21st National Symposium on Juvenile Services Workshop

Engaging Aggressive Youth: Key Skills for Success

Dr. Barbara Baumann

Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Wyndham Grand Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA (Meeting Room-TBD)

This workshop focuses on skills for engaging aggressive families and youth involved with the juvenile justice system. The components are part of a larger supportive model for non-mental health professionals, Alternatives for Professionals (AFP). AFP is derived from an evidence-based model for aggressive and abusive families. The first topic, Intentional Processes, includes active learning of key engagement strategies that can be implemented at all levels of services. Specifically, the discussion and exercises will focus on validation, normalization, and instilling hope. We will use examples from popular media to emphasize these skills. Although youth come into juvenile justice with specific goals, the workshop will include instruction on working collaboratively with youth and caregivers to develop service goals in which they are invested as a means of engaging them in meeting their required goals. Lastly, we’ll go over a decision making model that empowers youth to think through decisions they are making.