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Street Kids
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From: Sindiswa Mlilwana
[smlilwana@yahoo.com]
Sent: 04 October 2006 04:19 PM
I am working in a residential care program with 'street kids'. It's also
my first time working in this kind of an environment. I started working
with them in August this year. I am struggling to get through to them -
it's like they have given up in life; it is really sad. It's almost that
they live for today - they are not bothered about tomorrow. I have been
in child care for the last eight years and I have not seen anything like
this. If there is anybody who have suggestions for me to deal with this
situation I will be delighted.
Thanks
Sindi
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From: jen kozma [jkozma@hotmail.com]
Sent: 05 October 2006 05:44 PM
Hi,
I have worked with this population for some time now, and I think the
thing to remember is that "their" priorities are very different than
"ours."
Changing our perceptions to meet theirs on their level is helpful as our
worlds do not tend to focus on where our next meal (or hit of crack)
comes from.
Getting through to them is going to meet your need, but for them, I
would say a non-judgmental, relationship based approach is what they
need, without any kind of agenda. It's hard to see the things that you
have and will see, and it's hard to not jump in and try to "save" them,
but I would say focus on the relationship...the rest will follow. Harm
reduction is also a key component, but this is just from my experience.
Thanks for your time.
Jen
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From: Jack Nowicki
[jnowicki@tnoys.org]
Sent: 05 October 2006 05:48 PM
The short answer could be to begin by talking to these youth about what
they want to talk about. Street youth have a culture that is interesting
and you can learn a lot about it by asking them to describe it to you.
Become a social anthropologist first. Once the youth start sharing with
you about their lives and ideas, you will find opportunities to be of
assistance, based on what they tell you they want. And once you become a
good listener, they will listen back.
A good resource, if you like reading about working with street youth, is
Peterson & Wayman (2006) Streetworks: Best practices and standards in
outreach methodology to homeless youth. StreetWorks Collaborative,
Minneapolis, MN. You can order this book by emailing
StreetWorks@FreeportWest.org
Jack Nowicki, LCSW
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From: Nathan Whittaker
[whit0495@umn.edu]
Sent: 05 October 2006 06:07 PM
Sindiswa, my dear Capetonian...
Though I am quite confident that you have far more skills than I could
hope to have - via your amazing work at James House - "Project
Offstreets" here in Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA) has had a lot of
success. Though I don't personally know anyone in the organization, I
thought that you may want to poke around their website and possibly send
them an email for materials, ideas, networking, comfort, etc.
Their web address is:
http://www.youthlinkmn.org/offstreets
All CYC workers are welcome to take a peek as well.
Cheers,
Nate Whittaker, M.Ed.
TRIO Student Support Services
College of Education & Human Development University of Minnesota
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From: Camille Regan
[CRegan@whitefieldsok.com]
Sent: 05 October 2006 06:09 PM
You may wish to contact Alison Lane who works in Mexico with an
established street program; it is called Juconi. Her email address is:
Alison@juconi.org.mx
Their web page is:
www.juconi.org.mx/english/index.html
They have an incredible street program going and have had a great deal
of success. Alison would be a great resource.
Camille Regan LCSW
Clinical Coordinator
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From: Gary Benthem
[garybenthem@hotmail.com]
Sent: 05 October 2006 09:04 PM
Hi Sindi,
This is often a struggle for youth who have been street involved for
some time. They have experienced little positives and today is stressful
enough to have to worry about tomorrow. Help these youth experience
great successes that they can celebrate (simple things sometimes like
getting a job, keeping stable, going to the zoo for the first time,
getting a new item
of clothing). Helping them celebrate successes will get you closer to
them,
and then, once they have stability, they can think about the future.
Make good plans with clear time frames and make them achievable.
I myself have just accepted a team leader position with a new program
that will be the last step in helping street youth move to independence.
It's a great opportunity and very necessary.
Anyways, hope that helps a little.
Gary Benthem
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From: ziggy stardust
[suffragettecity@hotmail.com]
Sent: 05 October 2006 09:32 PM
This article I wrote might help.
http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0505-streetkids.html
___
From: Derek Wicks
[djwicks@nl.rogers.com]
Sent: 06 October 2006 12:06 AM
Local soup kitchens?
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From: MARILYN ELLIOTT
[mle2003_2@yahoo.com]
Sent: 06 October 2006 03:06 AM
I have not had alot of experience with "street kids" exactly but the
program I work in is with kids who had a home but had no rules, no
security, even very abusive and unhealthy places to call home. Some of
them might have been safer on the streets. Anyway, I see the same thing
in some ways - the "living for today". Easy come, easy go - no respect
for themselves, their things, other clients things or staff. I think
some of it is because they have never had security - nothing they could
actually count on that would be the same next week as it is today -
except the fact that they would still be scared, abused or be parenting
themselves. I feel that a lot of these kids had to stop being kids when
they were 4, 5, 6 or even younger. I think in lots of cases, they need
to be taught and given permission to be a kid - do things for fun - play
in the sand, play in the water, play lego or playdough or color - and
have our permission to enjoy it. I don't know if this will help you but
it has helped me sometimes.
Marilyn
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From: Mandy Goble [mandy@dch.org.za]
Sent: 06 October 2006 08:10 AM
Hi Sindiswa,
I also work in a residential care programme. One of the programmes we
offer is a treatment centre for young people who are substance
dependent. This programme uses the Adolescent Development Model which
has proved to be extremely successful in assisting these young people
rekindle a sense of hope and belief in a future. We took this model and
with some adaptations developed it into a 12-week programme for a group
of young people who had been living on the street. Of the 8 who attended
the programme, 6 graduated after the 12-week period and, moved into a
group home and are presently attending bridging classes in preparation
for placement into the formal education system next year.
NACCW will be able to give you further information on the Adolescent
Development Model and they also offer training.
e-mail: headoffice@naccw.org.za
www.naccw.org.za/
Good luck.
Mandy Goble
Durban
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From: kenneth mitambo [kndua@yahoo.com]
Sent: 06 October 2006 05:45 PM
Sindi,
Working with street children is not an easy task. I worked with them for
5 yrs and some of the tips I learnt were ...
Street children feel hopeless and vulnerable due to what they have gone
through in life. The first thing you need to do is to be their good
friend.
This you can do by knowing their likes, in particular games. Then
involve yourself in this. In particular street kids love football. As
you play with them trust will be built up. Try to affirm them by
enhancing their talents and encouraging them that it's possible to make
it.
Due to their vulnerability and people perceiving them as hopeless, as a
worker you have to show and encourage them that it's possible to change.
But one thing you have to be is patient enough if you want results. It
took me 3 months to start seeing results and it worked. Remember this:
if you appreciate them, affirm their talents, you will be surprised at
the result.
I will share more information on this.
Keneth Ndua.
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From: Stacey McRae
[staceymcrae@shaw.ca]
Sent: 06 October 2006 09:34 PM
Hi Sindi,
I am a second year CYCC student at Mount Royal College in Calgary
Alberta. I have been working with girls ages 14 -19 who are involved in
sexual exploitation (prostitution), or at risk of being sexually
exploited. Most of these young girls come to our program from the
streets, looking for a Safe Haven. I know what you are talking about
when you see no life in their eyes with the feeling of despair. I see
and feel it too!
In Calgary the subculture of youth homelessness is exploding. There
aren't enough shelters to house and feed our youth. They don't have
enough resources to provide follow through care in regards to addictions
and mental health that these youth struggle with on a daily basis. It's
not that we don't have these resources because we have wonderful
programs assisting youth. My thought is that the government doesn't
provide the funds to link and maintain street youth to these services
that are essential to the success of youth wanting to change. The city's
biggest problem is not having enough follow through care like staffing,
group homes, assisted living, or detox/rehab long-care facilities where
the youth are provided shelter, food, clothing, education, and
appreciated professionals that work closely with them until they are
stable and confident to prosper on their own.
When it comes to youth living on the street in comparison to youth that
live in homes with families, extended family, or friends, their
priorities are extremely different because they come from different
worlds. Street youth live day-to-day because they never know if they
will survive the night. Most of the young women I have had the
opportunity to meet and work with, survive everyday struggling with self
esteem issues; suppressed memories of sexual abuse and incest;
devastation from the results of abortion(s); a false idea of a woman's
role in regards to their relationships with men; addictions to alcohol
and drugs; mental health disorders; STIs; self-harming behaviours;
behaviour issues; breakdowns in the system which limit their resources
to funding, education opportunities, assisted living, steady employment,
and counselling. It's not that these youth don't want homes. For most of
them they want to be at home with the people they love and cherish most.
Instead of being loved by a family they are fighting physically,
mentally, emotionally, and sexually to survive another day on the
streets. Which is an extreme amount of hard work, when they don't have
the means to get the help they desperately need.
As a Child and Youth Care Counsellor I fight and educate everyday so the
youth I work with will survive OFF of the streets, getting the services
they need which I can provide. Telling them every moment I can that they
are special and they have a purpose greater than what they are living.
Advocating for their lives and the quality of life they should have as
young
people. Listening and understanding their needs and wants for their
future of just tomorrow. Supporting their mistakes, so they might make
different choices. Protecting them with connections to other services so
they don't feel alone. Loving them as individuals.
My advice to anyone working with street youth is to be strong with your
own personal morals, values, and self-awareness. Youth that are homeless
are very susceptible to positive and negative influences, which gives us
the opportunity to be a positive role model and change the youth we work
with.
Always remember that we can change a young person's life by just being
there. Showing them that you care even if they make a poor decision or
have a relapse in recovery. Giving them hope that tomorrow can be
different.
Believing in them.
Thanks.
Stacey McRae
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From: dayna bowman
[daynabowman856@hotmail.com]
Sent: 07 October 2006 12:23 AM
Hi Sindi, I am a youth worker from Nova Scotia, and have some experience
working to motivate and encourage youth to go forward in life and start
to see the light at the end of the tunel. I found that putting them in
situations where they are the ones helping and not the ones being
"helped" is a good start. Why don't you try taking them to a shelter to
help serve a meal, or get them in involved in the community doing
something that would interest them, I know they may not have too many
interests they want to share but if you pick a few for them, it won't
take long for them to let you know what they would rather do. Also don't
be shy to be a little pushy in getting them up and going - they may not
like you at first but they need someone to give them that push, it is
why we are here. And lastly, youth can tell when someone is trying too
hard, and not being themselves. Use your own unique interest with them,
you can't save them all, but there is always some who's heart is waiting
to be warmed. Don't give up on them or yourself!!! Have a thick skin.
Dayna
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From: Colleen P Bass
[cbass514@mymrc.ca]
Sent: 08 October 2006 02:50 AM
Hi Sindi,
I am in my last year of the CYCC program in Calgary. I haven't worked
directly with "street youth" before but I am interested in it as well. I
think that it is natural to be frustrated that you are not connecting
with them the way that you might with youth that haven't had the same
struggles.
I think it is important for you to remember that they ARE actually used
to living for today because that is what they have had to do to survive.
Since looking after their primary basic needs is the most important,
they perhaps haven't even had a chance to think about things like dreams
and goals the way we have. I think it is great that you are struggling
with it because it shows that you care, and just keep trying to build
relationships with them and you just might break through to one of them!
If you are interested, I did an article critique last year on homeless
youth and these are the articles that I used, they may be very helpful:
Bronstein, L.R. (1996). Intervening with Homeless Youths: Direct
Practice Without Blaming the Victim. Child and Adolescent Social Work
Journal, 13(2), 127-138.
Rew, L. & Horner, S.D. (2003). Personal Strengths of Homeless
Adolescents Living in a High-Risk Environment. Advances in Nursing
Science, 26(2), p.
90-101.
Good luck!
Colleen
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From: Cassandra Goldie
[helani_celanal@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 11 October 2006 11:11 PM
In my work with street youth I have found that music is a key to
unlocking great conversations with them. You can learn a lot about a
young person through the music's lyrics, type of music they listen to.
It is a safe way for them to communicate their feelings.
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From: Avery Lynn Murphy
[amurp771@mymrc.ca]
Sent: 15 October 2006 08:32 PM
Further reply to Sindi.
Hi Sindi,
I am a second year student in the Child and Youth Care Counsellor
Diploma program at Mount Royal College, in Calgary Alberta.
Although I have not worked directly with street children I believe I
have been taught some great things that might be helpful for you. One
thing our teachers stress that is the most important thing when working
with children and youth is the relationship you build with them. They
always say, if you can not build a positive relationship with the youth
is it much harder to get though to them and to help them build positive
things in their lives. Once you have been able to build a relationship
with the youth I think it is important to get the youth involved in the
community.
As street children have been used to living day-to-day I do not believe
they have had time to develop a relationship with the community. I
believe a relationship with the community the children are living in is
very important. This will give them a sense of belonging; it could be
another place that they could go in case they are struggling. Taking the
children out in the community and doing community activities could be a
positive thing for them. Hopefully these suggestions help you. Good
luck, it sounds like you care a lot about the children you are working
with and asking for help was a great idea.
Avery Murphy
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From: Angella Danielle Hardy [mailto:ahard843@mymrc.ca]
Sent: 17 October 2006 04:46 AM
Hi Sindi,
My name is Angella Hardy and I am a second year student at Mount Royal
College enrolled in the Child and Youth Care Counsellor diploma program.
One thing to remember when working with street children is relationship,
relationship, relationship!! These youth have come from backgrounds of
physical, mental and emotional abuse and what they really need is
someone to talk to, someone to trust. Although you are struggling to get
through to them do not give up. Giving up is something they expect from
you it is something they have dealt with their whole lives, they feel
their worlds have given up on them and now they are giving up on
themselves.
To start the relationship process, talk to them and find out who they
are and what they're about. Gain insight into their personalities by
asking them about the music they listen to, question their thoughts on
certain lyrics and how they might reflect feelings they are going
through. On top of building relationships, it is our job to help empower
these youth and help them realize that they are capable of achieving the
goals the wish to accomplish. We can also help these youth be more aware
of the community support services that are in place to help them such as
counselling services for example. Although it is not easy to reach these
youth, it is possible. Work on building the relationship at every chance
you get and don't give up on them.
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From: Drennan [mailto:drennan@iafrica.com]
Sent: 18 October 2006 07:55 PM
Hi Angella and Sindi
I'm not sure that I would start with personal questions. My experience
is that unless loads of trust building time has been invested, a
homeless child or young person will not connect with you if you start in
a threatening way.
After all, how do they know you are not an under-cover someone who wants
information (and not relationship).
Think rather of a way to show your authentic heart of care and concern
...
like just chilling and talking about less direct stuff ... and walking
yet another mile in his shoes!
Denis D
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