Office of Absentee Shawnee Family Services

Serving Children, Family and Community
To All Concerned Parents/ Family Members

Spotlight:          Two Star Tribal Youth Program- written by Kim Kannady

Funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention

 

Science has made great progress in recent years with regard to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Research on preventing drug use among children and adolescents has focused on reducing risks and educating on the factors that lead to use and abuse. 

 

Problem behaviors such as alcohol or drug use often begin during the school-age years. Many believe that implementing prevention programs in the community reduce the chance of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse.

 

The Two Star Program is designed to implement  prevention and intervention programs that can make a difference in the lives of our youth and communities. 

The curriculum gives students the tools to recognize internal pressures like stress or anxiety and external pressures like peer attitudes and advertising that may influence them to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The program is helping students learn and practice personal, social and refusal skills in order to say no to “bad” influences.  Cultural activities are part of the curriculum to enhance the youths knowledge of tribal customs and history. (a sense of “belonging” is crucial)

  

The Program delivers a format that comprises of small groups, in addition to providing individual counseling. This approach helps to target specific strengths within the youth to build upon, allowing the counselor to assist in implementing the youth's positive characteristics to establish a "positive" self-image & appraisal in implementing towards positive goals.   Again, research has shown this approach to produce strong and lasting positive results for the participating youth.

 

Activities implemented offer rewarding, challenging, and age-appropriate activities in a safe, structured, and positive environment.  Our youth learn positive qualities about himself and to identify their interests, express their views, and seek mutually acceptable solutions in decision-making skills.  Lastly, the activities enhance  interpersonal skills and social skills required to interact in a positive way with others.

 

Below are a list of services provided by Tribal Youth Program:

Tribal Youth Program-

Juvenile Prevention Program

(Funding by the U.S. Juvenile Justice System)

 

Serve as an advocate  for Youth

 

Assessments & Casemanagement

 

Counseling

Mental Health Counseling – family and youth

Alcohol & Drug Counseling

 

Juvenile Counseling

Moral Reconation Therapy – Juvenile delinquents (referrals from Juvenile Services)

Family & Juvenille Counseling

 

Prevention

Alcohol & Drugs

Inhalants

Cigarette Smoking

Gang

Music – The affects

 

Tribal Community Youth Outreach Services

Leadership Development – Improve interpersonal skills – self esteem, conflict resolution

(relationships-communication skills-“how to say no”- Family relationship skills)

Positive Social Activities.

After-school Tutoring

Afterschool – recreation

Afterschool – prevention

Sexuality

Cultural Enhancement

Cultural Conflict

Improve Attitude of School

Life Stressors

Peer rejection

Association with delinquent or aggressive peers = the outcomes

Bullying

Classroom Outreach - Prevention Curriculum

Provide local schools with presentations to youth on the above Prevention Topics

Primary Focus is on the Youth – We provide services to all Youth & Families, does not have to be a “Juvenile”

 

Tribal Youth Program Coordinator