CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SURVIVORS OF ABUSE

Target Population: Youth ages 6-19 who are victims/survivors of childhood physical and sexual abuse. Age and gender specific groups will be offered for ages 6-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-19.

Group Goals and Purpose: This group gives young children and teens a framework in which to understand what constitutes abuse and what happened to them. The goal is to help participants deal with feelings of loss, confusion and fear, reduce and remove responsibility and guilt, dispel feeling of isolation and help participants develop healthy coping skills and rebuild self-esteem.

Group Description: Each group will be tailored to meet the developmental needs of group members. Various modalities such as: body movement/awareness therapy, creative/artistic expression and more traditional therapeutic interventions will be used to promote comprehension of the issues of abuse, rapport and bonding among group members and facilitators.

When/Where: Groups will be formed dependent on need and will meet weekly at FCA. Days and times to be determined.

Referral Sources: Social workers, judges, probation officers, school counselors, private clinicians and self or family referrals.

Facilitatiors: Randy Lewis, L.M.S.W. and Dolly Morris, M.A.

TEEN ANGER GROUP

Target Population: Teenagers 13 to 17 years old.

Group Goals and Purpose: Teens who would like to learn more about how anger affects their lives, how to manage anger in a more appropriate manner, and how to break the cycle of anger in their family history. Teens will learn and practice different relaxation techniques in weekly groups. Teen will also acquire new coping skills such as; responsiblity for change, making positive choices and avoiding negative self-talk, assertiveness training, and learning how to recognize their personal triggers.

Group Topics:

• How to manage anger appropriately
• Taking responsibility for your anger
• Relaxation techniques
• Making positive choices
• Learn to avoid negative self-talk
• Assertiveness Training

When/Where: Wednesdays 4:30 to 6:00pm at FCA, September 14 through November 16.

Referral Sources: Social workers, judges, probation officers, school counselors, private clinicians and self or family referrals.

Facilitatiors: Randy Lewis, L.M.S.W.

EQUINE GROUP FOR GIRLS

Target Population: High-School Girls who are having difficulties with self-esteem, teen peer issues, maintaining friendships, and emotions.

Group Goals and Purpose: To expand self-expression, reinforce personal boundaries, build support systems, and develop appropriate social and cummunications skills.

Group Description:Research has demonstrated that gender-specific groups for girls foster positive gender identity development during adolescence, enhance those protective factors likely to build resiliency, curb negative behaviors, nurture girls personal and social competence and enhance their self-esteem. Equine therapy is a very unique form of therapy. Equine therapy brings the work, lessons, and changes into motion. Each girl will be given opportunities to build their verbal and non-verbal communication skills which they will need in life when building healthy relationships. The girls will be required to use both their voice and body to command the horse to stop, walk, run, and jump. As opposed to just “talk therapy”, Equine therapy requires the girls to recognize, accept and cope with fears in the moment. The physical nature of this group will build strength, increase balance, and coordination which will aide in developing a positive body image. The group will be limited in size so that each girl will have time and attention of the facilitators and horse trainers. After each lesson, the group will verbally discuss the applications of the lessons to their daily lives.

Each participant must have an intake, and brief interview before joining the group. Dress and shoes will be discussed during interview.

When/Where: This group meets weekly on Tuesday's at Movin' Free Farms from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Starting September 8. (Participants are limited due to the number of horses available.)

Referral Sources: Most referrals will come from the Office of Children's Services. However, anyone in the community, such as: parents, foster parents, guardians, judges, probation officers, school counselors and private clinicians can refer to the group or solicit a OCS referral. A youth DOES NOT have to be in state custody to attend this group.

Facilitator: Dolly Morris, M.A.

Back to Top

ACTIVITY-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS

Group Goals and Purpose: To help girls who have experienced sexual abuse reclaim their power.

Group Topics :

• Defining sexual abuse
• Getting help
• Identifying feelings
• Coping with feelings
• Secrets
• Responsibility
• Abusers
• Personal safety
• Self-esteem

When Where: Thursdays 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. September 8 through November 10th.

Referral Sources: Any person interested in enhancing the life of a youth – parents, guardians, foster parents, social workers, probation officers, counselors or teachers.

Facilitator: Dolly Morris, M.A.

Target Population: Teens incarcerated in Fairbanks Youth Facility, particularly teen fathers who have minimal involvement with their child, fathers seeking to improve the quality of their time with their child, and teens that are at high risk of becoming fathers.

Group Goals and Purpose: To build, enhance and strengthen high-risk families by increasing parenting skills and knowledge, parent/child interactions and parental self-esteem and confidence.

Program Description: Weekly group that combines parenting information and skills with socialization/peer interaction activities designed to help teens develop the self-confidence, self-esteem and basic socialization skills necessary to establish safe boundaries and environments for themselves and their children.

When/Where: Fall and spring groups are offered for youth incarcerated in Fairbanks Youth Facility.

Referral Sources: Fairbanks Youth Facility

Facilitators Lisa Carr, B.S.W. and Linda Huffaker