More than ever, social disconnectedness is affecting youth across the world. To combat our mental health crisis and to cultivate caring behaviors in our schools and youth communities, we must know – and teach – how to care for each other. This is done through the skill of comfort.
Project Comfort is a character development program that offers up to eight valuable lessons.
This program is the ultimate “learn-by-doing” program that awakens the empathy that lies within us. Project Comfort’s programming is perfect in the classroom, for after school clubs, summer camps, or groups that are in need of group bonding and deeper relationships.
We certify your staff to facilitate the program.
Our signature Inspiring Comfort plaque: a one-to-one connection of care created specifically by someone for someone. It carries a heartfelt message and creates a lasting keepsake of personalized encouragement.
Our 8 lessons are core to development of the evidence-based skill of comfort. Each lesson includes an accompanying activity of creating and delivering a signature comfort plaque.
Each lesson in our program requires intentional action. This is the step that pushes participants through the Awkward Zone. At Inspiring Comfort, we believe that if you want to teach connection, you should require it.
Lesson One: Gain an understanding of what comfort is, and what it means to build a long-term culture of comfort.
Lesson Two: Participants recognize the characteristics our pets model of care and comfort.
Lesson Three: Participants identify what their personal barriers to comfort are, and learn how to break through the “Awkward Zone.”
Lesson Four: Participants identify the 5 steps to comfort, gain an understanding of our core human needs, and learn how comforting others comforts us.
Lesson Five: Participants learn how to put themselves in another person’s shoes, what to avoid when comforting someone, and how comforting is a long-term endeavor.
Lesson Six: Participants learn to differentiate between the functions of the heart and the functions of the brain when caring for others.
Lesson Seven: Participants practice and apply listening skills and learn to be comfortable with silence. They also learn the guidelines to writing a message of comfort.
Lesson Eight: Participants learn the P.A.U.S.E. Comfort Filter, 6 things to consider before they speak, and 8 tips for comforting actions.
You’re qualified to facilitate the Project Comfort program if you are:
— Someone who has a huge heart and cares deeply for students
— An expert at managing time and projects
— An engaging communicator
— Someone who the students feel able to trust
— Someone who believes in a culture of care
We believe that it’s everyone responsibility, not just that of mental health professionals, to cultivate a culture of care.
You do not need to be a mental health professional to be a Project Comfort Facilitator. That being said, we recommend that a mental health liaison be present for some sessions to ensure the wellbeing of the students.
Inspiring Comfort was awarded a pilot research study from the Suicide Prevention Center of New York (SPCNY), delivering Project Comfort to the Lorges School, a non-public special education middle school in New York City - during the pandemic and remotely. The results from the study are in, and we are thrilled!
Thank you to Montclair State University, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the Suicide Prevention Center of New York for believing in the power and resilience of this skill and making it happen beyond pandemic odds.
“It speaks to student’s strengths — you can give to others. Our students are often the recipients of services, and they don’t have very much confidence in themselves and in their ability to give to others. Now, they see themselves empowered to recognize their own strengths and to help others.
— Ellen Mollen, LSCW, Clinical Supervisor at the Lorges School
“This was an amazing experience for children, staff and families. We need to do more of this with children. This kind of “work” is so valuable. Parents are so busy making ends meet and pressured to make sure children are academically ready for school, character education in the home is not what it used to be. Many parents commented on what a great program it was and that the students enjoyed delivering their plaques. We were able to comfort such a wide range of people… young and old, near and far. Quite powerful. And I truly think students saw how collectively we made such a difference.”
— Teri A, 3rd Grade Teacher, Orange, CT
“What I value so much about this approach to teaching comfort as a skill is its step-by-step focus on teaching skills to enhance empathy and removing barriers that inhibit it, all in a science-backed way. One of the biggest reasons people don’t engage in the sometimes difficult work of comforting others is that they feel ill-equipped. By teaching them how to deal with potentially awkward situations, how to reach out to others, and how to step up and simply be there when needed, they start to feel efficacious. To try and do something challenging, we have to feel like we have the tools. And the programs and workshops Inspiring Comfort is building are built around exactly that: giving people the tools they need to comfort others.”
— Dr. David DeSteno, Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, American Psychological Association Fellow
For refill supplies, click here.
Assorted Blank Plaques
50 color plaques (blue, teal, ivory, pink, lime green, yellow, lilac)
Art Supplies*
55 oil-based paint pens in assorted colors, selected and tested to make beautiful plaques
24 assorted colors of permanent, fine-point pens
12 fine-point black pens
12 ultra fine-point black pens
1 tube clear glue
144 pieces of decorating bling
24 pencils and 1 pencil sharpener
Gifting Materials
50 cellophane bags
100 pieces of colored ribbon
50 Inspiring Comfort insert cards
* Included art supplies will support decorating of up to 250 plaques. Additional plaques can be ordered in quantities of 50. Included pens and markers work best with no more than 25-30 participants at a time.
