Resilience in Action: A Strength-Based Approach Ken Ginsburg Covenant House Pennsylvania The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Objectives Speaking the language of resilience Eliminating shame, building confidence Not undermining competence; Learning not to lecture Managing stress without turning to the easy fix

Resilience The Ability To Overcome Adversity The Capacity to Bounce Back

Resilience is a Mindset

Resilience is Uneven

Resilience is NOT Invulnerability

A Reactive Mind May Find It Harder To be Resilient

Resilience is NOT a character trait. It is affected by supports and circumstances!!!

The Bottom Line of Resilience Young People will be more resilient if the important adults in their lives believe in them unconditionally and hold them to high expectations Young People live up or down to the expectations we set for them

This means our attitude matters . . .

Problem Free . . . . . . is NOT Fully Prepared! Karen Pittman

And . . . our attitude is assessed constantly by watching our unintentional signals

Body Language

The 7 C’s of Resilience Confidence Competence Connection Character Contribution Coping Control (Little, 1993; Pittman et al., 2003; Eccles and Gootman , 2002; Roth and Brooks-Gunn 2003; Lerner, 2004; Ginsburg, 2006; Frankowski, Leader & Duncan, 2009)

Shifting Resilience Theory into Action

The Bottom Line . . . again Young People will be more resilient if the important adults in their lives believe in them unconditionally and hold them to high expectations Young People live up or down to the expectations we set for them

Therefore, the importance of Connection can not be overstated. . . Family School Community Role models Someone who sees the potential . . .

“I’m not trash”

The Five Steps of Behavioral Change Awareness Motivation Skills Trial and error Maintenance

Who’s the Expert?

Confidence gets it started . . . . . . and shame paralyzes all efforts

How can we help kids realize they hold the keys to their own healing?

Finding Competence . . . . . . Building Confidence X X X

Learning Not to Undermine Competence Listening Letting young people make their own mistakes

Promoting Authentic Success Knowing how to praise Knowing how to criticize Yet

Learning Not to Undermine Competence Talking in a way young people understand Recognizing the cognitive development of adolescence No more lectures!!!!!!

The Importance of Skills Battlemind The Importance of Skills

Control

The World Happens to Me or I control my Destiny

Positive Coping Strategies Negative Coping Strategies Relief Relief Positive Coping Strategies You Feel Awful!!! You Feel Awful!!! You Feel Awful!!! Stress Discomfort Discomfort Discomfort Negative Coping Strategies

Positive Coping Strategies Negative Coping Strategies Relief Relief Positive Coping Strategies You Feel Awful!!! You Feel Awful!!! You Feel Awful!!! Stress Discomfort Discomfort Discomfort Negative Coping Strategies

Coping Engagement vs. Disengagement Emotion Focused vs. Problem Focused

A Stress Management Plan for Teenagers

Stress Management : Tackling The Problem Making the problem manageable Active Avoidance Let Some things go

Serenity Prayer Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference

Stress Management : Taking Care of My Body Exercise Fear Anger

Stress Management : Taking Care of My Body Relaxation Nutrition

Stress Management : Taking Care of My Body 7) Sleep Stimulation Cool Down Exercise Shower Release emotion

Stress Management : Managing Emotions Instant Vacations Releasing Emotions

The Worst thing is not to be stressed . . . it is to be NUMB The Tupperware Box

Stress Management Plan : Making the World Better Contributing to the world The Protection of Contribution Contribution to our centers as a road toward engagement

US It is so easy to hear a talk about kids. Now I am going to give a talk about Us much harder. Much of the talk will be identical . . . But with a twist. This time you are not taking the easy way out by thinking about what you can do for kids . . . This time you are thinking about yourself

We are the role models that ... Display resilience Choose to cope in healthy ways Admit vulnerability and personal limits Reject stigma See strength in seeking help

How do we define success?

To touch many lives over a lifetime of service and connection with others

Burnout Prevention Caring professionals are at increased risk because of the intensity of their work and the emotional bonds they form with the people they serve.

Serenity Prayer Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference

The Worst thing is not to be stressed . . . it is to be NUMB

The best way of assuring you will give a lifetime of service is To take care of yourself first