Ministering to Troubled Youth

1. Ministering to Troubled Youth National Association of School Psychologists Jeremy Doughty Apostolic Center, Mattoon Eastern IL Area of Special Education

2. Demonstration • Language and self talk • Nonverbals National Association of School Psychologists

3. Emotional Competence • Being aware of personal goals, values, beliefs • Understanding cultural and ethnic differences and each other’s worldview • Demonstrating self-regulation skills • Knowing personal triggers National Association of School Psychologists

4. Anger National Association of School Psychologists

5. Behaviors Feelings + Needs National Association of School Psychologists

6. Meaning in Emotional Communication National Association of School Psychologists

7. Emotional First Aid National Association of School Psychologists

8. Conflict Cycle National Association of School Psychologists

9. Avoid Conflict Cycle • Using positiveself-talk • Listening and validating feelings • Managing the environment, e.g., removing others • Giving choices and the time to decide • Redirecting the young person to another positive activity • Appealing to the young person’s self-interest • Dropping or changing the expectation National Association of School Psychologists

10. REMEMBER!!! • We are talking about troubled youth. • This is not for all your youth. National Association of School Psychologists

11. Behavior • It’s communication – it’s for a reason • Escape • Gain • Attention • Self-stimulation Look beyond behavior to find the source of resistance or function. National Association of School Psychologists

12. Escalating the behavior of the young person • Acting superior • Yelling • Nagging • Invading personal space • “preaching” • Sarcasm • Mimicry • Commanding presence or body language • Demanding in ALL things • Overly rigid • Dominating • Tense body language • Tense vocal tone • Explaining • Talking too much • Reminding or rules constantly • Pleading • Bribing • Holding a grudge • Drawing others into the situation and deferring to others National Association of School Psychologists

13. ADHD • In 2007… • Ages 4-10= 5.5% • Ages 11-14=8.6% • Ages 15-17=9.3% • Is it on the rise? National Association of School Psychologists

14. Parents/Care workers • Be positive • Establish structure • Create a quiet place • Set clear expectations and rules • Decrease the child’s caffeine and TV • Incorporate physical activity • Consider a pet • Be a role model for good organization your child to make and keep friends • Listen • Teach your child to make and keep friends • Take care of yourself • Communicate often with the • Educate yourself/seek support Make sure the child sleeps, exercises, and gets good nutrition! National Association of School Psychologists

15. Interventions • Provide routine/be predictable • Use effective teaching • Hold high expectations • Be clear and concise • Use audiovisual materials • Incorporate a variety of activities • Use cues to focus students • Use prompts and reminders for behavior • Employ a reward system • Divide work into smaller chunks • Include peer grouping/tutoring • Use technology • Allow for movement • Provide calming manipulatives • Capitalize on student strengths • Praise often, immediately, and in a specific manner • Employ selective ignoring • Teach students to self-monitor • Implement accommodations National Association of School Psychologists

16. Autism (ASD) • Spectrum disorder • Neurological disorder • Victor • Bryant Guidelines: • Use quiet calm voice • Avoid repetitive questions/statement. Stop talking • Use choice – direct not open ended statements National Association of School Psychologists

17. Autism Interventions • Routines/Structure • Visuals • Consistent and persistent • Manage the environment – sensory • Reinforce • Help self-regulation • Wait • Back-up plans • Chunk activities • Prepare for changes and transitions • Develop thick skin • Have fun, laugh, enjoy them! National Association of School Psychologists

18. Other disabilities • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect • Cerebral Palsy • Physical Impairments • Emotional/Mental Health • Professional Help – Medical and Cognitive • OCD, Personality Disorders, Reactive Attachment Disorder • Suicide – small school assembly • Addictions • Beware of Mandated Reporter laws National Association of School Psychologists

19. Helps • Communicate often and positively with families and parents • Peer mentors/socialization • Expectations • Independence • Responsibility • Love and peace, baby! National Association of School Psychologists

20. Sunday School Teachers • 9 Types of Adaptations • Size • Time • Input • Output • Difficulty • Participation • Level of Support • Alternate Goals • Substitute Curriculum National Association of School Psychologists

21. Timely and Meaningful Consultation National Association of School Psychologists Homeschoolers, Parochial Schools, Private Schools Access to Special Education services

22. Behavior Support Techniques • Managing the environment • Prompting • Caring gesture • Hurdle help • Redirection and distractions • Proximity • Directive statements • Time away National Association of School Psychologists

23. Obed Edom • I Chr. 13:13-14 • Glory/Presence of the Lord • Laban/Jacob – Gen 30:27 • Jailer/Joseph – Gen 39:21-23 • Being in the presence of the Lord makes me and others better people. • Authenticity National Association of School Psychologists

24. National Association of School Psychologists

25. The Facts • Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of deaths in youths age 15-24 • Boys who attempt suicide are 4 times more likely to die as a result; however, girls are 3 times as likely to attempt it. • Over half of all suicides are completed with a firearm. National Association of School Psychologists

26. The Facts • In 2004, 32,439 people died by suicide. (CDC) • In 2004 it is estimated there were 811,000 suicide attempts in the US • It is estimated that there are 8 to 25 attempts for every one completed. National Association of School Psychologists

27. The Facts • Every 16.2 minutes someone dies from suicide • 2010 Ranking by state # 46 Illinois 1,1088.6 • Suicide is the highest in the spring. National Association of School Psychologists

28. Warning Signs • Suicide threats: It has been estimated that 80% of all suicide victims have given some clues regarding their intentions. Both direct (“I want to kill myself.”) and indirect (“I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up”) threats need to be taken seriously. National Association of School Psychologists

29. Suicide Warnings • Suicide notes and plans: The presence of a suicide note is a very significant sign of danger. • The greater the planning revealed by the youth, the greater the risk of suicidal behavior. National Association of School Psychologists

30. Suicide Warnings • Prior suicidal behavior: Prior behavior is a powerful predictor of future behavior. Therefore, anyone with a history of suicidal behavior should be carefully observed for future suicidal behavior. National Association of School Psychologists

31. Suicide Warnings • Making final arrangements: Making funeral arrangements, writing a will, and/or giving away prized possessions may be warning signs of impending suicidal behavior. • Preoccupation with death: Excessive talking, drawing, reading, and/or writing about death may suggest suicidal thinking. National Association of School Psychologists

32. Suicide Warnings • Changes in behavior, appearance, thoughts, and/or feelings: Depression (especially when combined with hopelessness), sudden happiness (especially when preceded by significant depression), a move toward social isolation, giving away personal possessions, and reduced interest in previously important activities are among the changes considered to be suicide warning signs. National Association of School Psychologists

33. Assessment Tools • Teen Screen • http://www.teenscreen.org National Association of School Psychologists

34. Clinical Interview • Separate from parents • Discuss limits of confidentiality • Set the mood • Open-ended, non-threatening, general questions: • “Aside from XYZ, how have you been doing?” • “What kind of things have been stressing you out lately?” • “How have things been going with [school, friends, parents, sports]?” National Association of School Psychologists

35. Suicide Prevention • LEADS for YOUTH • http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=45DFBB66-7E90-9BD4-CEB81505D25E7ED1 National Association of School Psychologists

36. • Intervening to Prevent Suicide • When you see suicide warning signs, immediately ask whether the individual has suicidal thoughts. Be direct. For example: “Sometimes when people have your experiences and feelings, they have thoughts of suicide. Is this something you have thought about?” Failure to ask directly (saying, “You are not thinking of hurting yourself are you?”) may not provide the right window for the student to respond honestly. National Association of School Psychologists

37. Resources • American Association of Suicidology—www.suicidology.org • National Hopeline Network—www.hopeline.com (1-800- • SUICIDE; 24-7 access to trained telephone counselors) National Institute of Mental Health— • www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depsuicideemenu.cfm • Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)— www.save.org • Suicide Information and Education Center—www.siec.ca • Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program— www.yellowribbon.org • SOS High School Suicide Intervention Program— www.mentalhealthscreening.org