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Banisters Leadership Academy coming to Red Willow County
McCOOK, Neb. – A young student in North Platte High School lacked confidence and felt like an outcast at school. The bi-racial student didn’t have many friends and he began exhibiting a lot of destructive behaviors, skipping school, getting into trouble, and drinking.
He began participating, somewhat reluctantly, in the Banisters Leadership Academy offered in North Platte. At first, he was shy; he didn’t speak up; he didn’t interact with the other participants. Through the course of time, he began to experience a change. So much so that when Banisters needed someone to travel to Dawson County to present the benefits of the program to families there, he volunteered.
“He went from not even speaking to public speaking, and that was in less than a year,” said Banisters Regional Program Lead Tiffany Hernandez of North Platte. “He was able to verbalize the things that he learned because it has boosted his self-confidence.”
Banisters Leadership Academy’s mission is to strengthen youth and families through leadership. The organization has programs running across the state.
In Red Willow County, the organization is implementing the Family Navigator Program, which works with at-risk youth in the 7th to 12th grades who are demonstrating “negative behaviors” that could lead them to living destructive lifestyles. McCook Team Lead Milva McGhee said the organization is looking for community partners and volunteers, as well as food and monetary donations, to support the Red Willow County program.
The program takes place on the second Friday evening of every month for four hours, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Participants will receive a hot meal, and then will participate in structured activities where they are taught the twelve pillars of leadership. Those pillars cover topics such as trustworthiness, honesty, respect, citizenship, or fairness. There is no cost to participate in the program. In fact, mentees will receive a stipend of $20 for attending each night if they are engaged.
It is not a school-style situation, said Hernandez. They are not sitting down at a desk with a pen and paper. Rather, they are participating in fun, interactive activities that reinforce the concepts being presented. “The kids just genuinely enjoy it,” Hernandez said.
A “Forward Thinking Change” series curriculum will also challenge students to reflect on personal behaviors and decisions that have caused them trouble in the past and help them determine ways to make amends and corrections to their lifestyles in order to make changes.
While the in-person contact currently occurs once per month, Banisters staff will continue to check in with mentees and their families during the off-weeks, helping them to work through any unmet needs or additional behavioral issues that may crop up.
The curriculum used is evidenced-based practice curriculum, so Banisters’ team members collect grade, behavior, and attendance reports at the beginning of the program and again at the end to track outcomes. Data is gathered and sent to University of Nebraska – Lincoln professor, Dr. Weiner, who helps to create a logic model.
While the monthly meeting is just for the students, Banisters team members work to help their students’ families connect to community resources for things such as rent assistance, food, or school supplies, if needed. Banisters can also help to refer participants or family members to counselors or therapists that the organization has partnered with. While currently those services are provided virtually through telehealth, Banisters is seeking a licensed in-person therapist for the Red Willow County area.
Banisters team members will also advocate for system-involved youth by helping them navigate the juvenile justice system.
Enrollment for the Family Navigator Program is available online at www.banisters.org. Hernandez said that any youth who would benefit from leadership education is encouraged to enroll.
Healthy Communities Movement is another Banisters-led program that provides services for youth, families, and individuals who need counseling or therapy. The services are provided at no cost to the participant and will be provided virtually through telehealth. Even if the participant is already seeing a counselor and has an out-of-pocket expense for the counseling, Banisters will pick up that cost if the participant has a child in the Family Navigator Program.
To volunteer, donate, enroll, or simply find out more information, contact Tiffany Hernandez at (402) 672-5476 or Milva McGhee at (402) 672-8012.