STAR - Program of the Special Needs Support Center, Upper Valley NH, VT

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WHAT WE DO

Tyler The STAR program helps teens to meet the challenges that both adolescence and chronic health conditions present. Participants are thirteen years of age and older whose lives are effected by chronic physical health conditions including, but not limited to, asthma, cancer, cardiology conditions, cerebral palsy, Crohn’s disease/colitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, hearing impairment, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, seizure disorders and spina bifida.

The STAR program uses a group mentoring model to provide support and education for teens with chronic physical health conditions and their parents. STAR offers the teens an environment in which to learn strategies to gain control over their illnesses and to navigate successful transitions to adulthood. Parents gather to support each other, give voice to their own experiences of parenting a child with a chronic health condition and to share strategies for the future. The teens and families are empowered to discover their own strengths, resilience, determination and compassion for one another.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

DINNER/DISCUSSION GROUPS

(HELD EVERY 4-6 WEEKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR)

Bringing groups of teenagers and young adult mentors together to talk is a meaningful experience for everyone involved. STAR teens who participate in “dinner groups” meetings have dinner and discuss aspects of living with a chronic physical health condition. Each meeting has a theme such as the impact of a chronic health conditions on families, coping with a chronic health condition at school, relationships with medical care providers, school transitions (middle to high school or after high school) and an annual “Bring a Friend Dinner.”

One STAR teen explains that dinner groups are important because “there is a lot we can learn from each other’s experiences.” A Dartmouth STAR mentor notes that dinner meetings are “ nice because there isn’t a negative connotation put on having an illness; it’s more like a badge we all wear together…the groups help empower the teens to be positive about their lives. ”
Another STAR mentor comments, “It can be interesting to hear different people think about their health conditions/disabilities. For some people, it’s a big part of their identities; for others, it’s no more so than their eye color.”

While the teens and mentors meet, the parents also have the opportunity meet and relate to others about raising a child with a chronic illness. Parent support groups are led by a social worker, and have been extremely successful over the past ten years.

ANNUAL RETREAT

The highlight of the year for many STAR teens is the annual retreat. Each spring STAR teens and mentors participate, spending an entire day together as a group. The day is spent at the Hulbert Outdoor Center completing the high ropes course and engaging in discussion groups and games.

I feel like you have time to really get to know one another, and a lot of bonding takes place. You need time for everyone to go beyond their comfort zone. Both the activities and discussions have been fun and rewarding. Also, I always come away from the retreat feeling completely re-energized and positive and pro-active about my life and my illness. It’s great to learn from/share with others.
-STAR mentor

The last retreat was really fun, ’cause it included sports (basketball), silly games (mafia), and just hanging out.
-STAR mentor

The retreat was great. It’s so cool to see people really open up to each other over the course of a full day.
-STAR mentor

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

(HELD SEVERAL TIMES EACH SCHOOL YEAR)

In addition to the dinner groups and retreat, there are a variety of social activities sponsored by STAR. Dartmouth College student mentors work together to plan these events, ranging from bowling to pizza parties, Dartmouth sporting events to game nights.

I really like the group activities like canoeing, bowling, and retreats. It’s great to see the different ways everyone interacts with each other.
-STAR mentor

Dates for all STAR activities can be found on our events page and require an RSVP.

Please contact STAR to register.

NEXT EVENT

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Your Support can help keep this program available for teens and parents!

My Extraordinary Universe
By Carmen

just think
in a world so extraordinary
my whole universe
can revolve around something
a thing so seemingly small
an event with so much impact
that has brought distress of mind
and yet so much maturity
has tagged along by its side
and through all of this
I've made a great personal achievement
a circumstance I'm sure never to forget
though it may fade slightly over years to come
it will never disappear from me completely
for I have too much pride in my sorrow
I've known to much pain to ignore
soon will be my private glory
my turn to smile and silently leave