Resilience approaches in school Professor Angie Hart Boingboing social enterprise/University of Brighton

What do we want to do today? Using resilience ideas in schools Focusing on complex needs What is resilience? The approach we use to resilience building Practical resilience-based approaches for schools

Resilience is about... Bouncing back/up Doing better than you think you would be doing in the circumstances Nurturing potential – not something you are just born with

“…resilience is evident where people with persistently few assets and resources, and major vulnerabilities… have better outcomes than we might expect given their circumstances, and in comparison to what we know happens with other children [or adults] in their contexts” (p. 10). Hart, Blincow, with Thomas. (2007) 4

Believe in the almost impossible

'I bumped into George's old primary school teacher the other day. I told her that George had left school now and was doing a plumbing apprenticeship. She couldn't believe it. "Would have thought he'd have ended up in prison" she said.‘ Teacher. ‘Good to see that Carl is on the school maintenance committee and has helped us paint those walls. He’d be getting up to all sorts of mischief at the weekend if he wasn’t doing this, and it’s great for his CV’ School caretaker.

CAPABILITY AND RESILIENCE: BEATING THE ODDS FIGURE 1: IDENTIFICATION OF RESILIENCE OutcomeAdversity LowHigh PositiveA.Favourable experience of life B. Resilience: Unexpected positive outcome NegativeC.Unexpected negative outcome D. Risk and vulnerability (reference and downloadable copy: Capability and Resilience: Beating the Odds Edited by Professor Mel Bartley, published by UCL Dept Epidemiology and Public Health on behalf of the ESRC Priority Network on Capability and Resilience ( ). )

Resilience is: – First, the capacity of individuals to navigate to resources that sustain well-being – Second, the capacity of individuals’ physical and social ecologies to provide those resources and – Third, the capacity of individuals, their families and communities to negotiate culturally meaningful ways for resources to be shared. In the context of adversity,

Resilient moves: The kinds of things we need to make happen (e.g. events, parenting strategies, relationships, resources) to help children manage life when it’s tough. Plus ways of thinking and acting that we need ourselves if we want to make things better for children.’ Source: Aumann and Hart 2009

Findings: resilient commonsense? Intelligence good looks good education ability to problem solve decent standard of living love and sense of belonging having had great parenting

Still commonsense? opportunities to contribute sense of purpose realising or setting up a talent/healthy interest a sense of self-efficacy reflective self-functioning one good adult role model, preferably over time having a ‘coherent autobiographical’ narrative Self-soothing/flow

Findings: Key resilience capacities Individual: self-esteem (7), autonomy (6), problem-solving (4), goals (6), sense of purpose (5), skills (8); Interpersonal: empathy (8), caring (5), social competence (8); Family: connectedness (8), bond with adult (7), positive peer relationships (7); Community: social support (7), community connectedness (7), school connectedness (4) Professor Angie Hart & Dr Becky Heaver

Findings: Types of things people have done Flavour of schools based interventions in a review we’ve done: – Range: psychosocial group 2, dance/drama competition 4, skills & training 3, curriculum modification 5,6 (2), recreation 9,11 (2), teacher training 1,12 (2), work experience 10, tailored to individual 7,8 (2) – Intensity: from 12 x 1hr sessions over 5.5 mths 8 to 1 week residential 9 – Country: USA 2,3,7 (3), Australia 4,5 (2), South Africa 6,8,11,12 (4), Russia 9, Israel 1, Scotland 10, Zambia 11 – Sample size: – Example strategies: ccomplementary skills groups for kids, parents & teachers 2 ; role-playing new skills 3 ; reward points systems 7 Professor Angie Hart & Dr Becky Heaver

Complex needs specific – esp LDs Much less published on this Ferreyra, USA 2001 Facilitated group & one-to- one counselling; life-skills & substance use prevention; disability awareness & rights; adult female disabled role models; responsive curriculum (1-3hrs a week for 2 yrs) Theron, SA 2006 School-based individualised program & group therapy; art, music, CBT, resilience curriculum, visualisation, role-play

Innovative, evidence-based strategies: – Evoking images of family, obligation and responsibility 2 – Vocational training & field trips 3 – Mountaineering & survival skills 9 – Organising a dance competition for younger children 10 – Using same reward points system across home & school environments 7 – Peer-pressure limbo dancing 11 – School-family-community veggie garden 12 Professor Angie Hart & Dr Becky Heaver

A Revised Model of Social Ecology: Small things can make a big difference Micro-systemic level Meso-systemic level Macro-systemic level Exo-systemic level A Hierarchical Social Ecology A Complex Social Ecology

Some kids do better than others having had very similar disadvantages in life – one thing that you do could make a big difference ‘Resilience’ gives us a framework within which to plan positive chain reactions and to fight back from negative chain reactions A resilient approach gives kids the opportunity to reinvent themselves For young people doing risky things it is especially helpful to get some protective processes going We need to focus on the fine grain – ‘management of effective detail’ Use the resilience evidence base to challenge custom and practice in policy and organisations There is hope for everybody! Every little can help. Professor Angie Hart

Suggest: Understand resilience for yourself and others you work with - don’t individualise resilience Be energised by complexity Acceptance – ‘planning for, hoping not’ Prioritise what we know probably works Make every thing you do a resilient move Try to include YP and parents/carers in resilience initiatives 19

A positive adult role model A couple of good hobbies Doing good for someone, at least once a week Steer towards positive kids Develop problem-solving skills ‘Autobiographical narrative’ – find two positives Point out meaning and joy in three small things Keep their future in mind and help them to, too Tackle inequalities in their life Attend to your own resilience If at first you don’t succeed, try again later A positive adult role model A couple of good hobbies Doing good for someone, at least once a week Steer towards positive kids Develop problem-solving skills ‘Autobiographical narrative’ – find two positives Point out meaning and joy in three small things Keep their future in mind and help them to, too Tackle inequalities in their life Attend to your own resilience If at first you don’t succeed, try again later

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Talk about a “difficult” child with complex needs with whom you work (or know) Share information about the child’s problems and risks she/he faces (please change identifying information)

What personal and social/economic/political resources are realistically accessible to this child/family? Given the context in which the child lives how is he or she doing when compared with other young in similar circumstances? Given the child’s strengths and access to resources in his/her family and community, how does the child cope (sustain well-being)?

Resilient Therapy (RT) (Hart & Blincow 2007) RT strategically harnesses selected therapeutic principles and techniques ‘Ecological’ Originally developed in relation to children, families and young people Now exploring relevance beyond that (adults – communities) Developed for use across contexts and by different practitioners, including parents and young people themselves Designed to work with people as co-collaborators in the development of the methodology rather than as recipients Is user-friendly and readily accessible – you don’t need a lengthy specialised training Non-pathologising – ‘upbuilding’ Focuses on complex children and young people living in challenging circumstances

Professor Angie Hart

Further reading: Hart, A. and Blincow, D. with Thomas, H. (2007) Resilient Therapy: Working with children and families. London: Routledge Aumann, K. and Hart, A. (2009) Helping children with complex needs bounce back: Resilient Therapy for parents and professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Website: Tedex: Professor Angie Hart