At-Risk Youth
At-Risk Youth Programs
The mental health of US children and adolescents is in crisis and the data is shocking. KSR strives to continue successful programs, as well as create more opportunities for Youth, focusing on animal and nature/outdoor experiences, therefore addressing the societal nature deficit and other challenges Youths face. The term “At-Risk Youth” is often used to refer to youth displaced from home or traditional environments for various reasons such as behavioral or legal challenges, parental neglect or absence, abuse, poverty, and often all of the above.
An example of such a Program is one we conducted with a local residential school for At-Risk boys. Founded in conjunction with Tatum Nadherny, close affiliate of Abenaki Farm and teacher at that school, the program relied on the environment of the Farm, providing for Farm Based Therapy.
The Farm days incorporated many of the healing influences found to be so successful with this audience; time outside, meaningful physical work, and integrating with the Farm’s community - people and animals. In addition, horsemanship lessons strongly focusing on breath work and energy manipulation were an integral part of the day. The benefits of this environment were evident in the students’ notable progression in academic and treatment goals, and overall morale. Students were now accepted, welcomed, appreciated and integrated into a Community – most times which, in the past, was not the case.
These days also cultivated strong camaraderie between adults and students as they worked side by side. Students became more motivated to complete schoolwork and house chores in order to earn days at the Farm. Those who were previously unmotivated to do their chores in residence or school became the same kids awarded graduation trophies such as “MVP of barn chores.” One older student was so impassioned by time at the Farm that he chose to write his required Senior English essay about the therapeutic benefits of horses.
Students also opened up and were more willing to unburden emotions while in nature or with the horses versus in their clinical treatment environment – proving that use of alternate environments can immensely boost treatment success and motivation to invest in it, especially for clients in need of sensory stimulation and grounding techniques to address their emotions.
The setting also was effective for depression, anxiety, social phobia and interpersonal challenges, resulting in compassion and confidence building, emotional regulation tactics, and helped address individual’s emotional challenges and underlying trauma through Nature Based therapy, and Animal-Assisted Therapy.
Something magical happens at the Farm where kids are inspired to care about the community and animals in a way that they didn’t in their lives and placement facilities. KSR is excited to continue this and other programs, making a difference for all Youth of today.
