Parent Education and Empowerment

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NCDPI-SDFSC CONFERENCE, DECEMBER 7,
2009 RALEIGH NC Johanna Chase, MA CHES Health
Education Consultant, NC DPI
CONNECTING THE PREVENTION PUZZLE
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What Does NOT Work in Violence Prevention
Education

• Scare tactics including violent images
• Adding to an already overwhelmed school system
• Segregating violent/aggressive youth
  (suspension/expulsion does NOT alter behavior)
• Pull-out instructional programs
• Self-esteem programs
• Information/factually-based programs

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Teach and Demonstrate Connectedness and
  Responsibility for self and others
• Create a caring nurturing school environment

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Counter Risk Factors with Lessons that Teach and
  Assess
• Empathy and perspective taking (including ethnic
  identity)
• Social problem solving with healthy responsible
  alternatives to violence or aggression
• Impulse control with understanding the cause of
  and ways to manage anger
• Resistance skill training to avoid violence

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Engage Students in Guided / Independent
• Practice Scenarios of
• Interpersonal communication skills including
  healthy emotional expression strategies
• Responsible decision making skills
• Realistic goal setting skills
• Accessing resources skills
• Analyzing influences skills including media
  literacy
• Self-management skills including healthy coping
  skills and strategies for dealing with stress and
  change
• Advocacy skills

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Account for Developmental Changing Needs
• Prior to adolescence,
• peer rejection is a risk factor for aggression
  and violence
• During adolescence,
• peer acceptance by deleterious peer groups is a
  risk factor for aggression and violence

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Engage Parents/Guardians
• Empower parents/guardians to reinforce
  instruction
• Rely on resources such as Child/Family Teams for
  local resources and support
• Provide booster sessions for parents/guardians

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Establish and Apply Violence Prevention Policies
  with CONSISTENCY
• NO TOLERANCE for violence
• Provide clear firm guidelines
• Promote and advocate these policies
• Provide positive reinforcement for students who
  adhere to policies
• Provide REASONABLE accountability measures
• Clearly promote policies to parents/guardians/stud
  ents

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Provide Alternatives to Youth
• Collaborate with community agencies and law
  enforcement to provide healthy, safe alternatives
  for youth
• Establish on campus extracurricular activities
  that engage rather than isolate students of all
  backgrounds

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Comprehensive/Multifaceted Approach to Prevention
Education and Interventions

• Train, train, train ALL Faculty and Staff
• Ensure all personnel know and apply policies
  CONSISTENTLY
• Engage ALL staff as students respond to support
  staff as easily as primary staff and faculty

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Two Approaches to Intervention

• System Program
• School-wide Individual Learner
• Policy Instruction
• Positive Behavior Support
• Responsiveness to Instruction Health
  Education
• Coordinated School Health Instruction
  Assessment
• Engage Youth
• Engage Parent
• Partner with Community
• Train Faculty and Staff

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SOLVING THE PREVENTION PUZZLE
Prevention Intervention
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ONGOING ARTICULATION
RESOURCES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
STUDENT EMPOWERMENT
Health Education Teachers
NO TOLERANCE POLICIES
PBS Coordinators
Child/Family Team Leads
DIRECT INSTRUCTION
School Counselors/ Social Workers
Law Enforcement / Community
Prevention Intervention
PARENT EDUCATION
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
EC Specialists
Parents
SOCIAL SKILLS
Faculty/Staff/ Administration
PRACTICE SCENARIOS
IMPULSE CONTROL
MODELING
EMPATHY FOR SELF OTHERS
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Intentional Unintentional Injury
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Alcohol, Tobacco Other Drugs
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Mental Health Illness