Throughout the years, “Carry On” has been used by captains of ships to bring confidence to and garner commitment from their crews. The captain looks to the skies, examines the charts and determines that despite potential dangers, the crew must work together to safely continue on the journey. In the truest sense, social service programs have continued to “Carry On” despite funding cuts, staff shortages, decreasing morale, increased need and identified frustration with the challenge of finding a safe route. November 5-7, 2009, SENetwork convened “Carry On ‘09”, a meeting of nearly 100 youth work professionals and AmeriCorps national service members designed to help chart a course to enhance each participating organization’s effort to help youth achieve safety by providing the port from the storm that is affecting families and communities.
To provide the most effective prevention and therapeutic interventions requires that programs consistently assess and address the changing needs of youth and the families served. This assessment helps programs to understand the need and to assure that there is room for those in need. Through utilizing a fish bowl method (combining direct interviews and audience response), the first session provided an assessment from the field of participants. The session was facilitated by SENetwork President/CEO, Sherry Allen, and lead interviews were given by leaders of SENetwork member organizations: Kevin Priest, Arnette House, Ocala, Florida; Hollis Johnson, JCCEO, Birmingham, Alabama; Lyniece Williams, JCCEO, Birmingham, Alabama; Sheila Myrick, Tennessee Valley Family Services, Beautiful Lake Guntersville, Alabama; Sharon Weathersby, Catholic Charities, Jackson, Mississippi; Karen Bonnewell, Haven House Services, Raleigh, North Carolina. Here is what Carry On participants had to say:
Sherry Allen: What are the characteristics and experiences of the youth your programs serve?:
Interviewees: Youth have been sexually abused and/or physically abused. They and/or their families are involved with significant alcohol and drug use. Many have runaway from these circumstances, and some are surviving on the streets or through couch surfing. Most struggle with school, are truant or have dropped out of school. Some are enthusiastic, talented, middle class. There is an increase of homeless youth as a result of their families being homeless. Many are happy to be a part of the program, or come to feel that way. All are looking for safety and some kind of skills that will alleviate their difficult circumstances. They want to change their sense of isolation and desire the support of someone to turn to.
Sherry Allen: What do youth say they need?
Interviewees: Want someone to listen. Want to know how to deal with parents. They want to confirm that what they are thinking is right. Some want to be left alone. They want a safe environment to be in, and to be accepted by other kids. They want to understand how they fit in. They want job skills, training and placement so they can live on their own.
Allen: What are their skills, strengths and other assets?
Interviewees:
• Once they come in and they have shared their side of the story they are positive and once they complete strengths assessment, they are surprised at their strengths and glad it is pointed out to them.
• They are open minded about changes in their lives and willing to work toward changes.
• They are survivors and are resilient and can take care of themselves in situations where adults would struggle.
• They are resourceful and already have many connections.
• Giving back is part of their nature – they are generous.
• They want to keep doing whatever provides goodness to their community and their lives.
Allen: Who are you confident in serving?
Interviewees:
• Families that provide a level of openness and want to change their circumstance.
• Families that will follow-through and are willing to participate consistently in services.
• Youth and families whose contact is very positive with service providers.
• Parents who will make a commitment when asked/invited to participate at a different level. For example, there was a very talented child participating in a performance program whose parent, a single mom, truck driver had never seen the child perform. It took persistent phone calls to get the mom to last show, but she was thrilled to see her successful child, and then engaged in supporting the child.
• Dealing with resistant families is a challenge especially when youth are in a different “place”. They are more positive when parents start witnessing change.
• Families who are open to learning.
• Families who have progressed past “blaming”
Allen to the full participant group: Share a quick story about a youth and/or family that you feel very confident that you served them well.
• Panama City Beach Street Outreach Program: Many youth resist services, because they don’t trust. This particular youth was living in a trailer without furnishings, electricity, or water. She bathed from a neighbor’s hose. When approached, the girl refused help, although she appreciated the concern. Over time and consistent outreach, she became interested in the Transitional Living Program, especially as an alternative to child welfare department custody. She entered TLP, got a job, an apartment, and even wrote a letter to support a grant for the program. She is now glowing and healthy. She wrapped her arms around us, and we did the same for her.
• Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, Georgia- There were five kids in custody of their aunt because their mother died of AIDS. Two of the siblings came to the agency in need of services. The oldest youth entered the shelter, and exited voluntarily. She became pregnant, and, though struggling, decided to try to make it on her own. The brother, however, stayed in care after 18 receiving support and making good decisions. He is working hard at Kroger, graduated high school, and is saving money.
Allen: What are the presenting circumstances that are particularly challenging to affect?
Interviewees: Overemphasis on family re-unification at the expense of the child. When there is an unprepared, uninterested family forced to accept youth. Or when a youth is identified as a sex offender at young age (10) and when aging out at 18, is still stigmatized leading to no service availability.
LGBTQ youth struggle to re-integrate with families that not prepared to accept them.
Youth who need therapy, and are unable to get it. Fund availability and insurance is always difficult.
Staff who need training. Dealing with high burnout. Having to refer out to a lot of other entities with no ability to provide transitional rapport. Families often discontinue services. Prefer an in-house model of continuum of care.
Underage drinking (11 y/o-14 y/o is common). Serious health consequences. Underage mothers, “children having children”. Need to redefine parenting responsibilities in the community. Working a lot with elderly grandparents who are caregivers.
Challenge for parents to support involvement in the arts as prevention. Schools unsupportive, uninterested.
Post-Katrina, youth present with new issues, such as std’s, ptsd. Staff struggle to keep up with the emerging issues and be relevant.
From Group at Large – Engaging parents to want their kids back and to invest in the recognition that it is a family systems problem and not a “youth” problem.
No one available to set the bar high for youth.
Huge homeless population and not enough beds and resources especially for 18 – 21.
Allen: How do presenting issues differ from 5 Years Ago?
From the Group at Large
• Increase in gang involved youth.
• It is much the same as 5 years ago in that the issues continue and we are still discussing them.
• It can depend on geography and population.
• Age at which the youth experience things is declining.
• The weak economy has impacted youth aging out of the system who cannot find jobs because of adult competition.
• The Internet: Total Access to anything and everything
• Human Trafficking was something that happened in big cities or on television, but now Human Trafficking happens in our own towns and schools
• Child abuse and domestic violence are on the rise
• Increased drug and other substance abuse issues
• In families, work ethics and values seemed to have declined
• Many youth are choosing to drop out of school and perhaps get GEDs.
• Teen dating violence is on the rise. Sex seems more prevalent, though some think it is only discussed more.
• Females are very different. Reputation for toughness has increased. Girls seem to need to be more “tough”
• New challenges for both guys and girls and struggles for adaptation.
• From the perspective of someone 5 years out of high school – girls used to be popular by being “good”. Now it feels as if girls have to be “tough” in order to be noticed and fit in with the current culture.
• There are still significant issues for males, especially thinking about Disproportionate Minority Contact issues and youth who are more visible in the system are ignored as “just another kid”
• From the perspective of years of teaching, agree that many issues are present. Young ladies may not be getting the love and attention needed in healthy and safe ways.
Allen: How are programs and/or communities adjusting to the challenges?
• Raising poverty level definition to serve more of the working poor.
• School systems are writing grants to include at-risk children and to pay for basic needs including food, clothing and fees, etc.
• Community has stepped up with donations. For example, people pay for YMCA memberships for youth to provide positive alternatives. Cub Scout Group donated luggage to replace garbage bags youth were forced to use.
• More people who don’t usually donate are stepping up but program still needs to find new funders and new ways to replace losses.
• More attention on youth aging out of the system. No one really thought about what they were doing. They had the attitude: “Hope you do well but if not, don’t come to me.” Now there is at least a recognition that you need transitional support.
• Taking an interest in formal and informal partnerships/collaborations in high risk areas and those programs that are providing services in these areas.
• When programs close and kids and families are still calling – what do you do? Existing staff took on responsibilities to continue service by taking on more with less.
• “We want to do more with less” – Social Workers often do this. However, associated advocacy challenges for increased funding and telling the story of needs without burning out staff.
Allen to the Group at Large: What things could change or do to respond to these challenges, and the answer cannot be JUST money.
• Increased training of law enforcement officers to enable them to connect youth and families to resources. The Panama City Street Outreach Program is on call for every law enforcement officer in 6 counties.
• Sometimes community isn’t aware of all resources. Creation of comprehensive community resources guide. Getting the word out and increasing awareness.
• We want formal partnerships that spell out responsibilities and maintain accountability.
• Need mass transportation. Kids being forced to other areas for shelter, jobs and resources because of lack of transportation.
• Need in-school special services to respond to unique needs.
• We want schools to do what schools are supposed to do. Agreement that there is no social teaching, teachers feel less empowered, increased pressure to focus only on academics versus the entire learning process that provides a foundation for youth. Especially important for those youth who do not have an effective parent in the home. Too easy to kick kids out of school. Important to educate the educators.
• Our kids have their own flare and they need not to feel abused by the educational system.
We want to thank all who contributed to this effort to update our understanding of challenges and successes. Continue the dialogue. Go to www.senetwork.org and click Have Your Say. Tell us your thoughts about the issues explored in this article.
