Community Thinking for a Change (T4C) Program

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                                                                Community “Thinking for a Change” (T4C) Program
                                                              Description
                                                              KidsPeace Mesabi Academy is a subsidiary of KidsPeace offering a community-based, “Thinking For a
Fact Sheet: Community “Thinking for a Change” (T4C) Program




                                                              Change” Program (cognitive self change, social skills and problem-solving skills) to serve youth who are at
                                                              risk for out-of-home placement. KidsPeace Mesabi Academy will arrange with the referral source to hold
                                                              weekly "Thinking for a Change" groups at an agreed-upon public location.

                                                              “Thinking for a Change” (T4C) uses a combination of approaches to increase youths' awareness of self
                                                              and others. This deepened attentiveness to attitudes, beliefs and thinking patterns is combined with
                                                              explicit teaching of interpersonal skills relevant to youths' present and future needs. The goal is to
                                                              provide contextual instruction and related experiences so that youth are confident and motivated to use
                                                              pro-social skills when faced with interpersonal problems and/or anti-social situations. The philosophy of
                                                              the program endorses that youth should be empowered to be responsible for changing their own
                                                              problem behavior. T4C gives youth the tools to take pro-social action and change their offending ways.

                                                              T4C integrates cognitive restructuring, social skills and problem-solving. It begins by teaching youth an
                                                              introspective process to examine their ways of thinking, feelings, beliefs and attitudes. This process
                                                              continues and is reinforced throughout the program. Social skills training is provided to youth as an
                                                              alternative to anti-social behaviors. The program culminates by integrating the skills youth have learned
                                                              into steps for problem-solving. Thus, problem-solving becomes the central approach they learn that
                                                              enables them to work through difficult situations without engaging in criminal behavior.

                                                              Population Served
                                                              The “Thinking for a Change” Program is appropriate for a wide range of offender groups: adult and
                                                              juvenile offenders, probationers, prison and jail inmates and those in aftercare or on parole. The format
                                                              was designed so that sessions are accessible and meaningful for youth with varying social, emotional
                                                              and intellectual/academic abilities. The self-insight and interpersonal skills youth learn in “Thinking for a
                                                              Change” are also applicable to other treatment programs, either provided simultaneously or
                                                              consecutively.

                                                              For this particular program, the participants must be male, ages 12 to 18. The community “Thinking for a
                                                              Change” Program will be offered at a group size of 4 to 12 individuals and one staff. “Thinking for a
                                                              Change” is highly interactive, and feedback is central to the process. The feedback process is greatly
                                                              hindered as group size increases. The larger the group size, the greater the challenge to ensure that all
                                                              group members participate productively.

                                                              Services
                                                              The curriculum incorporates assessment as a part of each lesson. Youth learn how to report on situations
                                                              that could lead to criminal behavior and to identify their thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs that may
                                                              lead them to offending. Participants learn how to write and use a thinking report as a means to determine
                                                              their awareness of their risk thinking that leads them into trouble.

                                                              Within the social skills component of “Thinking for a Change,” youth try using the newly demonstrated
                                                              social skills in role-play situations. After each role-play, the group discusses and assesses how well the
                                                              youth did in following the steps of the social skill being learned. The youth practices the newly acquired
                                                              For additional information or admission, please contact:
                                                              KidsPeace Mesabi Academy, Admissions Department, P.O. Box 726, Buhl, MN 55713 •
                                                              888-270-5013

                                                              w w w .kidspeace.org
                                                                                                                                                          022-0067 – 03/08
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                                                              skill during the time before the next group session in order to practice using it in an actual real-life
                                                              situation. They report how well they did (how well they used the steps of the skill) in a written homework
                                                              sheet to be completed and brought to the next social skill group session. The youth will take a quiz after
                                                              each lesson is complete and a final exam after the youth has successfully completed the curriculum.

                                                              Youth apply problem-solving steps to problems in their own lives. This application is done both in class
                                                              and as homework. Role-plays, problem scenario discussions and homework applications provide
Fact Sheet: Community “Thinking for a Change” (T4C) Program




                                                              assessment information on each youth's ability to problem solve.

                                                              The “Thinking for a Change” Program culminates in an individual assessment of skill use. Using a
                                                              structured learning skills checklist, program participants self-report their use of 50 social skills, using a
                                                              Likert type scale. They also engage a person who knows them well to rate them on the same set of skills.
                                                              Based on information from these sources, a class profile of social skills most youth need is developed
                                                              and negotiated with the group. These skills comprise the curriculum of topics for additional lessons.

                                                              Treatment Team
                                                              An assigned youth care worker will work closely with the referring agent and report any progress. At the
                                                              end of the 22-lesson course, the group facilitator will provide the referring agent with a written summary of
                                                              the client’s progress, which will include attendance, participation, general attitude and scores on the
                                                              quizzes and final examination, as well as his/her general impression.




                                                              For additional information or admission, please contact:
                                                              KidsPeace Mesabi Academy, Admissions Department, P.O. Box 726, Buhl, MN 55713 •
                                                              888-270-5013

                                                              w w w .kidspeace.org
                                                                                                                                                        022-0067 – 03/08