V Relationships (valuable, sincere & enduring relationships) With supportive older adults or mentors (teachers or clergy) With individuals who provide care, warmth, and unconditional love, give youth the sense that the odds faced in life can be overcome Presence of charismatic adult with whom they identify and from whom they gather strength V Relationships (valuable, sincere & enduring relationships) A careful review of much of the available research designed to identify what it is that fosters resiliency among young people, one factor emerges over and over again, that is valuable, sincere, and enduring relationships. Supportive older adults, or mentors ranging from teachers to clergy may contribute to resilience among youth. Studies conducted around the world, identified a number of factors that enable children of misfortune to beat the heavy odds against them. One factor turns out to be the presence in their lives of a charismatic adult – a person with whom they identify and from whom they gather strength. Youth Alive Training

V Relationships (continued) (valuable, sincere & enduring relationships) Having at least one person in youth’s life who accepts them unconditionally, helps them to be resilient Resiliency to stressors of life, such as abusing peers, or violence in TV/movies, comes through supportive relationships! V Relationships Relationships with individuals who provide care, warmth, and unconditional love appear to provide young people with a sense that the odds faced in life can be overcome. These relationships appear to provide youngsters with self esteem and a sense of self worth which makes successful coping more likely. In one particular study it was found that “…resilient youngsters all had at least one person in their lives who accepted them unconditionally, regardless of temperamental idiosyncrasies, physical attractiveness, or intelligence. Resiliency to the stressors of life such as drug abusing peers, violence in TV and/or videos, or the influence of a less than ideal home appears to comes through supportive relationships! Youth Alive Training

What can be done? School as a community Role of adults Youth Alive Training

School as a community Create an environment at school that is a refuge for students When students sense school as a community, they are less likely to engage in disruptive behavior or risk behaviors School As a Community School based research gave some clues and suggestions that the effects of the less than ideal home or social environments can be moderated by creating an environment at school that is a refuge for students. “…resilient kids have the uncanny ability to make school a refuge from society’s ill.” Research reported when students sense that their school is a “community,” a place characterized by supportive and caring relationships, where opportunities are provided to participate in school activities and decision making, and a place where norms are shared, students will enjoy school more, and be more academically motivated, less absent, engage in less disruptive behavior, have higher academic achievement, use drugs less, and participate in less delinquent behavior.   Youth Alive Training

Subjective appraisal of school leads to greater school interest Supportive academic environment and sense of belonging were predictors of resilience Other research revealed that when a student has a subjective appraisal of their school environment – this was associated with greater school interest. Research conducted to measure why some Mexican-American students who come from very poor environments do very well in school, reports that a supportive academic environment and a sense of belonging to the school were predictors of resilience. Youth Alive Training

Important adult’s role Be involved in the lives of youth Establish sincere and enduring relationships with youth Don’t expect perfection Be there when they fail – just be there to support them Work to create a warm accepting environment in the school community Important adult’s role Be involved in the lives of youth Establish sincere and enduring relationships with youth Don’t expect perfection Be there when they fail – just be there to support them Work to create a warm accepting environment in the school community Youth Alive Training

Planning for a Union Youth Alive Conference Follow-up training Session One Recommended time: 30-60 minutes Planning for a Union Youth Alive conference Follow-up training seminar 30-60 minutes Youth Alive Training

Goal To properly plan for a Union Youth Alive Conference in the local school setting, it is important that the Youth, Health, Education and Family Ministries departments plan this event together, to ensure the follow-up in the local schools.   Goal: To properly plan for a Union Youth Alive Conference in the local school setting, it is important that the Youth, Health, Education and Family Ministries departments plan this event together, to ensure the follow-up in the local schools.   Youth Alive Training

Critical time frame for planning ---12 months Schedule Youth Alive conference dates before school starts or during school breaks Avoid conflict with school or church events Critical time frame for planning—12 months Schedule Youth Alive conference dates before school starts or during school breaks Avoid conflict with school or church events Youth Alive Training

Planning time---6-10 months ahead Reserve location Appoint conference steering committee with all four department directors and staff of local educational institution where the Youth Alive conference is to be held Appoint members to serve on the following committees Planning time 6-10 Months Reserve location Appoint conference steering committee with all four department directors and staff of local educational institution where the Youth Alive conference is to be held Appoint members to serve on the following committees Youth Alive Training

Program planning committee Youth Alive Training

Accommodation committee Youth Alive Training

Food committee Food committee Youth Alive Training

Security committee Security committee Youth Alive Training

Decoration committee Decoration committee Youth Alive Training

Facilities committee Facilities committee Youth Alive Training

Finance Committee Finance Committee Youth Alive Training

Transportation committee Youth Alive Training

Recreation committee Recreation committee Youth Alive Training

Music committee Music committee Youth Alive Training

Workshop committee Workshop committee Youth Alive Training

Gifts committee Gifts committee Youth Alive Training

Registration & promotion committee Youth Alive Training

Platform committee Platform committee Youth Alive Training

First Aid committee First Aid committee Youth Alive Training