BUILDING RESILIENCE IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES
2012 Africentric Youth and Family Rites of Passage (ROP)
The Africentric Youth and Family Rites of Passage Program consists of African-American males from the Desert Region age 11-15 who have been initiated into an afterschool intervention where they participate in instruction, activities and outings that help promote and infuse the Seven Nguza Saba Principals.
Our 2012 male youth participants have created a 2012 Nguzo Saba calendar highlighting the seven principals. The calendar is filled with historical African-American facts, important dates of upcoming community events and empowering photographs of our young men as they journey towards manhood.
The calendar is an entrepreneur endeavor by the young men and they ask that the community be in support of their efforts. All of the proceeds from the calendars directly benefit the youth participants. You can obtain your copy of the calendar by making a small $10 donation. If you would like to secure your copy online we are asking for an additional $1.25 to ship the calendar to your home.
If you would like more information about how you can get your 2012 calendar, call 760/275.1634 or 760/340.2442.
Buy Now
This problem has prevented African American males from voting and from living in public housing, discriminated in hiring, excluded from juries, and denied educational opportunities because of their criminal backgrounds.
“More African American men are in prison or jail, on probation or parole than were enslaved in 1850, before the Civil War began.”
Whats your thought?
Four of five black youth can expect to be caught up in the criminal justice system during their lifetimes
According to a U.S. Census Bureau Report, over 25 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (34.5%) children in American. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) African American children live in father-absent homes.
Building Resilience in African-American Families is a new program established to target the African American population of the Desert Region of Riverside County of Southern California which include Banning, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Thousand Palms, Indio, La Quinta and Coachella.
The primary program goals are to reduce the risk of developing mental health problems and to increase resiliency and skill development for the African American population of this region.
The program will provide services in culturally appropriate settings, incorporating African-American philosophies and traditions. The setting for service deliver will not be a traditional setting and will assist participants in feeling comfortable and inclusionary. Services will be delivered by knowledgeable staff capable of identifying needs and solutions for African-American families and individuals. The services are designed to work together in a unique approach to prevention and early intervention.
The program seeks to engage the African American community by working within the community and collaborating with schools, community organizations, faith-based organizations and other individuals, groups, and/or services that have the trust of and connection with the community served.
BRAAF is a unique and innovative community resource for African-American families. We seek to partner with individuals and other organizations who desire to provide an additional resource to their community and invite your contact.
Seminar Topics:
Eligibility
Overview
Building protective factors and skills that increase support and reduce risk factors and stressors on the family, children, and parents is the premises of Effective Black Parenting. This program is designed to provide parents with the on-going tools to deal and address problems or challenges at their embryonic stage, before those problems begin to impact the child, the family, and the community at large. The program will address parenting skill-building while focusing on issues that are specific to African American families, (such as the impact of slavery on African American child rearing and the need to convey positive messages about cultural heritage) and honoring the traditions in African American family life.
Our parents will learn how to effectively deliver praise, explore and problem solve with their children and how to use incentives as a motivation to their children and as an acknowledgement of their children’s successes. Parents will explore the relationship of slavery to the use of harsh discipline and the contemporary need to move to methods that are more likely to instill self-discipline, confidence and pride in children. The parents will explore several units that will help the parents convey positive messages about African American culture and history in an effort to overcome ethnic self-disparagement (Pride in Blackness).
Effective Black Parenting will also assist the parent in addressing behaviors at their inception in the present time with relatively low intensity. Parents will learn methods and interventions that will equip the parents with tools to effectively resolve conflict and manage anger.
EBPP will teach parents skills to help them become more warm and accepting of their children's characteristics and abilities, and it will teach and encourage non-violent disciplinary skills to help them to be firm and fair in how to they guide and supervise their children's development. High parental warmth and acceptance mixed with firm and fair discipline has been shown to be the most effective parenting pattern (the authoritative parenting pattern) for helping children to become successful and healthy adults.
Bring Effective Black Parenting to your Community.
Call Today: 760/340.2442
ask for Dretona Maddox or Sandra Austin
Congratulations to the Nineteen young men who have been officially accepted to participate in the pre-initiation phase of the Rite of Passage Program.
On Thursday, September 9, 2011 these nineteen young brothers accepted the challenge of embracing the Afrocentric Principles of Nguzo Saba and RIPSO and incorporating these principles into their daily living. The journey begins . . .
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Building protective factors and skills, increasing support, and reducing risk factors or stressors through instilling respect for elders, others, self, and fellow participants is the premise of the Africentric Youth and Family Rites of Passage Program. To instill a sense of past that lays the foundation for the future, to in many instances, renew, refresh, and restore, so that building of lives, families, and communities can occur.
Intervention and prevention occurs when perspective is changed. Something that was once viewed as a setback can be seen differently and become an opportunity (springboard) for new achievements and new successes. Building a sense of teamwork, responsibility, and camaraderie is powerful in replacing the allure that gangs and the like have for our male youth. Most times, gang and gang membership becomes a replacement vehicle for the ‘family’, ‘village’, ‘neighborhood’, and ‘community’ that has traditionally existed to ‘guide’ the young men in their journey towards productive, contributing adulthood. Youth will seek out what they need to proceed in life. They will gain attention when it’s required- positive or negative by any means necessary. The Africentric Youth and Family Rites of Passage Program supplies these needs in a positive and productive manner that will not only impact the youth but will have a ripple effect on the entire family and community.
The program consists of a nine month curriculum of which there are two parts: A two month initiation phase and the seven month after school intervention program. The program occurs three days per week at Ajalon Baptist Church Annex.
Program staff, the Council of Community Elders, parents and program participants will covenant with one another to the achievement of program goals and the empowering and enhancing of the young men in their journey towards adult manhood.
The program emphasizes young men interacting with other men to develop positive life styles, and positive solutions to life problems by recognizing their strengths, their talents and abilities under the guidance of well-trained and committed staff, community volunteers, experts from the community and a Council of Elders who have a strong commitment to their passage into manhood.
The program will focus on assisting our young men in developing interpersonal skills, building positive and appropriate relationships, and visualizing and constructing positive self images. The program will place particular emphasis on bridging the digital divide among African-American males, equipping them with the insight, skills and knowledge necessary to competitively participate in the information age. Our young men will learn the benefits of working collectively and develop the skills necessary to identify and access resources beneficial to themselves, their families and their communities. A creative and unique approach to the infusion of the Afro-centric values called Nguza Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles will assist our youth in becoming constructive contributors to their community, through a positive appreciation of themselves and their culture.
ROP is delivered from an empowerment prospective. Our male youth will explore topics beneficial to self-empowerment such as Risky Behaviors, Domestic Violence & Abuse, Minorities & Drug Abuse, Addictions, Nutrition and Healthy Eating, Motivation, Effective Communication, Self-Control, The Hidden Rules to Run the Race, Dating and Sex, Making Money Sense out of “Cents” and more. They will gain a positive appreciation for their culture through creative and innovative cultural seminars, field trips, and guest speakers. Youth will regularly engage in opportunities to develop pride, trust, interconnectivity, and an appreciation for their communities.
A qualified Mental Health Clinician shall be available to provide individual, family, and crisis counseling as a component of the afterschool program both at the service site and in the home.
The youth will be provided healthy snacks at each session, assistance with transportation, program t-shirts, field trips, seminars, digital cameras, opportunity for exploring, learning and growing. In addition, there are monthly parent empowerment meetings, a weekend initiation retreat with the Council of Elders and a Closing Ceremony.
African American males between ages 11 and 15
The program has extended the enrollment process until October 5, 2011. If you are your son remain intrested, give us a call.
ROP YOUTH APPLICATION.pdf
Elders will represent the characteristics the program wishes to instill in the youth and families. It is preferable that the Elders are African-American males 21 years or older, however females may serve as Elders. Elders will be asked to join the Council of Community Elders by entering a covenant that acknowledges the length of service and level of their commitment to the youth participants, their parents and the program staff.
Community Elders will meet the standard of a volunteer, therefore must submit to the appropriate criminal background and child abuse index checks. Elders will also receive training on the approved program. Elders will be assigned to observe 1-2 youth and will become quasi-mentors or will evaluate youth based upon:
• Progress
• Attendance
• Participation
• Discipline
• Use of Nguzo Saba/RipsoIPSO
Elders will determine which youth will progress from pre-initiation to the after school intervention. In order that the Elders can make informed decisions the Elders will rotate their attendance in the group of pre-initiation sessions. The Elders will use a point system as a guide to assist them in evaluating the youth’s progress. In ceremony, Elders discuss youth strengths and areas for improvement. Elders must demonstrate a sincere passion for working with young men as well as a genuine desire to give back to the community from which the youth and families reside.
ROP Elder Application.pdf
Rites of Passage
Council of Elder’s Covenant
Through this covenant, we as members of the Coachella Valley – Rites of Passage Council of Elders do make these following promises to each other, to our youth participants and to their families:
We will remember that our sole purpose and existence as Community Elders is to effectively serve the needs of our Rites of Passage (ROP) youth;
We will ensure that all of our decisions, actions, and policies, including our continued existence as Community Elders will be in support of the youth we serve;
We will measure our success as a Council of Elders, neither by the number of youth we serve nor the level of our authority, but by the success of the youth and families we serve;
We will recognize that, beyond our voluntary duties as community elders, we also share a human responsibility to our youth;
In each of our actions and contacts, we will strive to demonstrate and instill a message of love, hope, and commitment to our youth and families;
We will remember that family and relationships play a central role in the lives and development of our youth, and we will strive to respect and improve the relationships that our youth hold dear.
In order to encourage positive relationships among the youth we serve, we will strive to demonstrate and maintain a positive environment in our homes, office, in our communities, and always in the presence of our young men.
As individuals and as a team, we will work to continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of our council and our service to youth and our community;
We will maintain an atmosphere that welcomes and encourages constructive feedback and practical ideas towards increasing the quality and effectiveness of our care and services.
We will encourage and help each other to remember and keep these commitments.
This is the first edition and incarnation of the Coachella Valley – Rites of Passage Council of Elders, signed on this _____________ day of ___________of the year ______________________.
We hold this covenant to be necessary to the mission and success of our council. We will remember that its purpose is to facilitate a spirit of family, and ensure an atmosphere of teamwork and unity amongst us. Therefore, we each commit ourselves to sincerely embrace this covenant with a spirit of cooperation, and enforce it with a spirit of compassion.
It is our hope that the strength and purpose of this council, as affirmed in this covenant, and as expressed in our service to our youth and families, will endure the test of time, and become a positive contribution to the family of all humanity.
If you are a male youth, parent of a youth or a individual interested in becoming an Elder, we encourage your contact.
Complete the contact form or contactl us directly at:
(760) 219-8077
Ask for:
C.W. Parker
Our children hurt and the hurt is
CBITS is an early prevention and intervention for African American children ages 10-15 years old. The intervention focuses on providing youth with essential tools/skills needed to address and overcome trauma they may have experienced as a direct result of racism and/or discrimination. The program is centrally located in the heart of the community where youth meet once weekly for 1-hour for a period of 10 weeks. This program has culturally sensitive staff who are 100% committed to seeing African American youth succeed not only in school but, in their homes, community and life.
CBITS is a place where adolescent youth can come and be themselves without worrying about feelings of shame, blame, guilt or being misunderstood. The program addresses and educates youth about stress, stressors, trauma, unhealthy reactions to stress/trauma, how to effectively manage stress, useful techniques to overcome trauma and many other helpful topics. Applied knowledge is powerful, therefore the program assists youth in being able to apply the knowledge they have attained in their everyday living. CBITS is dedicated to the advancement and well-being of African American youth and their families.
African American youth who have experienced trauma as a direct result of racism and/or discrimination.
Talk to someone who understands.
You may contact us directly by calling:
760/340.2442
Ask for Dretona Maddox
If you would like for us to contact you, please complete the contact form. Feel free to ask your questions in the message portion of the form. Also, please leave a telephone number or email address so that we may contact you.
Family Health & Support Network, Inc.
74410 Hwy 111, Suite D
Palm Desert, CA 92260
saustin_fhsnet.org
James O. Jessie Unity Center
Starting, Monday, February 27, 2011 6pm 9pm
Where: 480 Tramview Road - Palm Springs - California - 92262
15 Week Parent Training
Enrolling Now
Come and join us for an informative, innovative and interactive seminar that is designed to empower the African-American parent.
Day one of the Rites of Passage Initiation Retreat. Brothers getting prepared for the Initiation to be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011.
