A friend of mine is a Youth Re-entry Specialist. She works with youth who are in a correctional facility or children who were recently released from one. She assists the youth in reintegrating back into society. Her job is extremely challenging and stressful, but her job is arguably one of the most important jobs anyone could have (if you talked to her, she wouldn't even refer to it as a job – she has found her calling, and helping these kids is her passion – she rocks!).
Because she works with a large caseload (roughly 40 children at a time), and because she is responsible for creating individual re-entry plans for each child, she recently underwent training to become an Ansel Casey Life Skills Trainer.
Casey Life Skills is a free resource that incorporates tools and assessments to help prepare young people for adulthood. The website offers several assessments for children and their caretakers, and each assessment provides instant feedback.
Most of the assessments are relevant for children eight-years-old and older so I have not been able to utilize them for my son (10 months old). But I am excited about this website because the resources are FREE, professional, individualized, effective and user friendly. I have only started exploring the website, but thus far I am thoroughly impressed.
And I should note, these resources are appropriate for ANY child. Just because a re-entry specialist is using these resources does not mean that these resources are only suitable for at-risk youth. I would encourage any child parent, guardian, or caretaker to check out the website and utilize the tools, assessments and resources on an ongoing basis.
And thanks for sharing this information with me, Alyssa – those kids are so blessed to have you on their side.
Ali Hooper is a midwestern girl livin' in the 'burbs with her boys (hubby, baby, puppy). Once a School Counselor (now Editor of Homeschool Bliss), she whittles away her time blogging about the not-so-sunny side of motherhood at non-maternal instincts (though she loves showing off pictures of her adorable son at her family blog, The Hoopers).
Photo by lanuiop
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I have a son in a moderate risk youthful offender program in Florida. I researched everything possible about the facility he was being sent to before he was sentenced, and in my googling I found the Casey website because his facility was listed as one that had staff trained, as well. It was a relief to know he would receive useful information about functioning well rather than abstract ideas that he has thumbed his nose at for the last year.
I work with parents at risk for abusing or neglecting their kids; in some cases parents who already have abused or neglected. It is very rewarding to me, but having gone through this with my son, I feel a pull to shift my focus onto youth services, too. Please tell your friend, from a parent of a juvenile, thank you for all you do to help kids rebuild their lives.