SEL

Attending Dr. Ken Ginsburg's training titled "Building on the Strengths of Young People" offered by the JFCS Center for Children and Youth Child Training Institute in December of 2023 was incredibly inspiring and validating. Dr. Ginsburg is an adolescent pediatrician who specializes in Positive Youth Development (PYD) and fostering adolescent resilience. His presentation and communication style was direct, humorous and commanding. His core principal in PYD is that young people need to feel valued and to know that their opinions matter as they are the experts in their own lives. A huge point he made was that the collective 'we' needs to shift the cultural narrative about teens by remembering and highlighting that adolescence is not just a time to be survived, it is a time to be celebrated. Adolescents are super-learners and emotionally brilliant, even if they are still learning how to regulate their emotions. Experimentation is necessary and it is our job as educators and trusted adults to create enriching, exciting and safe opportunities for our natural explorers to grow. It is their job to push and test the edges and it is our responsibility to model boundaries setting and maintenance. Another helpful message I will return to is that resilience is not invulnerability. While all of the points shared here are familiar, it was invigorating to hear a medical professional with a vast amount of experience reiterate them passionately. Feeling validated in my approach to working with students and families from a strength-based or positive psychology approach added fuel to my 'tank' in order to keep going with increased clarity and mindfulness. This training was valuable and is recommended to anyone who works or care-takes young people.