My daughter has been on home detention/ISP for one month now and is going to continue for another/she was doing fairly well and cooperating, but now i think reality is setting in that she needs to drop old friends and will not be allowed back to school unless she passes the online charter school classes to the 9th grade-she has flunked 8th because of truancy and running away and got into a fight using a folding knife to pack her fist, it scratched the girl on the head.
We live 16 miles out of town so she is very secluded and coming around back to her old self (i have been using your book also, and it really works!) However i think we're moving into a depression issue over non-socialization out here …and her and i being together all the time, working on homework, chores, playing some games, exercising outdoors.
What could i look into out there, we do not belong to any church anymore as all the goody goodys and bullys seem to be there and the adults were only interested in building the new church and raising money all the time. That was when she was about 5 or 6. Thank you for your time.
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In similar situations with my adolescent clients, I hook them up with a Big Brother or Big Sister. So, you may want to consider going to your nearest BB/BS Organization and see about procuring a mentor for your daughter
Research confirms what previously we had known only anecdotally or intuitively. That is, that mentoring works. A recent Research Brief found that youth who participate in mentoring relationships experience a number of positive benefits.
In terms of educational achievement, mentored youth have better attendance; a better chance of going on to higher education; and better attitudes towards school.
In terms of health and safety, mentoring appears to help prevent substance abuse and reduce some negative youth behaviors.
On the social and emotional development front, taking part in mentoring promotes positive social attitudes and relationships.
Mentored youth tend to trust their parents more and communicate better with them.
They also feel they get more emotional support from their friends than do youth who are not mentored.
Here are a few stats. Youth involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are:
· 46% less likely to use illegal drugs
· 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
· 52% less likely to skip school
· more confident of their performance in school
· one-third less likely to hit someone, and
· more trusting of their parents/guardians
Mark
www.MyOutOfControlTeen.com
