Barry Belvins, Executive Director of High Frontier in Texas, was interviewed about using positive peer culture by Lon Woodbury and Elizabeth McGhee on Parent Choices for Struggling Teens hosted on L.A. Talk Radio. During the discussion, the guest explained how other teens are a part of the community and they are used as an important part of the healing process. Based on his experience, he believed that PPC is more effective than a residential program that relies on a wide range of rules.
The radio show is hosted by Lon Woodbury. He is an Independent Educational Consultant. He is the founder of Struggling Teens and the publisher of Woodbury Reports. He has worked with families in crisis for many years as they cope with their struggling teens, and has been in the business since 1984. Meanwhile, the co-host of the show, Elizabeth McGhee,has more than 19 years of clinical, consulting and referral relations experience with teens. She is the Director of Admissions for Sandhill Child Development Center, New Mexico.
About Barry Blevins
Barry Blevins has run High Frontier, the treatment center in West Texas, for more than 27 years. He graduated from Sul Ross State University with a Masters of Public Administration then later qualified to become a licensed child care administrator in the State of Texas.
The Many Advantages of Using Positive Peer Culture
Barry Blevins talked about using Positive Peer Culture. He said it worked better than the familiar peer pressure method. He contended that behavioral rules were counterproductive. They took away the focus from the emotional healing process. These rules could easily mask erratic behavior patterns. By not hiding behind such a formal authoritarian structure, it was so much easier for everyone to begin addressing the real problems.
Through positive peer culture, students remind their fellow students about the agreements. This takes the burden off the staff, and removes the threat of a power struggle. The result is that students feel empowered. They feel as if they have chosen to do something, rather than feeling that something has been imposed upon them. Students understand their own acting-out behavior better when an intervention occurs from fellow students. In this scenario, adults play a peripheral role, as facilitators instead of authoritarian controllers. The role of staff was not to punish.
Liz McGhee, the co-host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens had once worked for Barry. She added to the discussion on using positive peer culture. She said that students had to understand that they were there to share their care and concern for their colleagues.
The radio show is hosted by Lon Woodbury. He is an Independent Educational Consultant. He is the founder of Struggling Teens and the publisher of Woodbury Reports. He has worked with families in crisis for many years as they cope with their struggling teens, and has been in the business since 1984. Meanwhile, the co-host of the show, Elizabeth McGhee,has more than 19 years of clinical, consulting and referral relations experience with teens. She is the Director of Admissions for Sandhill Child Development Center, New Mexico.
About Barry Blevins
Barry Blevins has run High Frontier, the treatment center in West Texas, for more than 27 years. He graduated from Sul Ross State University with a Masters of Public Administration then later qualified to become a licensed child care administrator in the State of Texas.
The Many Advantages of Using Positive Peer Culture
Barry Blevins talked about using Positive Peer Culture. He said it worked better than the familiar peer pressure method. He contended that behavioral rules were counterproductive. They took away the focus from the emotional healing process. These rules could easily mask erratic behavior patterns. By not hiding behind such a formal authoritarian structure, it was so much easier for everyone to begin addressing the real problems.
Through positive peer culture, students remind their fellow students about the agreements. This takes the burden off the staff, and removes the threat of a power struggle. The result is that students feel empowered. They feel as if they have chosen to do something, rather than feeling that something has been imposed upon them. Students understand their own acting-out behavior better when an intervention occurs from fellow students. In this scenario, adults play a peripheral role, as facilitators instead of authoritarian controllers. The role of staff was not to punish.
Liz McGhee, the co-host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens had once worked for Barry. She added to the discussion on using positive peer culture. She said that students had to understand that they were there to share their care and concern for their colleagues.
About the Author:
Learn more about Lon Woodbury on Struggling Teens. He has recorded the entire interview on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio show for people to listen to at any time.
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