THE GROW PROGRAM
GROW currently runs in Uganda, Kurdistan Iraq, and in Eastern Europe.
GROW is a community-based mental health program, which aims to improve the mental, emotional, behavioral, relational, and spiritual well-being of participants by fostering attributes that cultivate the right environment and conditions for growth to take place.
The nine sessions are facilitated over a two-week period and designed for groups of approximately 20 people.
This curriculum is based on the therapeutic concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), which describes the experience of individuals whose development has “not only survived, but has experienced changes that are viewed as important, and that go beyond what was the previous status quo.” (Tedeschi, R., Calhoun, L., 2004). Participants are guided through a process that seeks to develop hope, belief, gratitude, kindness, and courage to forgive.
GROW also utilizes elements of evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. The emphasis is not on retelling the difficult event itself, but rather is focused on the positive growth that can occur post-trauma.
Tutapona GROW program graduates across Uganda and Iraq have an average, self-reported symptom reduction of more than 45% in their Screen for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (SPTSS) and an increase of 72.1% in the WHO-Five Well-Being Index.
A two-day follow-up program occurs three months after the conclusion of the program. It is designed to reinforce understanding of the key principles covered and allow Tutapona staff the opportunity to reconnect with the community and evaluate progress. Our reports indicate that the reduction of symptoms and increase in well-being is maintained after that three-month period.