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Resiliency Project
In 1998, as TLC looked ahead to the twenty-first century, expanding preventive efforts were defined as part of the vision. Reducing depression in girls to, in turn, reduce high-risk behaviors including alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, were identified as essential. Thus, the TeenLife Center Resiliency Project was founded in 1999. The Program is funded by a state incentive grant through the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning. It is a gender specific, select program that teaches problem solving skills to 6th and 7th grade girls at two middle schools in Duluth, Minnesota and one middle school in Hibbing, Minnesota. The goal of this program is to deter the onset of depressive symptoms that can lead to at-risk behaviors in adolescence, including those that may result in teen pregnancy.
The Resiliency Project is a research partnership with the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the Penn Optimism Project at the University of Pennsylvania. A decade of research suggest that by teaching cognitive and social skills to children as they enter puberty you can prevent depression. Other studies show a connection between at-risk behaviors in girls and depression. Since 1997, our staff has introduced this curriculum to more than 150 girls. We hope that an increase in optimism will decrease risky behaviors for these girls in adolescence.
Services include structured skill building groups during school hours complemented by gender specific services including group activities, individual and family support, advocacy, assessment, tutoring, crisis intervention, mentoring, homework club, and after-school recreation.
Skills girls learn are:
- Identifying Thinking Styles
- Problem Identification
- Coping Skills
- Decatastrophizing
- Empathy
- Stress Management and Relaxation
- Anger and Sadness Control
- Assertiveness and Negotiation Skills
- Evaluating Options
- Dealing with Procrastination
- Problem Solving Skills
- Goal Setting