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Although crime statistics in this country show an overall reduction in violent crimes, many people think that young people are getting more violent. Evidence of drive by shootings, settling the score with violence, “street” mentality, domestic violence, and aggression are in the media every day. This generation of children have been raised with a steady diet of violence: 9/11, wars, video games, movies, and television. When this is coupled with use of violence to settle problems in the home or neighborhood, some children learn no other way to resolve conflicts. Child Guidance & Family Solutions has several programs to help both youth and families develop skills that encourage more peaceful solutions to problems in the home and community.
Children who show patterns of negative, hostile and defiant behaviors at home, school and/or in the community are served by a specialty team at Child Guidance & Family Solutions. These children have Juvenile Court involvement or are “at risk” for Juvenile Court involvement, suspension/expulsion from school, family relationship difficulties, and behavior problems in the community.
Children show these behaviors:
• Arguing with others
• Blaming others
• Annoying others
• Losing their temper
• Defying authority
• Being mad or resentful
• Poor school work and behavior
• Gang behavior
• Fighting, stealing or destroying property
There is no “quick fix” for behavior problems. It took a while for these problems to develop. It will take time and effort to improve the child’s behavior. Child Guidance & Family Solutions offers several programs to help you and your child manage the problem behaviors and achieve better success at home, in school, and in the community.
One program is Project: Excel (EXamining Carefully Each Life). Project: Excel is a 10-week program that meets while the child’s parents are attending the Parent Project at Juvenile Court. It is for teens ages 13-17. Communication, problem solving, anger management, goal setting, conflict resolution skills are learned during group sessions and at a challenge course at Camp Y-Noah.
Individual and family counseling is effective in dealing with the issues that underlie the behavior problems and identifying the “risk factors” (history of and exposure to violence, substance abuse in the family, absence of parent, negative peer group, etc.) that the child and family are dealing with. Counseling seeks to improve the “protective factors” (relationship with caring adult, pro-social activities and peer group, positive connections at school, etc.) and encourage more effective and healthy functioning.
Case management services are available when a child needs this level of care. A case manager works with the child in his/her home and school setting and monitors progress while the youth and family are receiving other Child Guidance & Family Solutions services.
You and your counselor will determine the best course of action. This may include referrals to other agency services. Whatever program you and your child are involved in, we will work together for a positive change. A team effort is needed to help children with behavior problems.
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