NCJ Number
197626
Date Published
2002
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This document focuses on how school personnel can help young people from troubled homes.
Abstract
Children from troubled homes have the capacity for healing and growth. When their resilience is nurtured, they can develop positive self-images that can help them become well-adjusted adults. Six strategies are discussed to help these children become well adjusted. Step One is to build resilience in young people by focusing on their strengths. Effective schools promote resilience by creating a nurturing climate for learning and achieving. They provide caring relationships and peer support. Step Two is to connect with children in order to resolve their inappropriate behaviors. An effective student assistance program performs seven basic functions: prevention, identification, screening, assessment, intervention, treatment, and support. Step Three is to be receptive and listen patiently when children reach out for help. Four questions that school personnel may find productive when helping children of all ages search for solutions to their problems are: (1) what is the situation; (2) what has been tried so far; (3) what else can be done; and (4) what is the next step. Step Four is to act decisively when there is suspicion of neglect or abuse. Ongoing follow-up is important because single-episode interventions are not very effective. Step Five is to involve and encourage parents and guardians as much as possible. A positive approach fosters parental responsibility by recognizing family strengths. Step Six is to protect children by creating caring teacher-student relationships. The most important centers of care within schools are the classrooms themselves. Classrooms can be seen as families. Every student needs the direct encouragement of at least one trustworthy adult at school. 90 references