Dot Greenfield - General Manager Helen Hall - Business Manager

1. Dot Greenfield - General Manager Helen Hall - Business Manager

2. Refocus: Helping at risk young people make the transition to a positive adulthood

3. Yes to Youth (Y2Y) • Social service that focuses on youth • Formed in 2006 • Branches in Porirua, Wanganui • Currently establishing a branch in East Auckland

4. Vision and Mission Vision statement: • For all young people to feel safe, accepted and confident in finding their place in the community. Mission Statement: • To inspire, train, resource, support and empower young people to become functional and positive members of society.

5. Y2Y Offers a wide range of youth services: C4Life – uses sports and performing arts as a vehicle to support young people to make positive choices in life. Choice One – works with 18-24 year olds helping them gain life skills and work skills Refocus –a wrap around social work practice model Youth programmes and one-to-one mentoring Parenting programmes (for parents of teenagers and teenagers who are becoming parents themselves)

6. Refocus

7. Refocus • Initially worked with girls • Now both genders • Work with “at risk” young people • Referrals from • community (especially parents) • CYF Care and Protection teams • Youth Aid and CYF Youth Justice

8. Refocus • The Refocus model is strengths based • Developed from years of experience in social work • Every young person and their family is treated as an individual. • Process to do the work with the young person

9. Refocus process • Referral/Intake process • Comprehensive needs assessment • Tailor-made plans for • The young person • The significant adults in their life

10. Referral/Intake Referral • Information is crucial to have • Background of what the issues are • Education background • Health issues • Offending

11. Needs assessment • Background • Health • Education • Social wellbeing • Family relationships • Goals of the yp (and family)

12. Tailor-made plans • The young person needs to buy-in to the plan • Important to establish a genuine relationship and connection with the young person • Demonstrate belief in the young person • Plans for significant people may need to challenge their thinking, beliefs and parenting skills.

13. How does it work All about relationships • With the young person • The significant people that they see in their lives • Identifying where the problem lies – is it with the young person or the adults in their life? • Putting the “blame” where it lies and not being afraid to tackle that issue with that person

14. Case Study SALLY

15. SALLY • 13 years old • Middle class, pakeha family • Well educated parents • High achiever in school

16. Sally Parents separated • Angry • Aggressive • Bullying • Lead others astray • Ran away

17. Sally • Took mothers car • Drove an hour to another city • Picked up two youths on the way • Police called in • Sally was charged

18. Sally • Assessment • Plan • Interventions • Worked with parents to change their thinking • Supported family for around a year

19. Sally • Now 17 • Life back on track • Working as an office receptionist • Regularly keeps in touch with Y2Y.

20. Refocus • Not all young people and their situation is the same • Each one has different areas that are the problem • Relationship with their family members • Drug and alcohol • Poor parenting skills

21. Working with the young person • Refocus is all about the young person and keeping them safe • Giving them life skills to cope with growing up and becoming independent • Finding their strengths and helping them to build on that • Giving them hope for the future

22. Working with the young person • What do they want to be (what are their goals in life)? • Build on their talents • Help them to address alcohol and drug issues • Support them with their education • Rebuild relationship with their family • Find them programmes/training • Encourage volunteering in the community

23. Working with the young person • Enabling them to do it themselves, not do it for them • Ensuring the young person is exposed to a wide range of positive experiences

24. Working with parents • Challenging the parents in their views and expectations and own behaviour • Helping the parents to see the strengths in the young person • Parents need to accept what the young person is saying • Helping the parents to renegotiate household rules that are appropriate to the young persons age, stage and expectations.

25. Key areas we focus on with the parent • Understanding of adolescent development • What are the rules and boundaries • Structure in the home (are these age appropriate) • What are the values in the home – do they have values that the young person should know • Inconsistent messages to the young person • Adult issues

26. Case Study Tom

27. Tom • 15 years old • Maori • Solo mother with a professional background • No contact with his father

28. Tom • Hanging out with the wrong group and getting in trouble • Not attending school • Stealing • Vandalism • Alcohol and drug use • Relationship issues with mum • Came to attention of police through offending

29. Tom Assessment revealed: Staunch Christian views in home, contradictory to Mum’s lifestyle. Mum had “given-up” on him Stated he hated his mum.

30. Tom • Staff established a strong relationship with Tom • Listened to him • Picked him up when he needed it. • Consistent mentoring • Guiding him to be independent

31. Tom • Returned to school • Respect for Mum • Focused on a positive future • LSV Course • Continued his study • Now a loans officer in a bank.

32. Principles of Refocus • About strengthening the family • Passion to work with young people • Unconditional commitment to young person • Consistency • Authentic relationship • Genuine caring

33. www.y2y.org.nz