Ten Decisive Steps to Motivating Your Delinquent Teen to Action
(Page 5)
STEP SIX
NETWORKING
We have a saying here in Jamaica that two heads are
better than one and that there is strength in numbers.
This is even more so when we have delinquent teens on our hands.
Networking can be a powerful tool in motivating support for
families with delinquent teens as well as support for the delinquent
teens themselves.
GUIDE TO NETWORKING
·
Networking should
be approached first from the perspective of the teen.
As parents and guardians you can affect the action of your teens
by facilitating troubled teen networking.
Have teens in close geographical area with similar issues form
support groups where they can voice their own issues and talk about the
problems they have, the changes they want to make if any and their
difficulty in coping with the expectation of their families, communities
and country. Through this
they can motivate and encourage each other and can come to a consensus
among the group to try for change.
They can also form accountability partners that will help them to
become accountable with the decisions for change that they have made and
any hindrances to pursuing or achieving such.
·
Parents, guardians
and interest groups can support this networking through facilitation and
by pooling resources to hire professionals to work with this group,
should they (the parents) find themselves deficient in fulfilling
certain roles (not that the parents and guardians will shriek their
responsibilities and obligations, but that they will have professional
help to enhance what they are already doing).
· Parents, guardians and other interest groups should also network to form a special support group and think tank for and among themselves. Raising teens can be very stressful and trying to motivate the delinquent ones to action is a big job; therefore every opportunity should be pursed that can be beneficial to the process. They key to remember when networking is to offer support and find solutions.