taking the first steps forward
a cfc youth development success story
Sammy is a 14-year-old student at Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights who has been battling with behavioral and emotional issues. In school, he would often get into fights with the other students and
refuse to do his school work.
CFC’s RapArt prevention programs have been in Roxboro for more than a decade, and Colleen Clark, a RapArt prevention specialist, received a referral from the school’s guidance counselor to include Sammy in her small prevention group a year ago.
The prevention specialists show students how to make healthy lifestyle choices, particularly when it comes to learning how to say no to alcohol and drug use. Effective conflict management and communication skills are keys to making good choices and staying on the path to success.
One of the first concerns Colleen asked Sammy about was why he wasn’t doing his work.
His answer: “No one cares about me. They [his teachers] don’t like me. I don’t matter.”
Colleen’s primary project was to work with Sammy and the rest of his prevention group on ways they could deal with their individual anger and communication issues. She taught them creative tools they could use, such as breathing techniques, dance and yoga.
After Sammy spent some time in an alternative-learning classroom that was smaller in size than the traditional setting, Colleen realized he needed more one-on-one time to help him through his challenges. Colleen took extra time with Sammy, working to give him a sense of his own self worth. Several times a week, she also spoke with his mom about his problems and progress.
Thanks to Sammy’s active participation and hard work in his prevention group and the customized support he received from Colleen, he has slowly begun to turn a corner.
A few weeks ago, Sammy was acting out, and his English teacher sent him into the hall to do his assignment by himself. Colleen followed him out of the classroom and sat next to Sammy. She could see he was very angry.
Colleen took this as an opportunity to work with Sammy on his anger issues in real time.
She walked Sammy through his breathing techniques. Eventually he calmed down and was able to concentrate on completing his assignment.
Colleen asked Sammy if he realized that when he took deep breaths he was able to focus on his work and lose his angry feelings.
Sammy looked her in the eyes and replied, “Yeah.”
Albeit small, it is a moment that Colleen said she will always appreciate.
“In prevention work, it’s very hard to know if you are making a difference, and progress is usually very slow,” she said. “But that moment showed me Sammy could do it.”
click here for more info on CFC’s Youth Development Services