Grief& At-Risk Behaviors: Through the eyes of a teen

Format

Individual Presentation

Presenters

Kiana Battle, Lamar County Board of EducationFollow

First Presenter's Institution

Middle Georgia State University

Second Presenter's Institution

NA

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Scarbrough 5

Strand #1

Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Mental & Physical Health

Relevance

This proposal is directly related to both strands II and IV. Grief counseling groups are effective interventions for adolescents that foster both social and emotional skills. Grief counseling groups for adolescents also promote both mental and physical health.

Brief Program Description

This presentation will explore the affects that grief has on adolescents, including at–risk behaviors, identity confusion, issues of self-worth, and many more. The presentation will illustrate the positive impact that grief counseling groups have among adolescents (with a special focus in the public school environment). Barriers that hinder the effective delivery of group counseling within the public school arena will also be addressed (such barriers are amount of time in the school day, student caseload, and administrative support). This presentation will also address the critical role that school social workers play, in effectively providing group counseling interventions to adolescents who are affected by grief and loss.

Summary

Recognizing the impact that loss has on adolescents, it is critical that adolescents be provided with interventions that can help them appropriately cope with their grief. Although counseling resources are often available for adults, fewer resources are available for grieving adolescents, who often must grieve alone or with limited support (Slyter, 2012). Grief counseling groups are positive interventions that can assist adolescents in developing healthier coping skills. These skills can empower them to process their grief in a positive way. Groups can provide an environment that promotes resilience which acts as a protective factor against the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses of adolescents.

School social workers should be encouraged to address the needs of this population and provide meaningful and effective interventions that can buffer the effects of grief for adolescents. Providing grief group counseling programs and other strength- based programs for adolescents within the context of the school setting may help adolescents to engage in more positive behaviors. The death of a parent can affect children’s self-esteem and can be associated with more behavior problems, high levels of anxiety, social withdrawal, and lower sense of self-efficacy (Worden, 1996).

This presentation highlights the importance of grief counseling groups for adolescents, within the public school environment. This presentation also highlights the role of school social workers in providing grief counseling group interventions to adolescents. This presentation also purports to shed some light on the barriers to grief counseling groups for adolescents. Identifying the barriers to grief counseling groups for adolescents is important because it will help school social workers, school administrators, and state educational leaders see the impact that grief has on adolescents. It will also highlight the importance of group counseling for adolescents in the public school setting.

Evidence

The practice of group counseling is an intervention model used in the social work profession. In social work, the therapeutic benefit of group membership is conceptualized as stemming from mutual aid (Gitterman, 2004; Schwartz 1974; Shulman, 2008). However the use of group counseling interventions is often underutilized. This is despite the fact that available research suggests that group participation may be particularly helpful in reducing social isolation and assisting bereaved individuals in moving through the bereavement process more quickly (Forte, Hill, Pazder, & Feudtner, 2004; Piper, Orgodniczuk, Joyce, & Weidman, 2011; Piper, Orgodiczuk , Joyce, Weidman & Rosie, 2007). Recognizing the possible issues associated with adolescents and grief, it is important to note the positive impact that group counseling can have on this population. According to Malekoff, those who feel connected are less likely to engage in high-risk behavior (Malekoff, 2004).

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Kiana Battle is a licensed Master Social Worker. She received her Ph.D. in Social Work Planning and Administration from Clark Atlanta University. She also received a B.A. degree in Sociology and M.S.W. degree in Social Welfare from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Battle is an Assistant Social Work Professor at Middle Georgia State University. She has also served as the School System Social Worker for Lamar County School District in Barnesville Georgia from 2008-2017. Dr. Battle has also taught Sociology courses as an adjunct instructor at Gordon State College, in Barnesville Georgia. Her passion for serving others is demonstrated through her work. Dr. Battle is the Co-Author of Real Girls: Shifting Perceptions on Identity, Relationships, and the Media and Real Girls: Reflections; she also has completed research in the areas of grief counseling support groups for children and adolescents (dissertation research). Dr. Battle has been a featured presenter at several national conferences, including the National Youth at Risk Conference in Savannah Georgia and the National Association of Social Workers Conference in Atlanta Georgia. Dr. Kiana Battle is married to Pastor Keith Battle, Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Yatesville Georgia.

Keyword Descriptors

Grief, Loss, Adolescent Development, Socal Work, Group Counseling, Behavioral Health

Presentation Year

2018

Start Date

3-6-2018 2:45 PM

End Date

3-6-2018 4:00 PM

Recommended Citation

Battle, Kiana, "Grief& At-Risk Behaviors: Through the eyes of a teen" (2018). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 127.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2018/2018/127