Truancy

The Phoenix/New Freedom Truancy Resource is composed of a variety of tools and guidance designed for one-on-one interactions at home, in school, or at a police station or other community settings that deal with truancy. In addition to staff and student resources, it includes an 8-hour workbook-based curriculum that can be used in a group setting or as homework in an ongoing one-on-one interaction with truants.

The Phoenix/New Freedom Truancy Resource includes:

• Decision Matrix for addressing truancy issues. This model identifies different types of situations which could be resulting in truancy. It lists a variety of possible causes or issues, and then suggests options for the counselor to consider. For each student, the counselor can evaluate which causes or issues are most likely, and then prioritize their response accordingly. It specifically addresses common things students might find more important than school, as well as external barriers and internal barriers contributing to truancy.
• Truancy Scenarios. These scenarios address common truancy issues and risk factors. Participants are asked to respond to and give advice about the situations in the scenarios. They are good for assisting discussion in 1:1 sessions or as openers for the 8 group lessons.

• Motivation for change assessment. This collection of short truancy-focused Motivational Interviewing (MI) initial assessment and change tools are perfect for any truancy situation. They include a decisional balancing tool and several MI rulers, along with probe questions that help students consider the pros and cons of school and its impact on their lives.
• School engagement assessment. Brief assessment of student engagement and student-specific risk factors. It helps guide the focus of school resource-based interventions. The objective of each section is to provide school counselors or staff with an understanding of the student’s engagement, and thus provide the opportunity to explore and resolve the underlying issues.
• Addressing Peer Influence barriers. Specific resources and MI tools to address peer influence on truancy. Included are other elements which address gang influence, anxiety about threats posed by other gangs, being the target of bullying, peer-group bullying, or cyberbullying, or other threats to the student’s safety or well-being.
• Addressing barriers with Authority Figures. Specific resources for use with students who have difficulties with multiple authority figures.
• Action Plan. A brief action plan for change that breaks down the steps each individual is planning to take to deal with his/her truancy, including completion dates.
• 8-Hour Program for groups. 8, one-hour sessions for use in groups. These workbook pages can also be assigned as homework for an individual or used one-on-one with a counselor.

Together, the resources provide a flexible system of materials that can be shaped for the specific need of each individual truant.

Please contact us for specific quotes or proposals.

Peer Pressure

Part of our comprehensive workbook series and used in multiple program settings, Peer Pressure is an important supplementary resource to The Phoenix Curriculum Core Program. It is tailored by grade level for elementary school, grade 6, middle school, and high school. It is also suitable in alternative schools and afterschool programs.

Lessons provide students with the opportunity to examine and practice responses to peer pressure. They are provided as supplements to the peer pressure elements included in the High School Phoenix Core Curriculum. Students will be expected to identify specific behaviors and outcomes from peer pressure, identify steps for avoiding high-risk situations and high-risk people, and model specific coping skills for specific problem situations.

1. Avoiding Trouble When You Are With Others
2. What Can You Do?
3. New coping Skills
4. Practice in Preparing To Avoid Trouble

This can also be used in probation programs.

Gang Awareness

Part of our comprehensive workbook series, these materials were developed with two populations in mind: (1) those elementary school youth who are already showing signs of interest in gang involvement; and (2) a high risk population in a community where somewhat older youth are gang-involved. They are especially suited to the elementary school and grade 6 populations.

The lessons include:

1. Gang Awareness
2. Why Do Kids Join Gangs/Hang Out With Gangs?
3. Does It Make Sense For You To Be In a Gang
4. Choices and Consequences
5. Handling Risks: Where Do You Stand?
6. Avoiding Gangs

Parent's Curriculum

We provide several resources for parents of young people in Phoenix Curriculum and Phoenix Gang Intervention programs. Part of our comprehensive curriculum, our Parents' Curriculum provides an overview of the Phoenix resources. It also includes samples of some of the key skills and concepts within the curriculum, designed to help parents support heir children in the use fo these skills in problem solving and avoiding specific high risk factors. In a non-judgmental fashion, it also encourages the parents to reduce common family risk factors and enhance available protective factors. This material is available for parents with children elementary school, grade 6, middle school, high school, and alternative schools. This resource is available in both English and Spanish.