Drop it at the Door: ARISE gives teachers the skills they need to reject negative emotions.

Drop it at the Door: ARISE gives teachers the skills they need to reject negative emotions.

Continuing its effort to bring anger management and stress prevention to those that work with at-risk youth, ARISE Foundation will conduct its CHOICES: Drop it at the Door workshop at ATT in Albuquerque, New Mexico August 11 and 12. The Academy of Trades and Technologies is a vocational-technical high school for at-risk teens. The Academy offers students design and construction classes as well as assistance with mental health, housing and healthcare. The mission of the Academy is to not only give their students a viable career, but to steer them away from the at-risk lifestyles many of them were living before they enrolled in the Academy. Intervention Coordinator Colleen Chavez uses much of the ARISE life skills curricula and conducts group discussions with the teens about gang prevention, anger management, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, job search and interview skills and more.

Drop it at the Door is an innovative training that gives participants working with difficult populations the tools to handle anger and stress through making better choices in their work and personal lives. Drop it at the Door is a perk provided by employers who want their staff to be successful both on the job and at home.

The training will gives staff a solid understanding of how they can make the choice to drop home- and work-related anger, stress and frustration “at the door.” This training effectively stops the boomerang effect of stress and negativity, relieving the tension and harmful emotions that can shuttle between the workplace and home. This powerful anger and stress management workshop prepares participants to deal with difficult populations. Troubled youth are often so angry that they lash out at everyone around them. ARISE trains staff and others that work with at-risk youth how to avoid confrontation by using proven techniques and strategies demonstrated and practiced in this unique training.

The ARISE Drop It At The Door training program has been extremely successful in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where it has been conducted in various residential facilities. ARISE has also expanded its program to include other government agencies such as police, corrections and probation’s departments that require employees to confront difficult and often dangerous situations on a daily basis.

For over 25 years, ARISE has operated as a developer and publisher of Life Management Skills curricula and staff training programs. Designed to reach at-risk, incarcerated youth in detention centers and secure facilities and on probation, ARISE is also utilized as a powerful prevention tool for teenagers and young adults. ARISE programs consist of interactive group discussions and activities designed to break the ice quickly and grab the attention of even the most turned-off participants.

In its home state of Florida, ARISE was utilized for decades in the Miami-Dade School system. ARISE has forged a strong partnership with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). ARISE programs have been changing the lives of juvenile offenders in the Florida juvenile justice system since 1996. Its dynamic programs are currently being taught in 74 DJJ facilities across the state, as well as the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs and alternative schools.

ARISE programs are also used in over 100 organizations in the District of Columbia, including public and charter schools, the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the Metropolitan Police, the District of Columbia jail and the D.C. Superior Court Probation Department.

For more information, or to schedule a training, please call Yasmin Isaacs toll free: 1 (888) 680-6100 or visit http://www.ariselife-skills.org

 

The Fall and ARISE of Violent Teens

Teen Violence

One out of every ten arrested teens has committed a violent act (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center).  Homicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. Teens are bombarded with images of violence, not just in video games and movies, but in their own neighborhoods. Many teens experience fear and violence at home before they even step out onto the street. Each day is a battle to survive in a frightening and dangerous world. Many teens walk through metal detectors to get to class. They are a reminder that violence can shatter their lives at any moment.   

When a teen is involved in a violent crime and sent to a juvenile justice facility, he is often delivered from one hostile environment to another. The gang loyalties and disputes that plagued his neighborhood in the outside world still exist behind razor-wire fences and thick steel doors.

Teen Violence Prevention Through ARISE Life Skills Group Lessons

That’s where ARISE life-management skills and group sessions come into play. ARISE approaches the situation from many different angles. First, ARISE provides training to the staff of the juvenile justice facility. Some of the staff members are certified as ARISE Life Skills Group Facilitators. During their training, they learn how to interact with the troubled teens and get them interested and involved in ARISE groups.  As the teens participate in the group, they begin to trust each other and the facilitator. They slowly open up. As they get more comfortable, they listen. Once the ARISE Group Facilitator has their attention, the teens learn and appreciate the life skills lessons packed into the ARISE curriculum. The ARISE curriculum is a critical part of “softening” these often-violent offenders. A major component of the ARISE curriculum is anger management. Teaching these angry teens how to control their emotions and defuse conflict is the most effective way to keep them from ending up back in the system—or worse—six feet under.  Anger management is just the beginning of the ARISE curriculum. As the lessons progress, the youth learn about self- esteem, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, job search skills, money management, and nutrition and health. ARISE has an extensive library of over 260 easily understood life lessons. 

Why the ARISE Formula Works

Knowledge is the key to preventing teen violence. If you teach young people how to manage their anger, communicate effectively and avoid peer pressure, you give them the tools they need to succeed in life and stay out of the adult prison system. Even more than knowledge, these vulnerable teens need the opportunity to express themselves in an environment where they feel listened to and respected. Respect, or lack thereof, is a major part of an urban teen’s life. When ARISE Life Skills Group Facilitators use their training to create an atmosphere of respect and openness, these lessons will last a lifetime.

ARISE Works With Some of the Toughest Kids in Florida and the Most Dedicated Caregivers on the Planet.

ARISE Foundation co-founder Edmund Benson recently celebrated his 80th birthday.  As a gesture of thanks, he gave his birthday cake to the dedicated staff of Thompson Academy in Pembroke Pines, FL. Thompson Academy is a secure juvenile justice facility where approximately 150 youth are held under lock and key for six to nine months while undergoing positive behavior changes. While the youth are at Thompson,  ARISE trained group facilitators (the lucky recipients of the birthday cake) conduct ARISE group discussions and activities for 45-60 minutes a day, four days per week. These young men are positively engaged while they learn about anger and conflict management, the importance of education, how to prepare for a world where jobs are hard to come by, and many more valuable lessons. Motivated by the ARISE experience, these youth come to the realization that this information will only help them in life. Thanks to the well-trained staff at Thompson and the ARISE Life Management Skills curricula, created specifically for these troubled youth, they have a chance of leading law-abiding, successful lives upon their release from the program.

ARISE will present its life-changing training programs at the Florida Dept. of Juvenile Justice headquarters in Tallahassee, FL.

Dozens of representatives from juvenile justice and nonprofit organizations will engage in a presentation outlining the remarkable ARISE Life Skills and CHOICES training programs.

North Palm Beach, FL – ARISE founders Susan and Edmund Benson will captivate an audience of juvenile justice and youth organization employees at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice headquarters in the Alexander building on June 10 at 10 AM.

The Bensons were invited to give a presentation by Greg Johnson, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Prevention and Victim Services within DJJ. ARISE programs are currently used in 74 juvenile justice facilities throughout the state of Florida. ARISE has taken a multifaceted approach to improving the lives of incarcerated youth and those that serve them. ARISE trains juvenile justice staff how to conduct interactive group life skills lessons with the youth in their care. The lessons teach juvenile offenders how to manage their anger, handle conflict, build their self esteem, avoid drugs and alcohol, stay out of gangs, find and keep a job and much more. The role of ARISE and the group facilitators is to engage the learners, get them talking and show them that their opinions and feelings matter.

ARISE has not forgotten about the stress and well-being of the staff at each DJJ facility. The CHOICES: Drop it at the Door program is a powerful workshop that provides a solid understanding of how each one of us can make the choice to drop home- and work-related anger, stress and frustration “at the door,” ending the boomerang effect of bringing home the stress from work, or carrying family problems such as financial worries and marital woes into the workplace. Eliminating the harmful transference of tension between the workplace and home is the focus of the CHOICES training.

The purpose of the presentation is to introduce ARISE staff training experiences and curricula to programs unfamiliar with the success of ARISE in Florida, nationally and internationally. ARISE wants to share over two decades of inspiring positive behavioral change in troubled youth and staff. The goal of the presentation is to develop partnerships with those serving vulnerable children and teens, thereby extending the work of ARISE and adding structure to programs and providing professional training to staff that interact with these youth.

 For over 20 years, ARISE has operated as a developer and publisher of Life Management Skills curricula and staff training programs. Designed to reach at-risk, incarcerated youth in detention centers and secure facilities and on probation, ARISE is also utilized as a powerful prevention tool for teenagers and young adults.  ARISE programs consist of interactive group discussions and activities designed to break the ice quickly and grab the attention of even the most turned-off participants. ARISE is particularly appropriate for youth with special requirements such as limited reading and/or writing ability and behavioral problems. 

In its home state of Florida, ARISE were utilized for decades in the Miami-Dade School system. ARISE has forged a strong partnership with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). ARISE programs have been changing the lives of juvenile offenders in the Florida juvenile justice system since 1996. Its dynamic programs are being taught in 74 DJJ facilities across the state as well as the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs and alternative schools.

ARISE has also trained staff in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and over 100 organizations in the District of Columbia, including Washington, D.C. public and charter schools, the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the Metropolitan Police, the District of Columbia jail and the D.C. Superior Court Probation Department.

 A recent study by Vanderbilt University and the University of Maryland showed that the cost of one offender with at least six police contacts from childhood to age 32 is $3,172,998. In other words, rescuing one child from a life of crime saves taxpayers more than $3 million dollars.

 Since ARISE was established over two decades ago, it has trained and certified  5,284 Group Facilitators who have taught over 4,011,242 documented hours of ARISE life-skills lessons across the United States. ARISE is also being used in Canada, Jamaica, England, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, New Zealand, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. ARISE curricula are presently being translated into Kazakh, Russian. Requests for translations have also come in from as far away as Pakistan and South Africa.

For more information, or to schedule a training, please call Yasmin Isaacs at ARISE toll free: 1 (888) 680-6100 or visit ariselife-skills.org.

Need a Little Inspiration? ARISE Introduces New “Combination Pack.”

The world needs affirming thoughts now more than ever. It’s easy to dwell on the negative and be swept into the flood of turmoil and tragedy. It’s more challenging to stay positive and look for the good in others. ARISE has three products that provide a daily nudge toward positivity. Until now, those three products were only available separately.  You can now purchase all three in a handy “combination pack.” Here is what you will receive, for the astounding price of $15.00:

• Stop!  The average person spends an hour in a car during each weekday commute. When you find yourself with an idle moment, choose to use your time wisely and build a more positive outlook for yourself. The ARISE Red Light Affirmation cards can be placed on the dashboard and read at every red light. Instead of staring into space or fiddling with the radio, use every red light as an opportunity to fill your mind with positive thoughts, such as “I look at what is right in people, not what is wrong.” Look at red lights not as roadblocks that keep you from moving forward, but as blessings for yourself and others.
• Look! Positive Cards are thoughtful ways to salute someone else’s selflessness. When you notice a random act of kindness, give ’em a Postive Card. They make excellent morale-lifters in the workplace. Use them at home if you catch your children doing something right.  Give them away to total strangers you catch in the act of doing something good. It’s amazing how your entire world view shifts when you purposely look for the good around you. Everyone involved will be happier, and we can’t get enough of that, can we?
• Pray! Give a little bit of yourself by offering a prayer for a youth who is struggling. This card can help you with the words. It will only take a moment, and you could bring some peace to a troubled heart. 

Each package of 30 cards, 10 of each, comes with directions on how to use them effectively. Each set of cards is bound with a special wrapper containing an inspirational message. If you need more cards, they are for sale individually on the ARISE Website, 50 for $9.95.  The website is also a great place to find new ideas, sale items and free downloads.

MAKE EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE COUNT.

“Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future” -Steve Miller

Teaching & Motivating Youth with ADHD/ADD and Learning Disabilities, brought to you by ARISE Life Skills & Training

Building a rapport with a learning-disabled, frustrated child or teen starts with tailoring your teaching style to their special needs. ADHD/ADD is a neurological disorder that impacts individuals in four main categories:

1. Attention: youth with ADHD/ADD have trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks, especially if they are not interested in them.
2. Impulsivity: lack of self-control can cause impulsive behaviors and choices.
3. Hyperactivity: many kids and teens with ADHD are “bouncy,” hyperactive, restless and on-the-go.
4. Boredom: Unless a task is very stimulating, those with ADHD/ADD often get bored easily.

ARISE lessons are specifically designed for people with difficulty reading, writing and staying focused. All guided group discussions and activities are structured, interactive, to-the-point and easy-to-understand.  Forget about boredom and acting out! These dynamic lessons will get even the most reserved students involved and learning about anger management, conflict resolution, job search and interview skills, health and hygiene, nutrition and exercise and much more.

Here are 15 ways to teach and connect with these unique, and often very bright, youth.

1. Give simple one-step directions.
2. Give both verbal and written instructions.
3. Maintain eye contact when giving instructions.
4. Help learners get started on an activity, then encourage them to complete the activity on their own.
5. When you ask a question, allow extra time for them to answer.
6. Encourage rather than criticize.
7. Focus on and praise positive behavior. Catch them doing good things and compliment them immediately. Praise and reinforce ALL good behavior: not interrupting, being patient, remaining seated, cooperating, participating in group activities.
8. Be sure they understand that it’s OK to ask for help.
9. Have them sit up front with their backs to other learners.
10. Let them doodle; it helps them focus and pay attention during quiet activities.
11. Hyperactive behaviors when seated are a release for the hyperactivity. It’s best to ignore them unless they are distracting for other learners.
12. Use activities that allow and encourage movement. Let the ADHD learner distribute and collect materials or erase the board.
13. If reading aloud frustrates them, do not ask them to do it.
14. Move closer to them when you want to get their attention.
15. Tell them what you want them to do, not just what NOT to do.

For more information, or to order from the ARISE curricula, please visit http://www.ariselife-skills.org or call 1 (888) 680-6100.

A Prayer for Troubled Youth Brought to you by ARISE Life Skills & Training

If you work with at-risk and troubled youth and teens, chances are that your days are long and difficult and you often find yourself reaching out to a higher power for the patience to make it through.  No matter what religion or denomination you are, a thoughtful prayer can help soothe your mind and give you that extra push you need to fix what is broken and treat others the way you want to be treated.

ARISE is not a religious organization, but the ARISE Founders, Susan and Edmund Benson, created a special prayer specifically for those commited, courageous men and women who work with some of the toughest, most needy kids and teens in the country.  It is called “A Prayer for Troubled Youth.”

And here it is:

Here this humble prayer, O God, for our

troubled children, for at-risk youth that

are abused, misguided and vulnerable;

for children who yearn for nothing more

than encouraging words and a loving

touch; for any that have broken society’s

laws and are lost and frightened.

We entreat for them Thy mercy, grace

and forgiveness, and for those responsible

for their care we ask hearts of compassion,

gentle hands and kind words.

Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to

these young men and women, and so to

share the blessings of the merciful.

Amen.

 

For more life skills curricula, free downloads and fresh ideas, visit www.ariselife-skills.org.