Juvenile Services Training Institute – 2015

What Works in Juvenile Justice

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Trauma Responsive Custody

This workshop defines trauma and the impact that traumatic events and chronic stress can have on brain development and executive functioning in adolescents. The workshop takes on the delicate balance that is required by juvenile care workers who are charged with effectively managing youth behavior AND participating in the treatment of this very difficult population who often have both a Trauma History and a Criminal History. The needs of this population are identified and strategies are explored that direct care staff can use in their day-to-day interactions with detained and incarcerated youth. The workshop concludes with a focus on Vicarious Trauma and a strong recommendation for staff working with this very difficult population to develop and follow a Self Care Plan to maintain balance in their own lives.    

Understanding Adolescent Development Through Current Brain Research

Adolescence is a time of dramatic change—physical, social, cognitive, and emotional—change characterized by profound and often scary behaviors, such as sensation seeking, risk-taking, and sometimes baffling decision-making. As adults we frequently end up asking: “What in the world was s/he thinking?” Adolescent brain research conducted over the past decade allows us to begin to understand what is happening to produce those frustrating, scary, and ultimately life-affirming behaviors we see in adolescents. In this session, participants will learn about findings from this research and, through group activities and discussion look at specific ways staff can have a positive impact on adolescent development in a confinement environment.

Behavior Management: Shaping Youth Success Through Coaching, Modeling and Teaching

 “What I am today is a reflection of what I have learned, not of my potential.” (Virginia Satire). With an emphasis on relationships, a good behavior management system uses deliberate strategies and techniques to influence youth’s behavior choices. Effective behavior management focuses not only on a youth’s immediate behavior, but also on the conditions that came before the behavior and the manner in which staff respond. It is a dynamic process where values, culture, human and physical factors play a role in youth success. More than just having youth follow rules, Behavior Management looks to engage, foster accountability, teach responsibility and reinforce appropriate behavior choices from youth.                       

Using Positive Youth Development Strategies to Engage Youth

This training session introduces staff to the concepts of Positive Youth Development and provides examples and practice in developing and facilitating positive youth development activities for young people.  It also provides pre-training material for agency and program administrators and supervisors to help prepare their staff to transition toward a Positive Youth Development approach and to follow up after the learning experience to ensure staff begin and continue practicing what they learn in the workplace.