Longest Day In October

 This month according to tradition we did a long, long day. We held many groups throughout the day and focused on the youth. We used the theme of victim empathy and empowerment throughout the day. We started the day off early with a big breakfast to fill the boys up. After that we went to two different homes to help the owners of the homes with their yard work. The boys and staff helped trim trees, rake leaves, throw stuff away, dig up gardens, etc. The people were so happy to have the help and really appreciated the help. This is a great way for our youth to interact in the community, not only to get their service hours, but to show that they can make a positive difference in someone else's lives.

As administration we decided to start a new peer council for the youth. We developed this as a way to empower the boys in the facility and hopefully get them to see that they can control things in a positive way and use this control and power to build healthy relationships and have a happy life.
We also did groups on self esteem, treating others with respect, and attunement with each other during the afternoon.

As dinner time approached we let the youth know that they would be in charge of cooking their own dinners. We gave them the ingredients and told them to make what they wanted to make. We also broke them up into teams. It was a good way to see the youth come together and resolve conflict, or they did not resolve conflict. Some of the food was great, some of it was not.

 As the sun went down and dinner was cleaned up we had the youth read the following poem.

The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
in black and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood,
Or so the story's told.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
the first woman held hers back
For on the faces around the fire
She noticed one was black.
The next man looking 'cross the way
Saw one not of his church
And couldn't bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
>From the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.
And the last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain,
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.
The logs held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof of human sin,
They didn't die from the cold without,
They died from the cold within.


James Patrick Kinney

After this we headed out on a hike at which the end they were greeted by the fire. At the fire they were to read on a piece of paper what was keeping their cold within and to burn it if they were ready to move forward. This was a very moving experience for so many of the youth, staff and therapists as well.

We truly work with some great kids. 

We look forward to the next big activity!

Longest Day Ever, Ever!!!!

Each month here at Turning Point we try to have what we call "The Longest Day Ever". This day is a day in which we spend as much time as we can with the youth in therapeutic activities. This month we decided that in having "The Longest Day Ever" we would challenge ourselves and the youth to have a very long day. As in 24 hours of group and together time! The following pictures are just a snapshot of some of the things we did throughout the day. We did learn a lot about ourselves as therapists, but we also learned a lot about the youth we work with. One thing that I learned was that we were able to challenge our youth and they were able to live up to those challenges. We were also able to see a different side of  many of the youth and that was neat. I think the youth were also able to see a different side of many of the adults! We had a great time and cannot wait to see what the next "Longest Day Ever" brings!

 Some of our youth doing service. This was a very special part of the day as we were able to help out a couple that truly needed service, but also were very appreciative of the hard work our youth did on their yard and home. 

 We challenged each of the pods to cook their own meals! They did great at the challenge and some of the food was even worth eating!!!

 For one of the group activities we had each youth create a mask to show their true feelings and what they are hiding on the inside. It was a powerful activity for many of them. 

 In the middle of the night we had a hike and this was the sight that greeted them when they arrived at the end. It was also great because it kept us warm! We held a group here about committing to the program and to the changes that need to be made to show their victims they have changed. 

Of course we have to have a picture of the sun rise. We had each youth spend some quiet time and watch the sun rise and think about who they are and what they need to do in order to succeed. It was a great day. We were all very tired, but it truly was a great experience for all who were there. 

Thanks for reading!