As you work with the youth in your communities I thought it might be helpful for you to have some tips about to talk and work with youth. These same tips can be used by you as a youth development professional, for 4-H volunteers and community members, and for parents.
Here are some tips for working and communicating with youth.
- Be a calm and reassuring presence. Remind youth that over time thing will get better.
- Acknowledge feelings and allow youth to talk about their feeling and concerns. Let youth know that it is okay to be sad, scared or confused.
- Build Resiliency. Help youth think about positive coping skills. It might going for a walk, writing in a journal, engaging in an art project or thinking about things that they are thankful for.
- Create an environment where youth can interact with their peers. Peer support can provide emotional support for youth.
- Simply, listen. If ever youth need adults to listen, it is now. Remember you don’t have to have all the answers. Silence is okay. Youth just need to know you care.
Here are some link to some resources that can be shared with parents, volunteers, and community members on how to support young people.
http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/natural-disaster
https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma12-4732.pdf
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//pfa_parent_tips_for_helping_adolescents_after_disasters.pdf
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-parents/helpingchildren-parents-508_146810.pdf
Just as reminder to check the 4-H website at https://4h.unl.edu/flood for additional information and resources.
Please, let me know what needs or resources you have in your counties. If you need more resources on resiliency, short term and long term impacts, mental health, or volunteering, let me know. Feel free to give me a phone call or send me an email.
Lastly, thank you for all the long hard hours you have put in over the last week. You are a very important caring adult in the lives of many youth. I firmly believe these relationship matter and can be life changing.
(Source: Michelle Krehbiel | mkrehbiel2@unl.edu | 402-472-9020)