Youth First

Empowering Youth and Families

The Youth First Project serves youth, ages 10-17 and their parents in Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha Counties. Youth First will partner with local organizations to improve parenting skills and family relationships, reduce behavior problems, delinquency, drug and alcohol use in children and teens, and to improve social skills and academic performance.

The goal of Youth First is to strengthen the relationship between children, teens and their parents while encouraging them to set short term and long term goals for themselves and providing the tools and support to accomplish those goals.

The project utilizes Strengthening Families Program to significantly improve parenting skills, family relationships, reduce problem behaviors, delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse in children, and improve social competencies and school performance.

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Curriculum

Strengthening Families Program Training

Strengthening Families Program

This scientifically tested curriculum:

Helps parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children.
Teaches parents/caregivers how to effectively discipline and guide their youth.
Gives youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers.
Teaches youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure.

The program address youth risk and protective factors:

Risk Factors:	Protective Factors:
Aggressive or withdrawn behavior Negative peer influence Poor school performance Lack of pro-social goals Poor relationship with parents	Positive future orientation Peer pressure resistance skills Pro-social peer relationships Positive management of emotions Empathy with parents

Basic Topics

Parent	Youth	Family
Using Love and Limits Making House Rules Encouraging Good Behavior Using Consequences Building Bridges Protecting Against Substance Abuse Using Community Resources	Goals and Dreams Appreciating Parents Dealing with Stress Following Rules Handling Peer Pressure I Handling Peer Pressure II Reaching Out to Others	Supporting Goals and Dreams Appreciating Family Members Using Family Meetings Understanding Family Values Building Family Communication Reaching Our Goals Putting It All Together and Graduation

Testimonial

“Thanks to AJ Henslee and Rita with YOUTH FIRST through Little Dixie and Doris Long for showing my boys a great time Fishing and having a Cookout today. They enjoyed themselves so much. Thank you all for what you do for the Youth!!!! “ Dawn Wilhite