A Descriptive Analysis of the Boys Town Educational Model and its effect on At Risk Youth

Abstract

By Molly Disimile, Social work

Advisor: Gary Dick

Presentation ID: AM_A63

Abstract: At risk youth are prone to demonstrate deviant behavior. Camelot Community Care, a mental health day treatment program, services at risk youth in the Princeton City school district. The children are referred from therapists, teachers, and other mentors involved in their development. The children struggle to succeed in a regular school setting and most have individual learning plans to assist with their academics. Their behavior is shown to be too severe for a full day at school and that is why Camelot services the children for three hours each school day. Camelot uses the Boys Town Model as a behavior management tool. Its goal is to curve negative behavior with effective praise and corrective teaching and teach children life skills. The children start at the first level of the program and focus on the target skills of following instructions, accepting no, and accepting consequences. These skills are expectations in their school and home environments that they struggle to follow. The children gain positive and negative points for demonstrating these behaviors and are able to move through the levels and eventually come to a point where they can demonstrate these skills without guidance. At Camelot they learn effective coping strategies, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and how to build positive peer and staff relationships. Children are typically in the program for six to nine months.