Seasons for Growth is a grief education program for young people aged 6 to 18 years who have experienced significant change or loss due to death or family breakdown. Seasons for Growth is a national program, sponsored and produced by the Mary MacKillop Foundation. In South Australia, the program received funding from the Department of Human Services (DHS) for a 2-year period. SACHRU was invited by the DHS, to undertake an evaluation of the Seasons for Growth program in South Australian primary schools.

The evaluation focused on four areas:

1. Reach of the program, in particular in regard to equity of access to disadvantaged students and schools
2. Collation of activity data
3. Factors impacting on sustainability within schools
4. Impact on program participants

The evaluation used a mix methods and data sources: short response feedback sheets from students and parents; semi-structured phone interviews with teachers; phone interviews with key informants in one primary school; and activity data collected by Seasons staff.

The evaluation found that Seasons for Growth met an identified need in school communities and was seen to complement other programs and resource supports in the areas of mental health and student learning.

A final report was presented to the Department of Human Services and Seasons for Growth staff in April 2004.

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