Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
University of West Georgia
First Presenter’s Email Address
tpeters@westga.edu
First Presenter's Brief Biography
A professor for 30 years in the field of Critical Educational Issues, philosophy, and spirituality at the University of West Georgia. I am a father of 3 sons, flight instructor and a world traveler.
Second Presenter's Institution
Carroll County Juvenile Judge
Second Presenter’s Email Address
(tparmer@carrollcountyga.com)
Third Presenter's Institution
Regional Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice
Third Presenter’s Email Address
StephanieLove@djj.state.ga.us
Fourth Presenter's Institution
University of West Georgia
Fourth Presenter’s Email Address
Sg00080@my.westga.edu
Fifth Presenter's Institution
University of West Georgia
Fifth Presenter’s Email Address
Tharris57@my.westga.edu
Location
Session 1 Breakout (Ballroom D)
Strand #1
Health: Mental & Physical Health
Strand #2
Heart: Social & Emotional Skills
Relevance
This presentation will focus on practical ways to bring healing to at-risk youth who have experience trauma and are not faring well at home, school, and in our communities.
Brief Program Description
Trauma in our at-risk youth community is a growing concern and must be addressed if we are to expect positive transformations. We have developed a mentoring program that is specifically designed to bring healing that is transforming our at-risk youth that are on probation with the justice system here in Georgia. The outcomes are humbling and remarkable.
Summary
Before we can work with at-risk youth to help them heal and grow, we must understand the gravity and depth of trans-generational trauma and how they are transferred to youth. Too often we see these patterns played out in destructive behaviors in homes, classrooms, and in our communities with few resources to address this serious and often life-threatening mental illness. We are far behind in recognizing this issue as is noted by Rodney Walker in his 2020 book, Wounds You Can Not See, and Van Der Kolk”s 2015 book, The Body Keeps the Score, in providing the necessary and specific healing that addresses traumas.
Too often, teachers are at a loss as to how to reconcile with these youth who have experienced severe trauma, so twelve years ago a mentoring program was started at the University of West Georgia in partnership with the Juvenile Justice System to address the traumas that plagues our at-risk youth. Over the years, we have invited hundreds of youths who are on probation and bring them to the university where they are introduced to pre-service teachers who will mentor them one evening a week for ten weeks.
It should be noted that when administering the Harvard University’s ACE Test to our youth, they all scored between 5 and 10 are at high risk of health and mental issues including alcoholism, anxiety, and depression to name a few. The program is designed to bring healing and hope to the youth who have all experience trauma. We have adapted the latest research that brings healing to many of the youth into our program.
Evidence
The qualitative research over the past 12 years shows remarkable change in the youth’s ability to form intimate relationships, focus on school, and improving their outlook on life. They all leave the program with more optimism and resilience.
Learning Objective 1
While not a “how to” program, those attending this session will leave having a new understanding of the gravity of trauma in our youth
Learning Objective 2
Replicate ideas for classrooms or mentoring programs, ideas that can bring healing to hurting youths.
Learning Objective 3
better able to identity and realte with youth who have expereienced trauma.
Keyword Descriptors
Trans-generational trauma, resilience, healing, mental health, physical health, mentoring, social skills, heart
Presentation Year
2023
Start Date
3-6-2023 10:15 AM
End Date
3-6-2023 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Thomas; Parmer, Tom; Love, Stephanie; Germanowski, Jo; and Harrison, Tyesha, "Healing Trauma in our At-Risk Youth" (2023). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 8.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2023/2023/8
Healing Trauma in our At-Risk Youth
Session 1 Breakout (Ballroom D)
Trauma in our at-risk youth community is a growing concern and must be addressed if we are to expect positive transformations. We have developed a mentoring program that is specifically designed to bring healing that is transforming our at-risk youth that are on probation with the justice system here in Georgia. The outcomes are humbling and remarkable.
