The following article is an adaptation from Over the Peanut Fence: Scaling barriers for homeless and runaway youth. The book, a work of love and hope, is out for review and in the final stages of production. Stay tuned.
Resiliency
Runaway teens tend to have strong survival instincts. Most leave home because of abusive situations that make the risks of living on the streets more appealing than remaining in place. Experiencing trauma for much of their childhood leaves them confused, angry and the without the skills needed to earn a living. This was certainly the case when we invited Zach (stage name), a street kid to live with us. It took him five years to climb out of the dungeon of his mind to the light.
For years, social workers tried to help trouble youth like Zach by employing behavior modification techniques. The idea was to get rid of disruptive behaviors by enticing (or forcing) the youth to adapt to societal norms. Their techniques had marginal success for rather than build self-esteem and confidence it reinforced the notion that society considered him or her to be incorrigible.
In recent years, developmental psychologists started looking at positive approaches that build on intrinsic strengths rather than on hand-slapping. Their goal was to transform adversity into affirmation. They studied why some adolescents function well while others in similar situations, do not. This led to taking a broader approach that integrates account life at molecular, individual and family levels. The result was to develop and therapy based on resiliency that uses medical, social service and educational resources to initiate change.
Resiliency therapy focuses on the client’s strengths and on identifying a flexible treatment plan to help overcome early trauma. It reinforces healthy behaviors by acknowledging the fortitude and skills that already exists within the adolescent. Therapists use these proficiencies to develop additional competencies that will give the youth feelings of accomplishment.
Before goals are set, the case worker explores family, community and cultural factors that were either disruptive or were helpful to the youth’s development. Mentors may be called in and asked to spend time getting to know the youth. These good samaritans help identify hidden talents and provide encouragement to meet education goals once they are set. As progress is made and praise rightfully given, budding feelings of self-worth begin to blossom. A mentor is often the first person to pay attention to the youth’s needs and desires.
Cultural inhibitors can have a significant impact on resiliency. An adolescent from a minority community who experienced or perceived racism when young has a harder time adapting to white society than one who has not. In fifth grade, Dewey Taylor, a child of color, was bused to an all-white school. When he got off the bus he was greeted by a girl who rubbed her finger across his face to see if the color came off. Dewey was shocked and pushed her away only to be challenged by an older brother who proceeded to beat him up. Dewey and his friends decided that white kids were crazy. They lived in a middle class black neighborhood that sheltered their children from racism. The incident messed with Dewey’s confidence. It wasn’t until the Black Panthers emerged and soul singer James Brown shouted, “I’m black and I’m proud!” that Dewey mustered the strength to pull his life together.
Though a youth may eventually acquire job skills, early negative experiences can impinge on work by causing anti-social behavior, depression, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. Promoting full resiliency requires contextual understanding on the part of counselors. Changing cultural and social environments becomes part of the treatment plan.
Lowering factors that produce negativity, focusing on growth and adaptation, and promoting altruism and harmony, empowers adolescents to think more positively. Success comes from rewarding small steps over and over again while raining down positive praise for accomplishments.
Leland Leonard, director Tsehootsooi Medical Center in Arizona writes about Navajo adolescents and resiliency;
“Resilience is the natural, human capacity to navigate life well. It is something every human being has—wisdom, common sense. It means coming to know how you think, who you are spiritually, where you come from, and where you are going. The key is learning how to utilize innate resilience, which is the birthright of every human being. It involves understanding our inner spirit and finding a sense of direction.”99
It is a challenge to find the right amount of stimulation to propel an adolescent towards self-motivation. Vocational training, rites of passage and challenging sports offer opportunities that address this need. Unfortunately, these pathways are not always available to poor youths. Such programs give troubled youth a place to test their skills and find resilience. I’ve come to realize that overcoming youth homelessness is not a hopeless situation. It just takes the combined wisdom and compassion of people like you and me to want to do it.
References:
Zimmerman, M. (2014) Resiliency Theory: A Strengths-Based Approach to research and Practice for Adolescent Health. US National Library of Medicine, NIH. retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3966565/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3966565/
Leonard, L. (2008) The Relationship Between Navajo Adolescents’ Knowledge and Attitude of Navajo Culture and their Self-Esteem and Resiliency. Dissertation at Arizona State University.
. Zimmerman, M. PhD. (2013) Resiliency Theory. National Institution of Healthy Public Access. retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC3966565/
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