Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons and Daughters Chapter Nine: Reconciling - Cultivating Responsibility

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Photos from SWONEKY'S YOUTH COUNCILS

Circles of Care: Community Child Protection - South African Perspectives - Lesley Du Toit

America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth

Retired Gen. Colin L. Powell became America's Promise founding chairman serving in that capacity until 2001. The mission of America's Promise is to strengthen the character and competence of America's youth. We'd like to see every child in America have the fundamental resources he or she needs to be ready for the future. These Five Promises that all children should benefit from are:

1. Caring adults in their lives, as parents, mentors, tutors, coaches
2. Safe places with structured activities in which to learn and grow
3. A healthy start and healthy future
4. An effective education that equips them with marketable skills
5. An opportunity to give back to their communities through their own service

America's Promise is an Alliance that brings together communities, individuals, companies and organizations from all sectors to improve the odds for children and youth. Members of this Alliance work together to:

• Change the public policies affecting children and youth
• Change the scale and scope of resources devoted to helping young people achieve their full potential
• Change practice in the way that young people are served

The Good Behavior Game: A Best Practice Candidate as a Universal Behavioral Vaccine

A simple behavioral strategy called the Good Behavior Game (GBG), which reinforces inhibition in a group context of elementary school, has substantial previous research to consider its use as a behavioral vaccine. The GBG is not a curriculum but rather a simple behavioral procedure from applied behavior analysis. Approximately 20 independent replications of the GBG across different grade levels, different types of students, different settings, and some with long-term follow-up show strong, consistent impact on impulsive, disruptive behaviors of children and teens as well as reductions in substance use or serious antisocial behaviors. The GBG, named as a best practice for the prevention of substance abuse or violent behavior by a number of federal agencies, is unique because it is the only practice implemented by individual teachers that is documented to have long-term effects.

Helping America's Youth Initiative

Helping America’s Youth is a nationwide effort, initiated by President George W. Bush and led by First Lady Laura Bush, to benefit children and teenagers by encouraging action in three key areas: family, school, and community. The Community Guide to Helping America’s Youth helps communities build partnerships, assess their needs and resources, and select from program designs that could be replicated in their community.

It walks community groups through the steps necessary for building strong supports for youth

Solutions for America: What's Already Out There - A Sourcebook of Ideas From Successful Community Programs

This is a completely WILD resource for anyone starting a new community-based youth program. It's called Solutions for America: What's Already Out There - A Sourcebook of Ideas From Successful Community Programs.

There are a ton of time-tested programs such as:

1. Programs that help young people stay in school, off drugs, and on-track
2. Programs that create viable local economies
3. Programs that equip families for success
4. Programs that begin with neighbors
5. Programs that create collaborative change

Check it out - great for newly graduating Project 1:17 students!

Response Ability Pathways (RAP) -

The Reclaiming Youth Network offers basic training in Response Ability Pathways. This develops essential skills for success with children and youth who are experiencing difficulty in family, school, or community. How can we respond to a youngster's needs rather than react to problems?

For more information on this, read this PDF.

For seminars on the USA NorthEast, click here.

Holding California Afterschool Programs Accountable

Implications of the National Research Council's Study: Community Programs to Promote Youth Development

Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities

LARGE AND GROWING numbers of U.S. children and young people are suffering from depression, anxiety, attention deficit, conduct disorders, thoughts of suicide, and other serious mental and behavioral problems. Why? What can be done to reverse this trend? In this pioneering report, the Commission on Children at Risk, a panel of 33 leading children's doctors, neuroscientists, research scholars and youth service professionals, draw upon a large body of recent research showing that children are biologically primed ("hardwired") for enduring connections to others and for moral and spiritual meaning. The authors introduce a new public policy and social science term — authoritative communities — to describe the ten essential traits across social institutions that produce better outcomes for children.

The report proposes three major social goals and makes 18 recommendations for social and public policy change.

• Executive Summary
• Church Guide for Applying Hardwired to Connect

Crisis Prevention Institute

This is a helpful site that explores an augmentation of life-space crisis intervention, which they call nonviolent crisis intervention.

This looks really interesting for youthworkers. If you contact them, they are willing to send some free training resources for those who are wanting to inquire more.

Treasures of the Trail - Youth as Volunteers

An excellent article the links between volunteerism and at-risk youth. It asks an important question of adults perception of youth.

Do we see:

1. Youth as objects?
2. Youth as recipients?
3. Youth as resources?

"Doing the impossible is fun." - Walt Disney

Helping Youth Overcome Trauma - Jamie C. Chambers

This morning, I was reading an excerpt from the Spring, 2005 issue of Reclaiming Children and Youth (I strongly urge you to order a subscription of the INCREDIBLE journal).

I came across an article entitled, "Helping Youth Overcome Trauma" by Jamie C. Chambers. There was a brilliant quote I wanted to share from this article that ties beautifully to our mission in The Salvation Army - and specifically Project 1:17:

"Youth who live in virtual war zones extend emotional antennae, build behavior shelters, and dig mental trenches to protect themselves. This often means disowning parts of themselves that have been under attack. They struggle to cope and survive within the narrow parameters of rigid roles and rituals. Under these conditions, they are like roses who fail to thrive and never blossom. I believe failure to thrive is evidence of a spirit held captive. Soon, like the rose, the spirit withers and is doomed to create, express, choose, or transcend in a crooked fashion.

"Healing requires shedding layers of protective clothing contaminated by the stench of the murky fog. The human heart begins to beat as the soul is freed to create, express, choose or transcend in ways that are helpful, useful, and less symptomatic. Consquently, there is a gentle recognition of self and of a higher being able to restore meaning to life" (Chambers, p.20).

My prayer is that as youthworkers, we will remain resolute in our callings to help bring freedom to captive youth (Isaiah 1:17).

Steve

Deirdre Russell-Bowie - Researching At-Risk Youth, Literacy and the Creative Arts in Austrailia

I just read an amazing article from the Reclaiming Children and Youth Journal (Spring, 2005) which talked about the work of Deirdre Russell-Bowie in New South Wales. She is an associate-professor in creative arts education at the University of Western Sydney, Austrailia.

Recently, she organized an innovative art exhibition for eighteen students from grades four to six. She called this, My Community: The Power of Story.

I was so gripped by this article - and the sense of a kindred spirit working toward similar goals halfway around the world, that I had to find out more. It's great to find others who are seeking to reclaim youth in other parts of the world.

Steve

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory

Last week in class (at Project 1:17), Melissa was discussing the use of intelligence assessment in K-12 education. I made reference to the diversity of what we deem 'intelligence.' One of the most significant critics of this type of testing is Harvard U's Howard Gardner - who has introduced the concept of multiple intelligences.

He talks about there being at least nine different intelligences - which include:

1. Linguistic intelligence
2. Logical-mathematical intelligence
3. Musical-rhythmic intelligence
4. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
5. Spatial intelligence
6. Naturalist intelligence
7. Intrapersonal intelligence
8. Interpersonal intelligence
9. Existential intelligence

The recognition of different forms of intelligence is critical for the after-school/community-based youthworker. In looking at the assets of the youth we are working with, it is important to recognize the resilience to be found in kids and youth who fall between the cracks of other intelligence assessment tools.

Click here for additional resources.

Life Space Crisis Intervention

"To provide skills for special educators, counselors, psychologists, juvenile justice staff, child care workers and others who work with troubled and troubling children and youth to enable them to prevent and resolve crises, to build good relationships with challenging youth, and to help them learn to change repetitive patterns of self-defeating behavior."

Life Space Crisis Intervention is a subject which is consistently discussed in Larry Brendtro and Scott Larson's Reclaiming our Prodigal Sons and Daughters. This material is crucial for anyone working in community-based youthwork.

"LSCI is an advanced, interactive therapeutic strategy for turning crisis situations into learning opportunities for children and youth with chronic patterns of self-defeating behaviors. LSCI views problems or stressful incidents as opportunities for learning, growth, insight, and change. This non-physical intervention program uses a multi-theoretical approach to behavior management and problem solving. LSCI provides staff a roadmap through conflict to desired outcomes using crisis as an opportunity to teach and create positive relationships with youth."

This group offers training seminars on this subject. These are taking place throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa etc (Do a search for training in your local area).

I would also encouarage you to have a look at Nicholas J. Long and Mary M. Wood's book, Life Space Intervention: Talking with Children and Youth in Crisis.

Steve

National Agenda for Achieving Better Results for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance

A quick summary prepared by the Chesapeake Institute for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Office of Special Education Programs.

This report suggests strategic targets for achieving better results for children and youth with serious emotional disturbance:

1. Expand Positive Learning Opportunities and Results
2. Strengthen School and Community Capacity
3. Value and Address Diversity
4. Collaborate with Families
5. Promote Appropriate Assessment
6. Provide Ongoing Skill Development and Support
7. Create Comprehension and Collaborative Systems

This type of information is critical to understand as youthworkers. Many times, the kids and youth who we are working with have experienced some form of emotional abuse. When youth participate in our programs, we have an opportunity to provide an alternative positive environment where we can set up scaffolds to aid in the development of alternative responses.

I would encourage you to take the time to explore these materials.

Steve

Safeguarding Our Children - An Action Guide

Excellent resource from the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice. It's called Safeguarding Our Children - An Action Guide.

Fathering Fatherless America - by Dr. Scott Larson

A good article by one of the authors of Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons & Daughters

Media Literacy: Overseas Conversations - at the Chelsea Art Museum, June 5- 10, 2006.

Media Literacy is something very close to my heart as this is the subject of my Master's Thesis. I think it's a critical topic for youthworkers in after-school programs to be thinking about.

This is a FREE conference in NYC which is worth participating in if you are in the vicinity. Good subject. Good speakers. Good development.

Steve

New York, NY --The third annual MEDIA LITERACY: Overseas Conversations Series , organized by European Observatory of Children's Television (OETI), Duende Pictures, and The Museum of Television & Radio, will take place from June 5 to 10, 2006. Promoting intercultural communication about the role of media and media literacy in the lives of children and youth, the conference will offer programs for both the industry and general public, all free of charge. Support for the conference is provided by ICIC-Generalitat of Catalonia; Aldeas Infantiles, Spain; Fundación Rafael del Pino, Madrid; TV3-Catalunya Televisió and the Consulate of Spain in New York.

The conference will provide an open forum for issues to be discussed, with topics ranging from cross-cultural collaboration to the implementation of media literacy as an educational resource both in and outside of the classroom to the analysis of the ways children and teenagers use mass media and what effect it has on their development. In addition, the organizers will offer screenings of youth-produced media from around the world for children and teenagers.

• The schedule for MEDIA LITERACY: Overseas Conversations Series follows.
• All events are held at The Museum of Television & Radio (25 West 52 Street, Manhattan) unless otherwise noted.
• All programs are free, on a first-come, first-served basis (reservations accepted via e-mail: mailto:duende@duendepictures.com).

Community Technology Conference

I just received this from a Techmission Bulletin. I thought it might be something of interest for our youthworkers.

CTCNet’s 2006 anniversary conference will highlight 15 years of CTCs and community technology: the history, the changes and innovations in the field. An expected 500 leaders will gather together bringing resources and experience to share.

The CTC Network is rooted in community-based efforts, deepened by regional collaborations, and further strengthened by the national exchange of best and effective practices for CTCs. For more than 15 years, CTCs have used technology to engage citizens by offering technology access, training, and support in underserved communities to meet a range of socio-economic challenges.

Our goal at the 15th anniversary CTCNet conference is to demonstrate the reach, capacity, and impact of CTCs across the United States, as well as highlight our relationships across domestic borders. Whether you have been part of the community technology movement from early on – or you came on in recent years, join this incredible group of people to reflect, share, and celebrate our history -- and the future to come. Highlights of conference events include:

• An educational program of 40 breakout sessions and half-day workshops
• Special events including the CTC Advocacy Day and a 15th Anniversary Reception
• An Exhibit Hall featuring an array of tools, resources and services for CTCs
• Networking and resource sharing activities, including CTC site visits
• Feature panel discussions on current topics; and
• The Annual CTCNet Membership Meeting.

See the Conference Agenda for more details.

Viktor E. Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.

Urban Youth Worker Institute - Sessions Now on MP3

Attention Youthworkers:

The Urban Youth Worker Institute took place last weekend in California; and from what I hear from my good friend, Fulton Hawk, several of the delegates were wearing Salvation Army T-shirts designed by the Hawkman himself! I love Fulton's wild imaginative designs - which he uses solely for the glory of God. His revolution design was well-received this past weekend at the SWONEKY's Youth Councils.

This blog, though, is to let you know that MP3s of the main UYWI sessions are now available at this link.

Sessions include:

• Now is the Kingdom - Efram Smith & Lina Thompson
• Grace of the Kingdom - Marvin Daniels (men's sess. / Ginny Olsen (women's sess.)
• Cost of the Kingdom - John Perkins & Shane Claiborne
• Power of the Kingdom - Jeffrey De Leon & Alise Barrymore
• Inclusiveness of the Kingdom - Ray Bakke & William 'Duce' Branch

I strongly encourage you to take some time out to listen to these great sessions. Always tap into new material to keep yourself fresh, refilled, and on-fire.

Steve

Getting It Right: Strategies for After-School Success