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Relationships Save Lives

Odalys Acosta, MSW TRUST Counselor Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High, MDCPS

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Who am I?

Master’s in SOCIAL WORK(In the United States most mental health care is provided by MSWs.)

33 years working with Adolescents Dependency (Foster Care) System Delinquency (Juvenile Justice) System Private Psychiatric Residential Program School System Adjunct Professor teaching “Counseling w/Children

& Adolescents”

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Mother of 5!

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When you think of who works in a school,you think of … Teachers Principal (Administrators) Counselors (Academics mostly, emotional

problems possibly) Secretarial / Support Staff Cafeteria Personnel Maintenance Security Guards Police Officer?TRUST SPECIALIST??????????? (aka TRUST

Counselor)June/ 2014

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What is a TRUST Specialist?To Reach Ultimate Success

Together

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Minimum Qualification Requirementsfor TRUST Specialist..

Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field.

Certification in guidance and counseling, school social work, school psychology or another field in which employment opportunities are consistently available.

Successful documented experience in substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment. A minimum of two (2) years experience is strongly preferred. June/ 2014

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According to the Miami-Dade County Public School Website

The TRUST Program Specialists identify appropriate resources for problem assessment and other services for students and their families. They maintain a close working relationship with numerous community agencies in an effort to provide students and their families with resources to deal with their individual needs. Additionally, they provide faculty and staff in-service training.

The TRUST Specialist works cooperatively with other student services personnel in the prevention and intervention of substance abuse and other self-defeating behaviors.

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Job Tasks/Responsibilities Implements substance education curriculum as required. Implements staff in-service programs for school personnel (including feeder pattern schools)

and assists teachers in the implementation of substance education curriculum, programs, and activities.

Assists administrators and other student services staff in working with drug-involved youth. Provides ongoing services for students referred to the program

including individual, group, and family counseling. Provides assessment and information for those students who have exhibited a need for

additional counseling and serves as a liaison to referral agencies. Implements self-help groups and/or peer helper groups. Conducts the Alternative Intervention Program (AIP) in lieu of suspension and/or for students

who exhibit behavioral problems. (The Alternative Intervention Program is provided outside regular school hours and compensatory time for the specialist should be arranged with the appropriate administrator.)

Provides workshops on substance abuse and related topics for school and parents. Serves as a member of the school crisis core team. Serves as a resource to PTA’s, Citizen Advisory Committees, teachers, administrators, and

other interested community groups. Reports student progress and program information to appropriate school and district

personnel. Attends required meetings and training.

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SO, What does a that look like?

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Ms. Acosta, the TRUST Counselor

SHOWS UP!June/ 2014

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What makes ME (TRUST Counselor) different …

I am an adult --but not their parent, teacher, preacher, or friend.

I listen with my eyes. I speak two language (adult and adolescent).

(No such things as bad words, only words people use badly.) No conversation is taboo. (You can tell me anything, that I

want to hear.) I have no expectations. Also have no power. (No need to

lie.) I my only goal is BETTER-- cause better is better!

Outcomes (e.g., resolution, learn coping skills, increase “feelings” vocabulary)

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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

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Relationships SAVE Lives

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Why do I KNOW the TRUST Program works?

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Why do teens consider suicide or any other risky behavior?

Because…

Silence is deadly.But talking is hard.

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Whose World is it Anyway?Services/Program designed from whose point of view?

OURS THEIRS

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Responsibility = OwnershipWe are no different, who changed you?

OURS

THEIRS

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Troubled or Typical? A TEENAGER!

TROJAN Joshua also made HML proud when he was selected to represent the school in the Dade-Broward All-Star Football Game. Joshua, who is multi-talented, also came in 1st Place from all the High School (including Broward and Miami-Dade County) 2013 Orange Bowl Creative Art Contest.

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What We Already KnowThat we CAN NOT effectively treat children and adolescents (ESPECIALLY

REGARDING SUICIDAL IDEATIONS)without thoroughly understandingdevelopmental stagesORhow their brain works!

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According to EricksonStage Five- Adolescence (Age 12-18)

IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSIONBasic Strength: Devotion / Fidelity

Undermine: Lack of Support

Adolescents must have successfully achieved and integrated all of the earlier conflicts to attain a healthy resolution.

This stage is the single most significant conflict a person must face.

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THE DEVELOPING BRAINOr why the answer is always—

“I don’t Know?

Which IS as honest as they can be!June/ 2014

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Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation.

It was believed that brain development was completed during childhood.

The maturation process is not complete until about age 25!

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Characteristics of adolescence that lead to various problems:

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1. Awkwardness (physically / socially) – puppy paws2. Emotional Instability (impulsivity) -- frienemies3. Feelings about Life (purpose) – Why was I born?4. Resistance to Parents (leads to ineffective parenting) – When “no” use to

work.5. Contradictions within Themselves (either /or mentality) – very little

grey6. Anxiety (inflexible, at-the-moment thinking) – self-medicate7. Experimenting (accidents?) – need for speed8. Exploring (surprised by outcomes) – but they did it!9. Fantasy World (magical thinking) – nothing bad is going to happen10. Belonging to a Group (nerd/ jock/gangster/partyer/emo ) – that matters to

them

Gunarsa (1989)

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But to REALLY make things interesting…

Differences Between Treating Adults vs. Teens

No Resources Self-Actualization SURVIVAL Answers EMPOWERMENT

The person responsible for this role MUST specialize in providing mental health services for children and adolescents and be a STRONG advocate for them. June/ 2014

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Normalize by Being CRAZY

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Not So “Scary”Crazy person that you can talk to NOT the person you talk to because you’re crazy!

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Entering Their World/ Their RealityMusic, Movies, Graphic Novels (#1in Norway)

Technology (FB, Instagram, twitter, Snapchat, VINES?)

Presentation of Self (Do as I say, not as I do!)

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Trust means trust!

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As good as the last student who left my office.

Must feel “safe” to tell and share.

Emotional Free Space (All emotions and display of emotions are accepted.)

Educating Teachers About warning signs and troubling behavior – a “funny feeling” in your gut. Talking about it is NOT processing. Just because I can read doesn’t mean I’m a reading teacher.

Building on Solid Therapeutic Foundations (Adlerian, Person-Centered, CBT, REBT, Reality, Solution Focus, Brief, etc.)

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“I hate it when my parents yell at me for no good reason.”

Primary Empathy- (CONVERSTION)“It must be hard when your parents yell atyou and you feel you don’t deserve it.”

Advanced Empathy- (PROCESSING)“How frustrating and sad it must be for you ,to be to told you did something wrong when that was not your intention.”

Carl Rogers

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It begins with each of us, and

We canNOT give what we do not have!

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