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Find out what's happening in the blog. Below is a list of blog items.

May 24

Success at Boys & Girls Club

Posted to Children's Services Council Blog by Ashley Mock

The Boys and Girls Club sites excel in attracting teens to their program through various activities.  Please find below a brief success story from the Boys and Girls Club.  

Jacoby has been a member at the Chuck Hill Unit (CHU) since October of 2020. He recently was moved to the teen program of the club when he turned 13. To be a part of the teen program, it takes a level of maturity and responsibility due to the freedom teens are given at the club. Jacoby struggled very much with this transition into the teen program, and the Boys and Girls Club staff got very little support from his mom to help with his behavior. 

Jacoby started to bully others and did not form many positive relationships between his peers. This was also happening at his school as he transitioned into middle school. Jacoby showed a very high interest in our Keystone Club which is a youth development and leadership program designed to ensure our members are becoming productive citizens within their club, school, community, and future endeavors. This program has officers, Vice President, and President of the club. Jacoby loved the idea of being able to help make decisions for his club. Miss Ashley, the CHU Teen Coordinator, mentored Jacoby throughout the keystone program about how being a leader at the club and in the community is so important. As they went through the quarter, staff and teachers noticed a huge change in Jacoby. Jacoby became very helpful around the club, asking staff if they needed anything like help with cleaning. He also started to open up with his peers and form relationships. We even saw him helping some of the younger members with homework.

Jacoby has expressed how grateful he is for this program because he believes it has truly helped him gain leadership skills, not only at the club but in school and at home. He is determined to continue working hard to reach his goal of becoming a Keystone officer.

Oct 14

The Importance of Goal Setting

Posted to Success Stories by Ashley Mock

The Student Assistance Program is a substance abuse prevention conducted in the elementary and middle schools in St. Lucie County to educate youth on the dangers of substance abuse. The educators help students develop greater self- esteem and coping skills individually or in small group sessions. 

screenshot of casey wood, new horizons, from October 2019 Community Connections Show

We recently interviewed Assistant Program Director, Casey Wood on our monthly Community Connections show on WLX-TV in partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools. Check out the interview to learn more, and read a success story from the program, below.
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A Prevention Specialist in the New Horizons Student Assistance Program is currently providing the "Too Good for Drugs" curriculum to all of the 5th grade classes at Fairlawn Elementary.

The first lesson in the curriculum is focused on goal setting and teaches students to have a better ability to set reachable goals. This skill builds self-efficacy and a stronger sense of hope for the future.

In one of the 5th grade classes, during this first lesson, there was a student that was very vocal that she had never set any goals for herself. Throughout the lesson, she was very involved and appeared to gain a lot of insight into the process of personal goal setting. Since that first week of classes, this student has come into class each week with a new goal she wants to achieve.

One week, she set the goal of making the principal’s Honor Roll. Another week, she set a goal of trying out for her local basketball team. She has already realized in a few short weeks that goals can be accomplished if you make them personal and specific. She is already showing signs of a stronger self and how to make better decisions because she understands how to set reachable goals.