Neal Sternberg, M.S.C.J.A.

Sternberg Consulting

FACILITATING A STRENGTH

BASED CULTURE IN A SCHOOL

AND RESIDENTIAL

ENVIRONMENT

WHY IS THIS CONCEPT IMPORTANT

If the CCW or Clinician believe there will likely

be a positive outcome the chance of success

goes up dramatically (Zolocoff)

The belief that many, if not most CCW's and

Clinicians have a base bias, that leads to blame

or have a need to blame the family or past

caregiver.

Often times our own traditional values can get in

the way of seeing a client as treatable.

THE IDEAL

The theoretically desirable child care

worker/teacher aide is an emotionally stable,

reasonably intelligent, responsible, cooperative

adult who can interact with a variety of problem

youths and handle, in a mature manner,

rejection, verbal abuse, and frequent stressful

situations.

THE IDEAL

The theoretically desirable supervisor is an

emotionally stable, reasonably intelligent,

responsible, cooperative adult who can model

positive interactions, and maintain a strength-based

approach with a variety of staff and problem youth

when faced with, rejection, verbal abuse, and

frequent stressful situations.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A child care worker/teachers aide believes in the dignity and

worth of the individual child and family. He/she is

committed to increasing a clients and families

understanding of themselves and others and, as a

professional worker, to promoting the full development of

a the families and child’s potential.[1]

[1] Ethical Standards of Child Care Workers, Association of Child Care Workers.*

THE BOTTOM LINE

A supervisor believes in the dignity and worth of the every staff, the

individual child and family. They are committed to increasing the

staffs abilities, knowledge, and skills to assist clients and families

understanding of themselves and others, and as a professional

supervisor promote the full development of staff in the Agency they

work and of a the families and children they serve to reach their full

potential

RESPONSIBILITIES

He/she does not use their professional position or relationships for purposes

inconsistent with these values

As a professional, he/she is aware of and sensitive to a profound

social responsibility because their work intimately touches the lives

of others

As a professional, they demonstrate through action and involvement

their unique skills for the art of living. Through a conscious use of

their own behavior and the behavior of the children, they help the

child and family towards a healthier adjustment to life

Knowingly permit their own services to be used by others for purposes inconsistent with these values

THE FORMATION OF BELIEFS

Images in our

past and present Life Events

Listening to and hearing from people we

care about

BELIEFS

Any cognitive content held as true

A vague idea in which some confidence is placed

"it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"

BELIEF - The conviction of the mind, arising from evidence received, or from information derived, not from actual perception by our senses, but from. the relation or information of others who have had the means of acquiring actual knowledge of the facts and in whose qualifications for acquiring that knowledge, and retaining it, and afterwards in communicating it, we can place confidence.

WHAT ARE YOUR AGENCY’S BELIEFS

CORE VALUES

Respect for people and their diversity

Importance of the individual

Importance of teamwork

Fairness in all of our activities

Honesty and trust in ALL of our activities

Open and effective communication at all levels

Hard work

Flexibility

Team innovation and creativity

Quality in all we do

Shared success

Children should be treated in the least restrictive setting possible

Treatment must be client-centered and family focused

YOUR PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS

The Agency exists to provide mental health services, educational opportunities and residential care to emotionally disturbed children, adolescents and their families.

Paramount in our operating philosophy is the belief that all youth should receive treatment services in the least restrictive setting and that emotionally disturbed youngsters can be treated in a non-institutional, community setting.

We believe we have a responsibility to go to extraordinary lengths to engage the families of our youngsters in the process.

We place strong emphasis on the child’s academic achievement, vocational readiness, positive school experiences and quality of life.

We feel that recreation and play are as important as work.

We believe that for any program to be successful, it must be an integral part of the total counties’ continuum of services to youth.

We are determined not to give up on any child, but to keep working with the child no matter how often he or she may regress and act out.

We believe that it takes very special people with extraordinary talents, who value diversity, and who demonstrate patience and love, to work with the children and families that we serve.

• What are your beliefs as they relate to your Agency, kids, and their families, do they

effect your work, and if so what barriers do you need to address to overcome them

WHAT IS OUR BELIEF ABOUT MOST OF OUR KIDS AND THEIR

FAMILIES

Are they sick? Requiring Mental Health Services

Are they bad? Needing Juvenile Justice Intervention

Or are they injured? Needing Trauma Based Care

If they are injured there can be healing, and they can learn to avoid new injury!

What is our belief about recovery?

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BY PORTIA NELSON

I walk down the street

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I fall in

I am lost . . . I am helpless

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BY PORTIA NELSON

I walk down the same street,

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk,

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place.

But it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BY PORTIA NELSON

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in . . . it's a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BY PORTIA NELSON

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BY PORTIA NELSON

I walk down a different street.

KNOWING ONESELF

• What are my beliefs

• How do my beliefs effect my perception of the kids and their families

• What is my commitment to considering other options

• How do my beliefs effect my behavior

• How do my behaviors effect others and the employees I supervise

• What gets in the way of change

• Who’s needs am I meeting

You cannot create the

conditions which enable

others to change unless those

conditions exist for you.

• Seymour B. Sarason

• The Creation of Settings and the

• Future Societies

A STRENGTH BASED ATTITUDE

CREATING STRENGTH BASED ENVIRONMENTS

• A Way of Life

• Being a Translator

• Listening beyond the Words

• In for the Long Haul

WHAT ARE THEY “REALLY” SAYING

BEING A TRANSLATOR AND LISTENING BEYOND THE WORDS

I HATE THIS PLACE I do not feel safe here “YET,

Please help me feel safe

I HATE YOU It’s hard to love someone else

when I don’t love my self “yet”

Please remind me of my qualities

JUST SEND ME TO

JUVENILE HALL I am to afraid to face the

challenges in front of me

With your help I can

WHAT ARE “YOU” SAYING

or

Do you describe your co-workers by their positive attributes

Do you describe life challenges with a belief the outcome will be positive

Do you “think” of the number of days kids demonstrate positive

self-control or the number of incidents

Do you count the “bad” or “good”

Are you faced in your own life with

“problems” or “challenges”

HOW ARE YOU SAYING IT

• Voice Intonation

• Body Language

• Is your message consistent

Where Are You Saying it

What we see

What we smell

Does it feel safe, nurturing, and inviting

• Every positive image I create is an opportunity to replace a negative image in someone’s album.

• What type of errors occur on the campus or in the group home that you see, and what can

you do…..

STAFF ERRORS THAT LEAD TO ESCALATION AND THE

ALTERNATIVE

• Demand for

compliance

A polite

request

Making

unreasonable

demands of clients

Ask politely and

reasonably

Sarcasm in interactions

Friendly sincere tone

Touching clients that

have a difficulty with

closeness

Knowing their needs

Cutting clients in mid-

sentence

Listen to the end

Intimidating.. Threatening

Engage.. Just a request

Time-out without

explanation

Help them understand

Entering personal

space

Keep an appropriate

distance

Failure to follow through

with promises

Be realistic and meet your

commitments

IT’S ALL UNDER OUR CONTROL

• It’s not Rocket

Science, it’s not

difficult to see

IT ALL BEGINS AT HOME

“Perhaps the most important vision of all is to develop a sense of self, a sense of your

own destiny, a sense of your unique mission and role in life, a sense of purpose

and meaning”

“Leadership is a choice, not a position.”

--- DR. Stephen R. Covey, from The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness

to Greatness

HOW POWERFUL ARE WE

• We Choose how we see ourselves

• We Choose how we see others

• We Choose, We choose, We Choose …..

IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly applied, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

OUR ROLE AS LEADERS

The Video Tape is Running, we are NEVER out of range of the lens or microphone

We model what we expect to see hear and feel

………… and believe we have the ability to create an environment that enhances the opportunity for change

Leaders cannot ignite the flame of passion in

their followers if they themselves do not express

enthusiasm for the compelling vision of their group.

Leaders communicate their passion through vivid

language and an expressive style.

The Leadership Challenge, James M. Kouzes., Barry Z. Pasner.

CHANGE.. TRANSITION..

• Acceptance of Change is dramatically effected by our belief of the outcome resulting from it.

• Engage in ongoing conversations

• Seek feedback

• Welcome questions

• Encourage risk taking

• “Seek to understand”

• Identify, recognize, reward, every accomplishment no matter how small the step.

TRUST AS A BASIS FOR RELATIONSHIPS

• Character behaviors

• Talk Straight:

• Be honest. Tell the truth. Let people know where you stand. Use simple language. Call things what they are. Demonstrate integrity. Don’t manipulate people or distort facts. Don’t spin the truth.

• Demonstrate Concern:

• Genuinely care for others. Show you care. Respect the dignity of every person and every role. Treat everyone with respect, especially those who can’t do anything for you. Show kindness in the little things. Don’t fake caring. Don’t attempt to be “efficient” with people.

• Create Transparency:

• Tell the truth in a way people can verify. Get real and genuine. Be open and authentic. Err on the side of disclosure. Operate on the premise of, “What you see is what you get.” Don’t have hidden agendas. Don’t hide information.

• Right Wrongs:

• Make things right when you’re wrong. Apologize quickly. Make restitution where possible. Practice “service recoveries.” Demonstrate personal humility. Don’t cover things up. Don’t let personal pride get in the way of doing the right thing.

• Show Loyalty:

• Give credit to others. Speak about people as if they were present. Represent others who aren’t there to speak for themselves. Don’t badmouth others behind there backs. Don’t disclose others’ private information.