CYSS Youth Programming Opportunities

Teen Resilience Training Equips Teens to Better Approach Life’s Challenges

Manage Stress, Solve Problems, Stay Healthy, Stay Flexible

Child, Youth & School Services (CYSS) is incorporating Teen Resilience Training (TRT) into upcoming Youth Enrichment Programs (YEPs) and Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Programs (YRRPs). The Army Reserve Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) Program is making strides in providing formal resilience skills training to Soldiers as of the objectives of the Ready and Resilience Campaign (R2C) strategy. Army Reserve CYSS Master Resilience Trainers are certified to deliver these skills to Soldiers and Family Members. Army Reserve Family Programs (ARFP) CYSS has embraced this opportunity through offering training to our Army teens as an essential tool to prepare them to deal with the challenges associated with Army life. One of the goals of the Teen Curriculum is to translate the skills that are currently trained to Soldiers and Families into an adolescent appropriate curriculum for Army teens. Teenage children are a major component of the Family dimension within our Soldier’s lives. The intent of this program is to provide Army Families with a common language around resilience and performance skills that can facilitate discussion about day-to-day challenges. These discussions could happen while seated around the dinner table or during one-on-one conversations between a parent and child. Strengthening teens strengthens the entire Army Family. Army life can be tough, and this curriculum provides valuable intellectual thinking skills to Army Families in managing adversity and challenges.

Training Modules

1. Introduction to Resilience
2. Hunt the Good Stuff
3. Goal Setting
4. Activating Thought & Consequences (ATC)

Participant Comments

• “My teenage son was able to attend Teen Resilience Training at Fort Jackson yesterday! He was really excited when I picked him up and eager to share all the new things that he learned. I’m really hopeful that his new knowledge set him up for success throughout the rest of his teen years and through his adulthood.”
• “I like that it was informative and not strictly set in a classroom setting”
• “I learned how to build better connections”
• “Learned that being optimistic can help make your day and someone else’s day better”
• “Resilience is a strong support through life”

Outcomes

• When faced with stress and/or adversity, resilience is the key factor in mental, emotional, and behavioral ability to cope with and recover from the experience, achieve positive outcomes, adapt to change, stay healthy, and grow from the experience.
• Individuals who are trained on resilience skills demonstrate higher levels of resilience post training than their counterparts.
• Resilience and psychological health are linked to important behavioral outcomes, such as individual self-assessments of emotional and social health, and reductions in depression, anxiety related illnesses, and substance abuse.

Army Reserve Teen Panel (ARTP)

ARTP is comprised of teens from across the entire Army Reserve Command. Panel members attend meetings held three times a year to identify AR youth issues and propose solutions, and most important of all, these teens have the ear of the Chief of the Army Reserve.

• 35-50 teens members (Goal is have a teen represent every Command)
• Application and selection process / 2 year term
• Junior Advisors (3)
• Three (3) meetings/year (Overnight)
• Represent AR youth / Identify AR youth issues and propose solutions
• Service Learning Projects
• Skill development training and experiences
• Volunteer
• Trained to be a Jr. Advisor for Command/Regional YLEADS

Teens must apply to be on the Teen Panel and serve a two year term. Throughout their term, the teens enhance their leadership skills, receive training and participate in very impactful service learning projects.

Download the ARTP Newsletter: Talkin Back, Summer 2015

Applications are currently being accepted. Those interested, please see the ARTP Flyer and Application Form below, then send in the filled-in Application Form to Renee Podolec at [email protected].

Download the Army Reserve Teen Panel Flyer

Download the Army Reserve Teen Panel Application Form

CYSS Mentor Programs

The locations and dates of the Mentor Programs can be found here.

Youth, Leadership, Education and Development Summit (YLEAD)

Army Reserve youth tell us that they feel isolated when they don’t know anyone else with a parent or sibling serving in the Army. Leadership opportunities and positive youth development programs allow Army Reserve youth to connect with other youth who share their military life experience. YLEAD Summits provide an opportunity for teens ages 14 -17 to connect with their peers that are located within their region or command during a 4 day leadership retreat. Teens participate in workshops geared towards enhancing their life and social skills such as: stress management, leadership, communication, understanding the military culture and community service. YLEAD Summits have influenced thousands of Army Reserve teens to be a positive contributor to their Family, school, and community.

Command Teen Council

Youth ages 13-17 are eligible to participate in command teen councils. These meetings usually last three to four days and may include an overnight stay. At these TC, youth participate in:

• workshops on communication
• adult-child relationships
• diversity
• service learning projects.

Meetings are usually 3-4 days and can be during the day or overnight.