Context
The P.O.W.E.R. U.P. Group was created to acknowledge
and combat stress that exists in the life of a high school student. Their focus is to provide support and tools to relieve anxiety and pressure associated with the high school experience. The students were recruited during lunch period. Ohio Guidestone set up a table and engaged students about their interest in forming a youth-led group. The group’s focus is helping students gain tools to reduce stress and anxiety. This group wants to encourage a positive, compassionate, empathetic environment within the school. The members of this group would like to provide a safe place for all students.
Youth Characteristics and Recruitment
This group is inclusive and open to all students. The only
requirement they have is for group members to have a desire to make positive changes in school. Students are recruited through word of mouth and group’s appearance during assemblies. As this progresses, this group will be an active part of the school year. This will, hopefully, encourage more students to join group. The desire to make positive changes in the school and have an opportunity to add to their community service hours.
Collective Participation
There are 10 students involved in this group, and it meets once a week, every Tuesday. Each meeting lasts 45 minutes and on average there is 5 students at each meeting. Students have been involved since the beginning of the school year. Attendance is taken every meeting by the facilitator.
Adult Involvement
The adult leaders for this group are Lisa Pinkerton and Kaissa Brenneman. This is the first youth-led program for both adult leaders. The adult leaders provide guidance and support to the Youth led Program as well as resources needed to be successful. Material resources needed to implement programming. and Guidance and accountability are resources provided
Group Structure
Community service and leadership development are incentives offered to encourage the ongoing participation of youth. Decisions are typically unanimous. If a group member proposes a new topic or conversation, each student is given an opportunity to contribute their opinion. There are currently no formal hierarchies or assigned roles within the group. The adult allies provide any materials the group may need. They support the direction of the group and will help them connect to any other individuals that may help the group meet their goals. The group has established and consistent meeting times and place. The adult allies are also available outside the schedule times to help the students if needed.
Group Climate
The adult leader encourages the group to problem solve and to search for different options when needed. Since this group is still new, emotional closeness and group cohesion is still growing. The adult leader plans to arrange out of school adventures to build relationships within the group. The adult leader encourages and respects the group’s goals and direction. They provide a sounding board for the students and their ideas. The leader recognizes that group is student- driven and not adult led. The adult leader will encourage the group to stay on task and focused on their goal, helping them plan and execute their plan. The leader will help group problem solve whenever needed. The adult leader encourages compassion, empathy self-empowerment and leadership qualities.