LIMA — Professionals from Allen County who interact on a regular basis with youth incarcerated at the Allen County Juvenile Detention Center put their collective heads together Thursday during an interactive program designed to ensure they are all working toward a common goal.
The workshop was presented by Tierica Berry, author, trainer and self-described “social-emotional learning specialist” from Atlanta. She is the author of “Unpacking the Emotional Suitcase,” a book outlining strategies surrounding the importance of professionals working as a team with the youth and families they serve.
The non-profit Jegna Corporation sponsored Thursday’s workshop.
Berry interspersed a PowerPoint presentation with group discussions with more than two dozen correctional staffers, mental health specialists and behavioral interventionists in attendance. A portion of the workshop was devoted to discussing what is meant by the oft-repeated phrase that it “takes a village” to raise a child.
Among the slides contained in Berry’s presentation was one which summed up the danger of failing to take a community-based approach to dealing with troubled youth. Attributed to an African proverb, the message read: “A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”
“What does it mean to say it takes a village?” Berry asked attendees.
One woman said, “You have to have the resources, and you’ve got to work together.”
Another responded, “It’s about the mindset; making sure everyone has a common goal.”
“And how is the village doing? Berry continued.
“It’s struggling,” said one of the professionals, “because sometimes different groups have different agendas.”
Berry interjected, “… and the kids end up suffering as a result.”
“So what is the village’s goal? What do we want for our children?” she continued.
The responses were many and varied, ranging from “for them to be healthy and happy and productive” to being assured they are safe, successful and full of hope.
Berry led some in attendance in a “village-building” exercise in which two teams of five members each transferred a ball from one to the next without using their hands. One team fared better than the other.
“What are the parallels here as they pertain to your jobs?” Berry asked.
“One team dropped the ball,” one person said, “but they didn’t give up.”
Berry pointed out that the two teams took different approaches to the problem at hand. When the team that was struggling took notice of techniques used by the more successful team, they said, “Let’s try that,” Berry noted.
That approach, she said, goes to the heart of finding the best ways to help troubled youth and their families.
“Have a clearly defined goal and work together on a collaborative plan. Communicate with one another and show love and patience when dealing with our clients,” she said. “Let them know you are here, and remember why you got into this profession in the first place.
“Be a good role model” around youths, Berry said, “because they are watching.”
