CHildren’s Intercultural Program (CHIPs)

Smiling child with curly hair and a yellow bow, covered in colorful paint, wearing a white tank top, outdoors.

Your entire family has served in cross-cultural ministry. Your whole family—including children, no matter their ages—will face significant changes and challenges as you return to your passport culture. MTI understands the unique issues that kids face and we’re ready to walk beside you in this transition.

While parents attend Debriefing & Renewal (lovingly known as “DAR”), CHIPs objectives parallel the parent’s objectives. This creates natural talking points and allows families to continue the learning process together in the evening.

What is CHIPs Debriefing & Renewal?

Kids returning from cross-cultural ministry often experience difficulties relating to and connecting with others who haven’t shared the same experiences. They often shut down or lock up relationally. Although this is also true of adults, it can be especially paralyzing or confusing for kids. Interacting with other kids who have “been there”, along with CHIPs facilitators who put names to common reactions, can unlock the child’s positive outlook on life. This is done in a way that connects them to God’s love in their life.

Give Kids & Teens Language to Express Their Experiences

Three young children sitting on a step, smiling and hugging each other. The child on the left wears a gray sweater, the middle child wears a splatter-painted shirt, and the child on the right wears a floral dress.

Our certified CHIPs teachers facilitate the program in five different age-clusters, maximizing the effectiveness for each age group. Age groupings may be adjusted per program according to the needs of the children coming through Debriefing & Renewal.

Age Appropriate

REGISTER FOR DAR

While parents participate in training sessions, loving, experienced caregivers establish a warm and stable environment for the 6-week-olds through 1-year-olds. Parents can be called readily, if needed, in coordination with adult training staff.
For the health and welfare of infants, we request that they be at least 6-weeks-old before attending DAR.
Toddlers will have an opportunity to debrief through age-appropriate play and activities. Books, crafts and objects with memory triggers will be used to help them process their experiences living overseas.
This age group will have made connections with the people and culture in which their families have served. Activities and crafts will help facilitate processing their experiences and feelings. Each child will be given specific time to share their unique story.
By processing and unpacking their stories, breakthrough kids are beginning to find their way forward. They are seeking to be heard and to find others who have had similar experiences. Through our modules, we provide focus on issues that third culture kids (TCKs) face in transition.
For teens, the transition from one culture to another is complex. They are grieving losses, wrestling with their identity and seeking to find their own place to fit. We provide a safe place for teens to process where they are in their journey and to validate their experiences and feelings.
MTI does not have a specialized program for young adults that have graduated high school. Please contact info@mti.org for information on alternative programs designed especially for young adults.