Service Learning with Native youth in Detention

1
Service Learning with Native youth in Detention

• National Indian Youth Leadership Project
• McClellan Hall, Founder

2
The Project Venture Model

• Service Learning is critical element of the PV
  approach, in combination with outdoor adventure
  and strategic group development
• Evidence-based program
• Recognized by CSAP, NREPP, OJJDP
• Replicated in 23 states and Canada
• Recognized by First Nations Behavioral Health
  Assn. as Exemplary Program for Children of Color
  and as Best Practice for AI/AN and Pacific Island
  Indigenous Youth

3
Service Learning

• A methodology that links learning with various
  forms of service, through thoughtfully designed
  projects that meet the needs of the community.
  Learning can be connected to academic content
  areas or, can connect to cultural, language or
  other community-determined outcomes.

4
Service Learning Criteria

• Youth led
• Not be seen/used as punishment
• Focused on meaningful projects
• Projects based on priorities of youth
• Projects contain learning outcomes and are
  culturally appropriate
• Projects contain opportunity for reflection
• Groups adopt Full Value Commitment as guideline
  for group interaction

5
Support Needed

• Key people identified as support group for
  re-entry of the young person
• Staff development for support group
• Understanding of Full Value Commitment and
  Positive Youth Development approaches
• Staff development for detention facility staff
• Promote and reinforce trust, positive behaviors
  and attitudes

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Service Learning Cycle
7
Service Learning Outcomes

• (re)Connecting youth with the natural world
• (re)Connecting youth tribal community, language
  and culture
• Youth make a contribution to the community
• Youth connect with elders, tribal programs and
  people who are doing positive work
• Develop 21st Century skills, explore careers
• Rites of passage/metaphors

8
Green Projects

• Community Scan what kinds of Green
  opportunities are there?
• Environmentally focused projects
• Building projects (ie strawbale houses)
• Stream/Habitat Restoration
• Bison Projects
• Solar/wind projects
• Range Management

9
Service Learning and Green Options

• Collaborations with agencies Jane Goodall
  Institute, Wilderness Alliance, Sierra Club,
  tribal agencies
• Collaboration with Fish Game Dept.
• Work with elders to build sweat lodges and assist
  with ceremonies
• Oral History possibilities
• Surveying, mapping sacred sites

10
Ideas for Green Projects

• Green Roofs
• Weatherization
• Organic farms/gardens
• Straw Bale building
• Community Gardens
• Murals
• Recycling
• Cisterns for gardens

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Skills youth can take with them

• Communication skills, inter/intra-personal
• Language (Journaling)
• Cooperation, teamwork, interdependence
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Listening
• Being present
• Respect

12
Full Value Commitment

• Set of Guidelines for how we interact within the
  project.
• Be Here (Present)
• Be Safe
• Speak Your Truth
• Set Goals
• Let Go and Move On

13
Traditional Arts as service learning
14
TANAY Model

• Therapeutic Adventure for Native American Youth
• Staff Development is critical
• Elements of Positive Youth Development
  integrated with service and green projects
• Integrate brain development research on Adverse
  Childhood Experiences

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Training and staff development

• Strategic group building and support
• Based on respect for youth
• Positive interaction/communication
• Being present
• Youth seen as resources, potential leaders
• Goal setting (youth and adult staff)
• Dealing with being uncomfortable with process

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Feedback Model

• Clear and specific, includes positive
• Check in to see if it was clear
• Check others perceptions
• Solicited, not imposed
• Avoids emotion-laden words
• Appropriate timing, deals with issues people can
  do something about
• Allows person to choose solutions/behaviors