their own. The set contains strategies to help children of different age groups, from pre-school to teenage with a range of behaviors and concerns.

The company also created a ‘Comfort Kit’ designed for preschool- to middle school-age children who have been impacted by the disaster. Containing toys, books, and postcards, the kit is designed to reassure and comfort children, while allowing them room for self-expression. It also encourages a sense of community and helps promote tolerance.

The final components of the ‘Comfort for Kids’ program are a series of workshops and “train the trainers” sessions. During the workshops, which are designed to help parents answer their children’s questions about the recent events, experienced childcare professionals will provide the parents with advice and guidance. In the “train the trainers” sessions, counselors, teachers, and caregivers are taught to conduct sessions in childcare centers, schools, community centers, and places of worship.

In addition to creating ‘Comfort Kids,’ JP Morgan Chase has worked with the United Neighborhood Houses of New York to improve their communities and advocate for public policy changes and social reform, to provide counseling and training to parents and caregivers in Islamic and Mexican neighborhoods.

JP Morgan Chase plans to distribute the ‘Comfort for Kids’ kits to the general public through their branches. Officers at the branches would assess the needs of their clients and send out these kits to the families who request them. For more details on the ‘Comfort for Kids’ program go to www.jpmorganchase.com, www.mercycorps.org, www.brighthorizons.com and www.unhny.org.

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.