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When reading the book Starting Right there was some particular models that I was familiar with. The first one was the family model. I have learned that so many times we, the youth workers, weaken the families of the young people we work with. You might think, “Huh? No way.” I read that the number one place where a young person gets real time with his family is around the dinner table. When we plan so many events and activities we take these youth away from the dinner table, or better said, away from the only real time they might have with their families. Instead we need to function together with the parents in reaching out to their teenagers. There are several things I have learned when trying this model. These guidelines are: considering family times and needs when scheduling events, don’t assume the role of the parent, don’t make parents look bad, keep parents informed on events, encourage and offer support to families, never ever undermine the parent’s judgment or authority, and include families in some youth events. Some strengths in this model include better relationships between teens and adults, better relationships between the parent and the child, and it also gives teens older people to look up to. Another model I was familiar with was the Student Leadership model. So many youth today need personal and spiritual growth, someone they can trust, and a healthy life model that is consistent. I learned really fast that it is so critical that teens be challenged and given responsibility.
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