The Fall and ARISE of Violent Teens

One out of every ten arrested teens has committed a violent act (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center).   Homicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. Teens are bombarded with images of violence, not just in video games and movies, but in their own neighborhoods. Many teens experience fear and violence at home before they even step out onto the street. Each day is a battle to survive in a frightening and dangerous world. Many teens walk through metal detectors to get to class. They are a reminder that violence can shatter their lives at any moment.

When a teen is involved in a violent crime and sent to a juvenile justice facility,  he  is  often delivered from one hostile environment to another. The gang loyalties and disputes that plagued his neighborhood in the outside world still exist behind razor-wire fences and thick steel doors.

Teen Violence Prevention Through ARISE Life Skills Group Lessons

That’s where ARISE life-management skills and group sessions come into play. ARISE approaches the situation from many different angles. First, ARISE provides training to the staff of the juvenile justice facility.  Some of the staff members  are certified as ARISE Life Skills Group Facilitators. During their training, they learn how to interact with the troubled teens and get them interested and involved in ARISE groups.   As the teens participate in the group, they begin to trust each other and the facilitator. They slowly open up. As they get more comfortable, they listen. Once the ARISE Group Facilitator has their attention, the teens learn and appreciate the life skills lessons packed into the ARISE curriculum. The ARISE curriculum is a critical part of “softening” these often-violent offenders. A major component of the ARISE curriculum is anger management. Teaching these angry teens how to control their emotions and defuse conflict is the most effective way to keep them from ending up back in the system—or worse—six feet under.   Anger management is just the beginning of the ARISE curriculum. As the lessons progress, the youth learn about self- esteem, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, job search skills, money management, and nutrition and health. ARISE has an extensive library of over 260 easily understood life lessons.

Why the ARISE Formula Works

Knowledge is the key to preventing teen violence. If you teach young people how to manage their anger, communicate effectively and avoid peer pressure, you give them the tools they need to succeed in life and stay out of the adult prison system. Even more than knowledge, these vulnerable teens need the opportunity to express themselves in an environment where they feel listened to and respected. Respect, or lack thereof, is a major part of an urban teens life. When ARISE Life Skills Group Facilitators use their training to create an atmosphere of respect and openness, these lessons will last a lifetime.