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In 2000, the Lower Yukon School District’s Regional School Board recognized the immediate need to address the youth suicides in the region. The Board created Student Support Coordinator positions and charged the Coordinators with suicide prevention efforts across the district. Initially the Coordinators created Natural Helper groups at each of the 11 school sites. Natural Helpers are students identified by fellow students as people they would go to if they had a problem. The Coordinators would then train the Natural Helpers students in recognizing the signs and symptoms of students who may need help. After identifying the students in need, the Natural Helpers were trained on how to
connect those students with the local and regional resources that would provide help.
We found that the Natural Helpers became natural leaders within their school and had the power to create positive change in the school climate. Natural Helpers began doing presentations to younger classes on social skills, drop out prevention, and bullying prevention. Many of our Natural Helper students have become so comfortable in their roles as peer teachers, that they have weekly classes where they teach social skill standards to prepare younger students for their end of level testing. We also found the Natural Helpers have great influence over the younger students behavior. After an unsuccessful attempt at western conflict mediation, we created the LYSD Natural Helper Peer Discipline project. Instructional Leaders at school sites that use this alternative discipline technique report success with habitual problematic students.
The Natural Helpers latest focus has been on leadership. We traveled to the 4000 from 4 Directions Native Wellness Conference in Temecula CA last year. Students from each school site attended and learned about corporation and group leadership, cultural survival and other personal growth issues. As a result of this trip, we have seen an increase in student leadership at school sites throughout the district and within the Natural Helper groups.
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Natural Helpers are required to sponsor two drug, alcohol, and violence free activities per month. These activities occur at the school and within their villages.
Helpers sponsor dances, movie nights, basketball tournaments, holiday celebrations and other fun and healthy events.
This year, thanks to a grant from YKHC Helpers have purchased and will be using a giant inflatable obstacle course in their gyms for exercise, games, and competitions.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
In 2007/08 we will continue to strengthen our leadership and behavioral health career components and look toward engaging younger students. We have already created a Junior Natural Helpers group at one school and other schools have expressed interest at their sites. |
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