BREAKTHROUGHS FOR YOUTH

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BREAKTHROUGHS FORYOUTH
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Who we are and why are we involved in
Breakthroughs For Youth
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WHAT ARE AT-RISK YOUTH

• Poor Grades, failing, or not attending school.
• Issues w Authority and rules, and school
  suspensions.
• Using, abusing substances, addicted.
• Angry, hurting others, fighting.
• In trouble w the law, arrested.
• Hurting self, suicide.
• Physical abuse, mental, emotional and/or
• sexual abuse

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WHAT ARE AT-RISK YOUTH

• Have self-destructive tendencies.
• Manifest violent anti-social behavior
• Is alienated from their family.
• Is a parent
• Is a member of a gang.

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BREAKTHROUGHS FOR YOUTH

• 501.c.3, non-profit organization
• We design and deliver comprehensive adolescent
  development programs with 9 to 12 month cycles
• Programs includes a 7-10 day intensive
  development course and 9-12 months of
  follow-through sessions and adult mentoring
  support
• We offer middle school 7th 8th grader programs,
  high school 9th to 12th grader programs, juvenile
  justice 15 to 21 years of age programs, and
  custom design each.

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BREAKTHROUGHS FOR YOUTH

• We recruit adults from the community at large to
  volunteer and contribute to the development of
  youth in their community.
• We train volunteers as coaches, as mentors, as
  production or logistics support and other
  positions for each program.
• Of the 75 to 120 people needed for each program
  cycle, most are volunteers.

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POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR YOUTH WHILE IN THE FACILITY

• Attitude towards authority and rules changes.
• General behavior improves.
• Youth understand that they have choices and every
  choice has consequences.
• Youth learn that adults have something to offer
  them.

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POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR YOUTH WHILE IN THE FACILITY

• Youth create a dream for themselves, and set
  goals.
• Youths identify their individual core issues, and
  understand what they have been in reaction to.
• Recidivism is reduced.
• Youth accept responsibility for
  their life.

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BENEFITS OF BREAKTHROUGHS WHEN YOUTH IS IN THE
COMMUNITY

• Decrease in youth involvement in crime
• Drug-use lessens
• School attendance improves
• Grades improve
• Youth learn problem-solving skills

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BENEFITS OF BREAKTHROUGHS WHEN YOUTH IS IN THE
COMMUNITY

• Youth develop better anger management skils
• Youth develop communication skills
• Improved relations with
• Parents and family members
• Teachers
• Peers
• Other authority figures

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VIDEO

• Introduction to Video
• Residential Intensive course
• Language
• Breakthroughs for Youth was Hawaii Youth at Risk,
  Inc.

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WHY BREAKTHROUGHS WORKS

• We go right to core issues of each individual
  youth
• We address their attitudes and beliefs, and how
  they determine their behavior
• We work in a group process where youth learn from
  each other and adults as well
• We teach them that they do have choices, and to
  see those choices, and to respect the
  consequences of each choice

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WHY BREAKTHROUGHS WORKS

• We employ a combination of activities
• Experiential processes
• Social interaction games
• Large group guided conversations
• Hawaiian cultural elements throughout
• Low ropes team building
• Creative visualization processes
• High ropes individual achievement
• Teaching understanding of their needs, and self
  care
• Followthrough sessions
• Adult mentoring, one to one or team mentoring

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MISSION STATEMENT

• To positively alter the beliefs, attitudes, and
  behaviors of at risk youth in order for them to
  develop healthier, more productive relationships
  with themselves, their families, and the
  community.
•  

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BREAKTHROUGHSELEMENTS

• Intensive adolescent development course, either
  residential or non-residential
• Adult mentoring, one to one, or team mentoring
• Followthrough sessions

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BREAKTHROUGHSPROCESSES

• THE COURSE
• Intensive course 7-10 long days (8-12 hours/day)
• We address how beliefs and attitudes affect
  behavior.
• Youth are confronted with choices they are making
  and asked to evaluate the results.
• Youth share their past and learn how
  the beliefs impact their choices

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THE COURSE CONTINUED

• Positive esteem building exercises
• Low Ropes
• Obstacle exercises
• High Ropes
• Positive Team Building exercises
• Cognitive Restructuring
• Exercises
• Journaling
• Dyads/Triads
• Exercises with coaches
• Being with

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THE MENTOR RELATIONSHIP

• Each youth is assigned a Mentor.
• The mentor has to contact their youth 3 times a
  week. (Once in person, Twice by other means).
• The mentor works with Youth to attend all the
  follow-throughs and to accomplish goals the youth
  has set.

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Needs for the course

• Course Leaders and Expert Support
• Site
• Staff from the agency or school referring the
  youth, who already work regularly with the youth.
  (1 for every 5 youth participants)
• Volunteer Coaches (12-18) Go through the course
  with the youth and help support and keep youth on
  track

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Needs for the course

• Security Support staff (18-20)
• Production or Logistics (20) Support personnel
• Kitchen Provide meals and snacks (youth
  adults)
• Low Ropes Activity Directors (8)

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BREAKTHROUGHSPROCESSES

• FOLLOWTHROUGHS (9-12 Months)
• Regular meetings every other week
• Reinforce concepts and learning from the course
• Check in how are they doing
• Call the Youth on negative choices
• Acknowledge Positive choices
• Coach on goal progress
• Teach additional concepts

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NEEDS FOR THE FOLLOWTHROUGHS

• Location
• Mentors
• Staff from youth agency
• Coaches
• Support
• Meals (youth adults)

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BREAKTHROUGHS FOR YOUTH

• PARTICIPANT SUMMARY DATA

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Rate of Graduation/staying in school

• BFYAR 87
• Control 38

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Grades

• Before After
• BFYAR 1.07 2.23
• Control 1.34 1.34

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Class Absenteeism

• Before After
• BFYAR 27 13
• Control 29 39

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Relationships1very poor 5very good

• Before After
• Mother 2.5 4.0
• Father 2.7 3.8
• Sister(s) 4.3 4.0
• Brother(s) 3.6 4.4
• Stepmother 2.3 4.0
• Stepfather 2.3 3.7
• Grandparents 3.6 4.1

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Behavioral Changes1very poor 5very good

• Before After
• Getting along w/peers 3.2 4.5
• Getting along w/teachers 2.6 4.3
• Attending Classes 3.5 4.5
• Studying/doing homework 2.0 3.6
• Following Rules 2.7 4.3
• Staying out of trouble 2.5 3.7

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How they feel about themselves now vs. before the
program

• Much better now 83
• Little Better now 17
• About the same 0
• Little worse 0
• Much worse 0
• Dont know 0

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Suspensions/Arrests

• Before After
• Suspended from School 66 17
• Arrested 66 8

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Use of Drugs or Alcohol Now vs. Before the Program

• Drugs Alcohol
• Stopped using/drinking 25 0
• Doing less 25 42
• About the same 17 8
• Doing more 0 0
• Did not use/drink
• Before or after 33 50

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Where are they today?Participants

• 6 graduated following the program
• 7 graduated in the next school year
• 7 in school- working toward graduation
• 1 did not graduate, but at Windward CC
• 1 in job corps
• 1 moved to mainland, status unknown
• 2 dropped out
• Total 25

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Where are they today?Control Group

• 6 graduated or still in school
• 2 transferred to another school
• 4 dropped out of school
• Total 12

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Group comparison

• Participants 92 success rate
• Control group 67 success rate

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Grades

• 2nd Q 99-00
  1st Q 00-01
• Participants 1.11
  1.45
• Control Group 1.63 .52

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Attendance

• Average number of days missed
• 2nd Q. 99-00 10.8
• 1st Q. 00-01 8.8
• 19 improvement over previous attendance.

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Family Relationships

• In general relationships within the family
  improved with problems.
• Lack of improvement with Mothers and sisters.
• Increased improvement with Fathers and brothers.

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Behavioral changesAreas Asked About

• Getting along with peers
• Getting along with teachers
• Attending classes
• Studying or doing homework
• Following rules
• Staying out of trouble

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Behavioral changesSummary of results

• Positive changes across the board
• Behavioral changes indicate changes in beliefs
  and attitudes

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Anger Management

• More Now 0
• About the Same 44
• Less now 56

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Anger ManagementParticipants comments

• Im more mellow and dont lose my temper as
  often. I have an easier time talking to others
  instead of yelling at them when I am angry.
• I just walk away and solve the problem when Im
  not mad.
• I dont punch walls and swear.

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Anger ManagementParticipants comments cont.

• Sit on it and think about it before reacting
• I dont hit anything anymore.
• Take a walk and try not to let what happened
  affect me.
• I think if its really worth it.

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Involvement with Drugs

• When asked to describe the change in involvement.
• Stopped using
  22
• Doing Less
  56
• About the same 11
• Doing more
  0
• Did not use before or after 11

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Involvement with Alcohol

• When asked to describe the change in involvement.
• Stopped using
  11
• Doing Less
  56
• About the same 0
• Doing more
  0
• Did not use before or after 33

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Suspensions and Arrests

• Prior
  After
• of Suspensions 33 2
• of Arrests 8
  1

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What do you notice as the biggest positive
change?

• Participant Responses
• The way I handle my feelings
• Getting better grades and started coming to
  school
• Knowing how to control myself
• My uses with drugs and alcohol

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What do you notice as the biggest positive
change? cont.

• The biggest change is my attitude toward life
• I stopped being lazy
• Stopped feeling sorry and making excuses all the
  time

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Self-Esteem

• When asked how they feel about themselves
  compared to the period before the program.
• Much better now 22
• Little better now 45
• About the same 22
• Little worse 0
• Much worse 0
• Dont know 11

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ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

• What some of the volunteers gained
• Increased professional knowledge and competence.
• Better ability to work with At-Risk populations
• Better personal relations within own family.
• One of the best training.

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Last High School Program Cycle

• Intensive Course March 20-28, 2004
• 36 Youths started the course
• 33 Youths finished the course
• 9 months of group Follow-through session
• 9 months of one to one mentoring
• Completed January 15, 2005

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OTHER BENEFITS TO PARTICIPATION

• Benefits to the community
• Helps counselors, teachers better work with the
  at-risk population
• Volunteers benefit from additional personal
  growth and awareness.
• Breakthroughs Training (Free if you are involved
  in the program)

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BREAKTHROUGHS FOR YOUTH -Current

• Windward area High Schools
• We are planning on expanding to other parts of
  Oahu and hope to get to the outer Islands.
• We completed a Middle school course
  (Follow-throughs were run as after-school clubs)
  Kailua Middle.
• We are planning to do a High School course this
  year

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OUR DREAM

• FOUR CYCLES A YEAR, ONE OF THEM RESIDENTIAL
• CYCLES ON EACH ISLAND IN HAWAII
• CYCLES IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ON OAHU
• OUR OWN PHYSICAL SITE THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH
  OTHER YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

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BENEFITS OF A RELATIONSHIP

• BFYAR
• Source of Volunteers
• Help run Intensive course
• Mentors
• Other needs
• Models for the Youth
• Community Support and knowledge

• HIANG
• Community Service
• Source of Recruits
• Personal Development for members
• Self Development
• Communication skills
• Development of Family relationships
• Mentor Training

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Questions/Comments
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Breakthroughs for Youth

• Clinton 372-4752
• Melissa Pg-581-0428

breakthroughs_at_hawaiiantel.com www.breakthoughshawa
ii.org