Building Resiliency Within Children Who Are in Shelter Care

School:: East Naples Middle
Subject:: Character Education
Teacher:: Camiria Jones
Students Impacted:: 10
Grade:: 6-8
Date:: September 9, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Suncoast Credit Union Foundation - $526.10

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 18

Originally, 9 students were attending East Naples Middle School (ENM) who resided in shelter care at Youth Haven; however, ultimately 18 students were served as a result of this grant! Groups were held weekly depending on the population of students from Youth Haven enrolled at ENM. Specifically, one-three separate groups were held a week during each student’s lunch period. Each student was first met with individually to introduce the purpose and structure of the group and give them the option of participating. To the student’s credit, they were open and enthusiastic about learning and engaging with their fellow classmates!

Groups began the first week in November and continued until the first week in March face-to-face. After CCPS campuses were closed, services were provided to students virtually. The general structure of the group consisted of welcome and introductions, review of group expectations (students had input in creating expectations), discussion and lessons on resiliency, an overview of Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s life (students were shown a large visual aid depicting segments of her life as it relates to resiliency), review games to reinforce concepts, awarding of incentives for demonstrating knowledge of concepts taught, time to eat lunch and enjoy favorite snacks, and individual positive affirmations given to each group member at the end of each group session.

It is important to note that students were positive and encouraging towards each other during each group session! They readily complimented each other, gave kudos, and identified each other’s strengths! Students also easily related to the successes and struggles of Ashley Rhodes- Courter who has been in foster care and shelter care. Also, many students would readily share with this group facilitator that they took the time to read about Ashley and were interested in her story! They also reported discussing aspects of the book amongst themselves.

Thank you again to Suncoast Credit Union for funding this project for such a remarkable group of students!

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to obtain funding to purchase materials that will help students build resiliency in the specific areas of optimism, sense of control, and sense of self. Ultimately, resiliency is the ability to bounce back from life challenges and thrive. The population served will be children who are residing in shelter care at Youth Haven, a facility that provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, and traumatized. The study of resilience has been thought to have begun with the study of children who were victims of maltreatment.

What will be done with my students

As the full time school psychologist, I will serve as teacher and group facilitator.

Firstly, students will be met with regularly throughout the school year in small groups to discuss components of the books, "Three Little Words", and "Three More Words" written by Ashley Rhodes Courter who was formerly in foster care in the state of Florida. Mrs. Rhodes Courter is now an internationally recognized speaker and author. She has also been a foster parent.

Specifically, students will also meet in groups of 2-5 with the school psychologist weekly or bi-weekly in a separate room on campus. The duration of the groups will be for 20 minutes. Exercises from the Teen Resiliency Building Workbook that relate to components of the two books will also be completed. Additionally, students will also get to keep copies of the books and the teen resiliency-building workbook upon conclusion of their participation in the groups.

Benefits to my students

Students will have another adult on campus that they can build trust with while also discussing challenges in their life within a structured discourse. One of the major indicators of whether or not a young person will manifest resiliency is that they have someone that they can trust and connect with. Students will also be able to reflect upon their own current levels of resiliency and how to further continue with its development. Serving as a remarkable example, will be someone who has been in a similar life situation, and was able to succeed academically, personally, and professionally. To measure effectiveness and outcomes, a survey will be administered upon conclusion of the groups.

It is hoped that the entire population of students in middle school who are in shelter care in Naples would benefit from participation in a group to build resiliency.

Budget Narrative

There are currently 9 students in shelter care at Youth Haven attending East Naples Middle School. 10 Teen Resiliency Building Workbooks will be needed as well as 10 copies each of the books "Three Little Words: A Memoir", and "Three More Words" by Ashley Rhodes Courter. Thank you so much for your time and consideration of this request!

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Teen Resiliency-Building Workbook (Teen Mental Health and Life Skills Workbook Series)	$370.90
2	"Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes Courter	$107.30
3	"Three More Words" by Ashley Rhodes Courter	$47.90
	Total:	$526.10

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