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ResiliencyResiliency

Historically, the focus has been on medical and psychological pathologies and deficiencies rather than strengths.

At-Risk - new term to describe the decrease in quality education and

increase of students in jeopardy. (A Nation at Risk, 1983)

We were looking at what’s wrong . . . Rather than what’s right

The shift has moved from identifying the

To identifying the

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So what does resiliency So what does resiliency mean?mean?

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So what does resiliency So what does resiliency mean?mean?

•Capacity for successful adaptation despite challenging or

threatening situations

•An inherent characteristic that exists in some degree in all of us

•Resilience is itself normative

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So what does resiliency So what does resiliency mean?mean?

•Person’s ability to remain steady or to bounce back in spite of

adversity.

•Resilient person draws on strengths, internally and

environmental, to overcome challenges.

TheChild

Family

Community

School Other people

External Factors: Risk or External Factors: Risk or ProtectiveProtective

Environment Harm or Nurture?Environment Harm or Nurture?

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What are the risk What are the risk factors?factors?

Neglect

Parental Psychopathologies

Suicide

Disruptive Behaviors

Chronic Poverty

Abuse

Depression

others

Non-English Speaking

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RISK FACTORSRISK FACTORS

Cumulative effect - more adversities lead to more dysfunction and vulnerabilities.

Predispose a child to negative developmental outcomes

Labels childrenLabels children

AT-RISKAT-RISK - what words come to mind? - what words come to mind?

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What minimizes risk factors?What minimizes risk factors?

Protective factorsProtective factors - supports - supports and opportunities that buffer and opportunities that buffer

the effects of risk factors.the effects of risk factors.

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“Buffers [protective factors]

make a more profound impact on the life course of children who grow up under adverse conditions than do

specific risk factors or stressful life events.

They appear to transcend ethnic, social class,

geographical, and historical boundaries.”

Werner & Smith, 1992

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TheChild

Family

Community

School

Other people

External FactorsExternal Factors

Internal Personality Traits

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Internal Factors: Personal Internal Factors: Personal StrengthsStrengths

Social CompetenceProblem Solving AutonomySense of purpose

Responsiveness

Communication

EmpathyCaring

CompassionAltruismForgiveness

Positive IdentityInternal Locus of control

Self-efficacyMastery

Adaptive Distancing Resistance

Self-Awareness

HumorFostering Resiliency in KidsBenard (1991)

Goal DirectedAchievementMotivationEducational Aspirations

CreativitySpecial Interests

OptimismHope

Faith Spirituality

Sense of Meaning

Planning

Flexibility

Resourcefulness

Critical ThinkingInsight

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SEL - Social and Emotional Learning

Works to develop core competences:

Self-awarenessSelf-awarenessSocial awarenessSocial awarenessSelf-managementSelf-managementRelationship skillsRelationship skills

Responsible decision-makingResponsible decision-making

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Other traits of a “resilient person”

•Easy temperament or disposition

•Likable, friendly, sociable

•True to self, resist pressure to do negative things

•Competence - being good at something

•Other characteristics describe a resilient person?

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40 Developmental Assets: building blocks of healthy development.

External Assets: Positive, structured growth environments (e.g,, support, empowerment, boundaries, expectations, constructive use of time)

Internal Assets: commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, positive identity

http://www.search-institute.org

Search Search InstituteInstitute

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So how do we build these So how do we build these internal protective assets internal protective assets

in students?in students?

We begin by applying the We begin by applying the resiliency approach to resiliency approach to

bothbothindividual students and to individual students and to the school environment the school environment

as a whole.as a whole.

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Caring and Support

High Expectations

Opportunities for Meaningful Participation

What is the home, school and community attitude?

Keys for building resiliency in the Keys for building resiliency in the environmentenvironment

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Teach “Life Skills”

Set clear, consistent boundaries

Increased prosocial bonding

Keys to reducing risk factors in the Keys to reducing risk factors in the environment:environment:

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•Change our mindset - focus on the child’s strengths

•Focus on what the child is doing right• What went right for you today?• You had difficulty getting to school, but you made it!

That shows determination!•Acknowledge and name the effective behavior. Verbally saying it can add to a child’s self-image and increase self-efficacy.

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The resiliency approach benefits all.

The core of resiliency is relationship.

Get to know your students, be persistent, laugh with them. Let them get to know

you.

A caring adult can make a huge difference in a child’s life.

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