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MHA News

May/June 2011

Voices VS Violence (VVV) works to ensure safe lives for youth and families by bringing together diverse segments of the community to foster attitudes and behaviors that prevent and reduce violence in our homes, families, schools, communities and workplaces.  VVV offers presentations to parents, youth, community members, and professionals on a variety of violence prevention topics.  In addition to these presentations, VVV offers The Kids on the Block educational puppet troupe performances as well as the Voices2Empower (V2E) project.

What are the “presentations” about?
What do the participants think of them?

Between July of 2010 and January of 2011, VVV offered eight presentations to over 375 parents/guardians and students/youth on topics like Bullying Prevention, Gang Prevention and Sexual Harassment.  Evaluations from participants are overwhelmingly positive!

-  97% of parents/guardians indicated that they learned new ideas that they could use at home.

-  77% of students/youth indicated that they learned new ideas.

-  93% of parents/guardians indicated that the presentation was"extremely helpful" or "Very helpful"and all 100% said that the presentation was at least "somewhat helpful".

-  88% of students/youth found the presentation "Very Helpful" (49%) or "A little Helpful" (39%).

Aren't The Kids on the Block a Music Group?
Who's their audience these days?

While the volunteer puppeteers may sing as a part of their shows, this isn't the boy band that may be coming to mind  The Kids on the Block is a prevention program developed by educators and mental health professionals, which teaches children (and sometimes parents/guardians) about sensitive social issues in a unique and entertaining way.  Topics currently include Early Childhood Aggression prevention, Bullying Prevention, Mental Wellness and Substance Abuse prevention.  Last Fiscal Year, The Kids on the Block programming reached 7,397 youth in Montgomery County.

What is the Voices2Empower (V2E) project?

The Voices2Empower project serves youth ages 12 and older who are involved in the Department of Juvenile Services.  The project offers life skills groups (incorporating communication skills, decision making and problem solving skills, anger management, goal setting, character building and relationship building skills), case management services, cognitive behavioral treatment, community service and civic engagement opportunities and employment and job readiness skills.  Project services are provided in the home, school and community based on the needs of the youth and their families.

Q.  What services are most frequently offered (or referred out) by VVV?
A.  Statistics from July 2010 through March 2011 show that a significant number of participating youth needed and were linked to community service opportunities.  Most also received Academic Advocacy/Support, Employment/Job Readiness Training and Recreational Activities.  Many also needed Parental Support, Court Advocacy/Support and help with Basic Needs like food and clothing.

Q. Who are these youth?
A.  Looking at the same time period (July of 2010 through March of 2011), most of the participants were between the ages of 13-17.  While the large majority of participating youth are male, there are some female participants as well.  And, while most participants are Hispanic or Black (not of Hispanic Origin), some are White (not of Hispanic Origin) and Biracial.

For more information about MHA's Voices VS Violence (VVV) program,
Click Here or call (301) 424-0656, ext. 535. 

"It is a nice program.  It helps with everything.  It helped me make better decisions.  Now we are living happily because we don't have problems with my dad anymore." --- A 16 Year Old V2E Participant

Referred by the Alternative School staff because of attendance issues and challenges with academic achievement, "Juan"* came to Voices2Empower (V2E) needing help.  Through the intake process, program staff learned that "Juan" and his family had been experiencing domestic violence for many years, which is one of the reasons he became involved in delinquent behavior and was hanging out with a negative peer group.  Things were pretty bad, so much so that his mother, "Ana"*, disconnected his cell phone so that he wouldn't have contact with them.  The thing was, "Juan" wanted to start attending school and complete his community service hours.  He wanted a different life.

V2E facilitated an important discussion between "Juan" and "Ana", which resulted in a contract.  "Juan" could have a phone again, but the phone number needed to be changed and he could not be in touch with his former friends and not use the phone after 10pm.  He also had to attend school every day and complete volunteer hours.  This helped with "Juan's" negative behaviors, but of course there was the root problem of domestic violence to work through.  The V2E program of Voices VS Violence provided referral information to connect "Juan" and his family to people who assisted with relocating them to a new home, including some financial assistance.

*  Names have been changed for the purposes of this publication for the safety of this youth and his family.

Mon 7/11, Wed 7/13, Mon 7/18 AND Wed 7/20
from 6:15pm-9:15pm*
Montgomery College's Gaithersburg Business Training Center

This 12-hour course prepares the citizen responder to provide initial help to someone with a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. MHA is pleased to partner with Montgomery College - WD&CE in offering this Mental Health First Aid course. 
Registration is ONLY available through Montgomery College.
Click Here for more details and registration information.
*Participants must attend all of the listed sessions for the entirety of each session to receive the course certificate.

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