Teen Outreach Program Helps Casady Students Help Others
The Casady Alternative Center is like an Intensive Care Unit for students. The kids who are referred there face obstacles ranging from academic credit deficiencies to behavioral disorders. They enter at risk of becoming community misfits.
So what better barometer of progress could there be than community service?
Recently one middle school class and two high school classes at Casady culminated a 10-week Teen Outreach Program (TOP) by seeking out community agencies and asking if there was anything they could do to help.
Yes, there was, and the students followed through by making blankets for the Animal Rescue League and preparing meals for two residential facilities operated by Youth & Shelter Services.
The TOP project was a pilot program facilitated by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. It emphasized the role of community service in building the self-confidence of teenagers. Other key components of TOP are life skills like goal-setting and effective, positive interpersonal communication as an alternative to confrontation.
The Casady Alternative Center is home to three different programs that are rigorous, relevant and re-affirming for students who need education services for behavior disorders within a special setting. The school provides intensive instructional support to students through career and vocational exploration and experience, literacy support, computer based instruction, project based learning, behavioral intervention services, social work services and collaborative community services.
Sometimes the best tonic for what ails us is awareness of the even worse ailments of others. The pups at the pound are no doubt resting more comfortably with new blankets in their kennels. And maybe the meat loaves and green bean casseroles and tater tots tasted a little closer to homemade to residents at Lighthouse Home than whatever they’re usually served.
Without even realizing it, the Casady kids may just be learning that there’s nothing more self-indulgent than service to others. Keep up the good work!
