Girls & Intervention
*This is my perspective on Girls Support Groups and Intervention*
Both single and married parents spend so much time consumed with working to provide for their children, especially their daughters who face more peer pressure than their sons. Most women also desire to show their daughters an example of a strong role model, so they forget to mentally and physically nourish them and cultivate their gifts. I know because I was never encouraged as a young girl and just now realizing the greatness in me. The focus of this paper is to discuss troubled girls, different types of support groups and the benefits and things taught in support groups. No mother wants to see her daughter in this position, but the little things, such as an attitude change and resentment are cries for help that can be quickly identified and helped and not looked at as a phase in some cases.
Troubled girls come from all walks of life. Recently, this mother of one that I know who is able to provide for her daughter and give her everything she wants, explained how her daughter began acting out at the school is in, how she’s now a juvenile delinquent in and out of juvenile and has to wear an ankle bracelet to monitor her moves. She said it was totally unexpected because she does so much for her, but she’s enduring it.
‘Babies should come with instructions typed to the soles of their little feet. A cheery note from God’(72 Hr Hold, 22). I’m not a parent but I agree to disagree. Parenthood wouldn’t be an adventure or things you need to know, you’ll never know or be able to come out as strong when the child grows up. Boys are more flamboyant in their roles, meaning the things they do and the actions they take are expected of them, such as their buddies they hang out with and the sports they play. Girls are more slower and have more discernment concerning friendships. Some young girls have also been hurt before or have witnessed their parents being mistreated and vowed to themselves not to be the same way or put themselves in the same position. They set in their minds what they are going to do and stick with it through every relationship. They also “internalize gendered expectations of relationship behaviors through observing their mothers and other women in caretaking roles”(Letendre, J., et al, 1). This proves my last statement true. If they see their mother fighting and angry all the time, they will end up the total opposite or being the same way.
I just believe that parents worry the most when their child hits puberty or the adolescent age. This is where the stages of development takes place the most. During the adolescence stage, which is a window of opportunity, children can learn new things and retain them quicker. It’s called the “Identity versus role confusion”(Network,1). This is the in between stage(neither a child or adult) where teenagers become more cautious of what they do, because their future depends on them and where they discover who they are. Their peers can sometimes have an influence on them. This period in their lives can either strengthen or break a child parent relationship, but children are aware of changes more than parents know. When the child gets worse and the mother is tired, then they seek out intervention and support groups. “Teenage years are also marked by trying on independence by experiment, sometimes giving in to peer pressure.” Teens experiment with drugs, alcohol and sex”(Troubled Teens, 1).
As teenage girls hormones change so much, which also brings about the wrong group they hang around. You can tell by their attitude, behavior, dressing and the way they distance themselves from family. “Female adolescent peer relationships have been have been the sources of numerous books and studies in recent years”(Steese S, et al, 2). “Depression remains disproportionately high among adolescent girls, with about a 2 to 1 ratio of girls to boys”( Steese S, et al, 3). Troubled girls arrive in support groups when they exhibit one or more of the behaviors and the parents don’t know any other way. “most of the interventions aimed to decrease girl fighting, then focus on instilling skills in girls at the level of their individual, rather than on systematic change in the school”(Letendre, J, et al, 49). I’ve heard of alternative schools making the curriculum individual based or at that students needs. There are resources out there. I know of one program where if your child is struggling due to peer pressure, they can be placed her in a school where they can not only bring their gpa up, they'll be in a smaller setting and incentives will be given such as a job working 20hrs a week and more.
There are different types of support groups. Depending on the child’s behavior, an evaluation can determine what will work best for the child. One mother in the novel 72 Hour Hold describes her daughters behavior as violent, sporadic, and hysterical. One erratic evening of Trina breaking glass and cursing her mother Keri out caused Keri to call the police who eventually sent her to a psychiatric facility to be evaluated and placed on a 72 Hour Hold, which is where older teens and adults are held and can release themselves after three days. Keri still searches for assistance throughout the novel through a support group she met with, she even placed her daughter in the Weitz Center, which was a mental hospital. Keri is still struggling to comprehend how her daughter became mentally ill. “In those early years I’d thought of hospitals as places to mend bodies. But that was before a broken mind has rampaged through my life”(Campbell, 23). Keri eventually finds and agrees to do an illegal intervention that’s similar to the Underground railroad but Trina learns to take her medication and therapy as the intervention moves from town to town.
I said all of that to say you just have to show your children love no matter how they act and support them though it all. Other support groups “are designed to teach girls different ways of thinking and behaving that will increase their abilities to negotiate the transitions to adolescence”(Letendre J, et al, 49). That’s good for elementary and middle school girls who are already having trouble in school. The Girl’s circle is another intervention program and it’s for girls aged 9 to 18 years old. and it “addresses the needs of girls by focusing on increasing connections, building empathetic skills and developing resiliency”(Steese S, et al, 1). A few other support groups would be a focus group, which deals with that girl one on one or within the group, another support group would be through adult and peer counselors at the schools that the students can go to confidentially and not have fear to vent their feelings to someone. “Girls would find it helpful to socialize, in a neutral space, with girls from outside of their friendship spaces”(Letendre J, et al, 54).
The advantages of a support groups for girls is them knowing that they’re not going through alone and that it may seem rough at first, but they can be an overcomer. Support groups help girls get through adolescence if there is any trouble, while intervention groups aim to stop an addiction or habit that has spiraled out of control. As I stated earlier, past events can trigger and addiction or start it, requiring intervention and Support groups are anywhere from 4 to 10weeks, I’ve heard where some teenage girls stay however long it takes that teen to get the support she needs, sometimes opting out of therapy. Whatever works for the specific need at the time. The Girls Circle is aimed towards “psychological help, self efficacy, self-esteem, self-control, social support and body image”(Steese, S et al, 4). A few areas I thought were great is Self Efficacy. which is believing you are capable of managing your behavior and goals that you have set for yourself. Self esteem is your body image and how you perceive yourself and “Adolescents who report poorer self-esteem and are generally dissatisfied with other aspects of their lives”(Steese, S., et al, 5).
This can also carry into adulthood where some women have to have a man and others to validate them. They copy other people and things of that nature to fit in. Having support groups and peer counseling has proved to be most effective in a school and church setting. Some churches are aimed for youth from all walks of life and cater specifically to their needs and equip them with tools they need to for success. Some youth feel that the fact they can finally vocalize how they feel is most important in a peer group and that that they are not being judged. For girl fighting, “Providing classroom, small group discussions and opportunities for girls to interact and learn new skills for dealing with conflict; consulting and educating teachers to recognize and intervene in the hurtful behaviors that often lead to fighting”( Letendre J, et al, 55) helps a lot.
One neighborhood even has a literature program where girls from all walks of life come to a book group and discuss the novel in their own way as a support and intervention group outside the classroom. One girl “felt that that her school had ignored her complaints about racism”(Hippisley, 2). This article goes on to discuss how the girls arrived, not wanting to read, to researching novels of their choices and their behavior improving because they didn’t have to fight for their voices to be heard. I believe it takes different things for everybody. Therapy might work for one troubled girl, while peer counseling will work for the other. It all depends on that girls background, but help and hope is out there.
The first person that walked up to help me were girls who were friendlier than I thought. I expected another side or mean people to approach me to help, because I didn’t know and I was prepared to be defensive. They ended up being very helpful and patient with me, making me feel comfortable and fit it. This all took me by surprise. I also learned that acceptances gives another person sense of confidence, a sense of belonging and a sense of worth. I am so glad that I am not antisocial, but went the distance to get to know other individuals for who they are, not what I see. I was constrained before I walked on that campus because I was ignorant and just didn’t know. I graduated more sure of myself and ready to take on the world, open and prepared, regardless of not knowing anyone or thinking they were out to get me, so I had to prepare to be aggressive. I’ve been through a lot, but thankfully I now have a support system to help me along the way and hold me accountable for my actions.
Both single and married parents spend so much time consumed with working to provide for their children, especially their daughters who face more peer pressure than their sons. Most women also desire to show their daughters an example of a strong role model, so they forget to mentally and physically nourish them and cultivate their gifts. I know because I was never encouraged as a young girl and just now realizing the greatness in me. The focus of this paper is to discuss troubled girls, different types of support groups and the benefits and things taught in support groups. No mother wants to see her daughter in this position, but the little things, such as an attitude change and resentment are cries for help that can be quickly identified and helped and not looked at as a phase in some cases.
Troubled girls come from all walks of life. Recently, this mother of one that I know who is able to provide for her daughter and give her everything she wants, explained how her daughter began acting out at the school is in, how she’s now a juvenile delinquent in and out of juvenile and has to wear an ankle bracelet to monitor her moves. She said it was totally unexpected because she does so much for her, but she’s enduring it.
‘Babies should come with instructions typed to the soles of their little feet. A cheery note from God’(72 Hr Hold, 22). I’m not a parent but I agree to disagree. Parenthood wouldn’t be an adventure or things you need to know, you’ll never know or be able to come out as strong when the child grows up. Boys are more flamboyant in their roles, meaning the things they do and the actions they take are expected of them, such as their buddies they hang out with and the sports they play. Girls are more slower and have more discernment concerning friendships. Some young girls have also been hurt before or have witnessed their parents being mistreated and vowed to themselves not to be the same way or put themselves in the same position. They set in their minds what they are going to do and stick with it through every relationship. They also “internalize gendered expectations of relationship behaviors through observing their mothers and other women in caretaking roles”(Letendre, J., et al, 1). This proves my last statement true. If they see their mother fighting and angry all the time, they will end up the total opposite or being the same way.
I just believe that parents worry the most when their child hits puberty or the adolescent age. This is where the stages of development takes place the most. During the adolescence stage, which is a window of opportunity, children can learn new things and retain them quicker. It’s called the “Identity versus role confusion”(Network,1). This is the in between stage(neither a child or adult) where teenagers become more cautious of what they do, because their future depends on them and where they discover who they are. Their peers can sometimes have an influence on them. This period in their lives can either strengthen or break a child parent relationship, but children are aware of changes more than parents know. When the child gets worse and the mother is tired, then they seek out intervention and support groups. “Teenage years are also marked by trying on independence by experiment, sometimes giving in to peer pressure.” Teens experiment with drugs, alcohol and sex”(Troubled Teens, 1).
As teenage girls hormones change so much, which also brings about the wrong group they hang around. You can tell by their attitude, behavior, dressing and the way they distance themselves from family. “Female adolescent peer relationships have been have been the sources of numerous books and studies in recent years”(Steese S, et al, 2). “Depression remains disproportionately high among adolescent girls, with about a 2 to 1 ratio of girls to boys”( Steese S, et al, 3). Troubled girls arrive in support groups when they exhibit one or more of the behaviors and the parents don’t know any other way. “most of the interventions aimed to decrease girl fighting, then focus on instilling skills in girls at the level of their individual, rather than on systematic change in the school”(Letendre, J, et al, 49). I’ve heard of alternative schools making the curriculum individual based or at that students needs. There are resources out there. I know of one program where if your child is struggling due to peer pressure, they can be placed her in a school where they can not only bring their gpa up, they'll be in a smaller setting and incentives will be given such as a job working 20hrs a week and more.
There are different types of support groups. Depending on the child’s behavior, an evaluation can determine what will work best for the child. One mother in the novel 72 Hour Hold describes her daughters behavior as violent, sporadic, and hysterical. One erratic evening of Trina breaking glass and cursing her mother Keri out caused Keri to call the police who eventually sent her to a psychiatric facility to be evaluated and placed on a 72 Hour Hold, which is where older teens and adults are held and can release themselves after three days. Keri still searches for assistance throughout the novel through a support group she met with, she even placed her daughter in the Weitz Center, which was a mental hospital. Keri is still struggling to comprehend how her daughter became mentally ill. “In those early years I’d thought of hospitals as places to mend bodies. But that was before a broken mind has rampaged through my life”(Campbell, 23). Keri eventually finds and agrees to do an illegal intervention that’s similar to the Underground railroad but Trina learns to take her medication and therapy as the intervention moves from town to town.
I said all of that to say you just have to show your children love no matter how they act and support them though it all. Other support groups “are designed to teach girls different ways of thinking and behaving that will increase their abilities to negotiate the transitions to adolescence”(Letendre J, et al, 49). That’s good for elementary and middle school girls who are already having trouble in school. The Girl’s circle is another intervention program and it’s for girls aged 9 to 18 years old. and it “addresses the needs of girls by focusing on increasing connections, building empathetic skills and developing resiliency”(Steese S, et al, 1). A few other support groups would be a focus group, which deals with that girl one on one or within the group, another support group would be through adult and peer counselors at the schools that the students can go to confidentially and not have fear to vent their feelings to someone. “Girls would find it helpful to socialize, in a neutral space, with girls from outside of their friendship spaces”(Letendre J, et al, 54).
The advantages of a support groups for girls is them knowing that they’re not going through alone and that it may seem rough at first, but they can be an overcomer. Support groups help girls get through adolescence if there is any trouble, while intervention groups aim to stop an addiction or habit that has spiraled out of control. As I stated earlier, past events can trigger and addiction or start it, requiring intervention and Support groups are anywhere from 4 to 10weeks, I’ve heard where some teenage girls stay however long it takes that teen to get the support she needs, sometimes opting out of therapy. Whatever works for the specific need at the time. The Girls Circle is aimed towards “psychological help, self efficacy, self-esteem, self-control, social support and body image”(Steese, S et al, 4). A few areas I thought were great is Self Efficacy. which is believing you are capable of managing your behavior and goals that you have set for yourself. Self esteem is your body image and how you perceive yourself and “Adolescents who report poorer self-esteem and are generally dissatisfied with other aspects of their lives”(Steese, S., et al, 5).
This can also carry into adulthood where some women have to have a man and others to validate them. They copy other people and things of that nature to fit in. Having support groups and peer counseling has proved to be most effective in a school and church setting. Some churches are aimed for youth from all walks of life and cater specifically to their needs and equip them with tools they need to for success. Some youth feel that the fact they can finally vocalize how they feel is most important in a peer group and that that they are not being judged. For girl fighting, “Providing classroom, small group discussions and opportunities for girls to interact and learn new skills for dealing with conflict; consulting and educating teachers to recognize and intervene in the hurtful behaviors that often lead to fighting”( Letendre J, et al, 55) helps a lot.
One neighborhood even has a literature program where girls from all walks of life come to a book group and discuss the novel in their own way as a support and intervention group outside the classroom. One girl “felt that that her school had ignored her complaints about racism”(Hippisley, 2). This article goes on to discuss how the girls arrived, not wanting to read, to researching novels of their choices and their behavior improving because they didn’t have to fight for their voices to be heard. I believe it takes different things for everybody. Therapy might work for one troubled girl, while peer counseling will work for the other. It all depends on that girls background, but help and hope is out there.
In conclusion, parents spend so much time consumed with working to provide for their children, especially their daughters who face more peer pressure than their sons. Most women also desire to show their daughters an example of a strong role model, so they forget to mentally and physically nourish them and cultivate their gifts. I know because I was never encouraged as a young girl and just now realizing the greatness in me. The focus of this paper was to discuss troubled girls, different types of support groups and the benefits and things taught in support groups. Learning about support groups help me also realize how various situations in life can affect you also. I had to move to a new city and town unexpectedly during high school. After I had my schedule, I was on my own and very scared to maneuver the campus that looked like a college.
The first person that walked up to help me were girls who were friendlier than I thought. I expected another side or mean people to approach me to help, because I didn’t know and I was prepared to be defensive. They ended up being very helpful and patient with me, making me feel comfortable and fit it. This all took me by surprise. I also learned that acceptances gives another person sense of confidence, a sense of belonging and a sense of worth. I am so glad that I am not antisocial, but went the distance to get to know other individuals for who they are, not what I see. I was constrained before I walked on that campus because I was ignorant and just didn’t know. I graduated more sure of myself and ready to take on the world, open and prepared, regardless of not knowing anyone or thinking they were out to get me, so I had to prepare to be aggressive. I’ve been through a lot, but thankfully I now have a support system to help me along the way and hold me accountable for my actions.
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