Part One: Establishing a Strength-Based Culture

Strength-based treatment is all about attitude and actions. Part One explores how consistently communicating hope and possibility to the kids and families in your care, and using practices that are an extension of this message, can result in dramatic change.

Part Two: How to Respond Instead of React

Working day after day with at-risk children and youth often elicits conflicting feelings that can compromise a professional's performance. Part Two examines why the job is so important yet so challenging, and offers insights and strategies to help professionals remain effective and motivated. Topics include: adult self-esteem issues (i.e. not taking the work personally); the importance of support networking; understanding power-reactive theory; the need to maintain appropriate boundaries; and using developmental psychology to form reasonable expectations for troubled children and youth.

Part Three: Preventing Misbehavior & Building Self-Esteem

The best way to deal with misbehavior is to prevent it. Part Three begins by introducing a host of proactive interventions professionals can use to prevent inappropriate behavior, then goes on to examine how professionals can build self-esteem in troubled children and youth. The need to create multiple opportunities for individual success is reviewed.

Part Four: Communicating with Challenging Kids and their Families

Part Four presents communication principles and techniques that help youth care professionals "connect" with the kids in their care. Topics include: De-escalation theory and strategies, including affect control, content vs. message theory, and non-verbal communication; pre-talk considerations; basic verbal interventions; taking humor seriously; reframing; solution-oriented approaches; and creative use of metaphors.

Part Five: Direct Behavior Management Strategies

Part Five highlights critical principles and techniques of behavior management. Topics include: using immediate vs. delayed consequences; practicing progressive discipline; the five stages of limit setting; issuing logical consequences as opposed to punishment; installing a limit- setting progression; choosing the best possible interventions; how to strategically use behavior modification; teaching kids to self-manage; and dealing with the inflexible and explosive child or youth who does not respond to rewards and consequences.