The Second Mile

1
The Second Mile

• Programs and Services

2
Mission
The Second Mile challenges young people to
achieve their potential as individuals and
community members by providing opportunities for
them to develop positive life skills and
self-esteem, as well as by providing education
and support for parents and professionals addressi
ng the needs of youth.
3
Overview

• Prevention Programs
• Nittany Lion Tips
• PreventionEducation Awareness for Kids (PEAK)
• Leadership Institute
• Early Intervention Programs
• Challenge
• Friend
• Friend Fitness
• Community-based Services
• Foster Family Support
• Childrens Scholarship Fund
• Counseling and Referral Services

4
Prevention Programs
Nittany Lion Tips PEAK Program Leadership
Institute
5
Nittany Lion Tips
It can be tough to deal with the many tests
encountered in life. Its important to remember
the way you handle difficult situations
demonstrates your strength and character. As a
kid, I was confronted with a lot of challenges. I
learned that, although I didnt always have
control over what happened to me, I did have the
power to decide how I was going to react. I
decided to react with a positive
attitude. Staying optimistic and motivated is
something I strive to do daily. It gets
frustrating and sometimes it feels easier to give
up, but, believe me, you have to keep fighting!
Never quit, and, eventually, positive things will
happen. -- Jimmy Kennedy
6
Program Goal
To support and motivate youngsters in upper
elementary and middle school in discussing and
addressing issues of normal development.
7
Target Population

• Students in upper elementary and middle school
  grades
• Those dealing with issues of normal development
  and/or
• Those coping with specific learning, emotional or
  behavioral challenges

8
Intervention

• Sports trading cards featuring Penn State
  athletes, offering Nittany Lion Tipsshort
  motivational messages from the athletes (2
  editions per school year)
• Facilitators Guide with implementation
  suggestions and activity sheets for use with
  students

9
Outcomes

• Each set distributed to an average of 115
  students (and as many as 500 students)
• 60 male, 40 female
• Counselors report the program is most useful in
• Meeting established goals
• Rewarding positive behavior
• Recognizing significant achievements or
  milestones
• Acting as a discussion starter or focusing
  discussion
• Providing a token of support during a difficult
  time

Zinn, L.F. (2003). The Second Miles Nittancy
Lion Tips Program 2002-2003. Unpublished paper.
10
Outcomes

• Counselors tell us--
• Kids light up when they see them!
• Students are willing to work toward card as a
  goal.
• (It) helps students understand difficult concepts
  when they hear it from an athlete.
• I use them with our caught caring program kids
  can be caught every day.
• (The cards) promote females as good as guys and
  that both sexes are accomplished.

Zinn, L.F. (2003). The Second Miles Nittancy
Lint Tips Program 2002-2003. Unpublished paper.
11
School Counselor Ratings
Zinn, L.F. (2003). The Second Miles Nittancy
Lint Tips Program 2002-2003. Unpublished paper.
12
PEAK(Prevention, Education Awareness for Kids
Video Module I The Choice of Champions Video
Module II FlowThe River Within Play Kit I No
Bullying Allowed!
13
Program Goal
To provide students engaging and interactive
vehicles for focusing discussion and promoting
behavior change around important issues of normal
development.
14
Target Population

• Students in upper elementary and middle school
  grades
• Those dealing with issues of normal development
  and/or
• Those coping with specific issues related to the
  content of the modules

15
Intervention

• Two videotaped modules with facilitators guides
• Choice of Champions Dealing with peer pressure
• FlowThe River Within Enhancing self-esteem
• One play kit with facilitators guide
• No Bullying Allowed! Addressing bullying in
  schools

16
Outcomes Video Modules

• Choice of Champions
• Rated very effective in helping students
• Understand the concept of peer pressure
• Recognize and counteract peer pressure in their
  lives
• FlowThe River Within
• Rated excellent or very good by 78 of
  respondents
• Rated effective in helping students
• Understand the concept of flow
• Identify flow experiences in their own lives

• Data from evaluations of Choice of Champions and
  FlowThe River Within conducted by The Second
  Mile

17
Outcomes Play Kit Module

• No Bullying Allowed! given an overall mean rating
  of 4.14 on scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
• Nearly 90 of respondents said program was very
  or highly effective in helping youngsters
  identify and use anti-bullying strategies
• Data show significant changes in
• Percentage of all bullying incidents reported to
  adults
• Number and severity of bullying incidents
• Student use of appropriate strategies to deal
  with bullying in and out of school

• Zinn, L.F. (2004). Use of the PEAK Play Kit No
  Bullying Allowed! A pre- and post-implementation
  survey study. Unpublished paper.

18
The Second MileLeadership Institute
19
Program Goal
To develop student leadership and teamwork skills
and to support implementation of action plans to
improve schools and/or communities.
20
Target Population

• Students and educators from schools in all
  regions of the state
• Teams of high school sophomores that reflect the
  diversity of their schools
• Faculty mentors willing to provide encouragement
  and support during the Institute and throughout
  the follow-up year

21
Intervention

• Annual 4-day Institute held in State College
• Comprehensive curriculum which includes
• Personal team member and leadership styles
• Teambuilding
• Teamwork skills
• Interpersonal communication
• Problem identification and solving
• Conflict resolution and decision making
• Project development and action planning
• Specialized training and support for mentors
• Follow-up and support during project
  implementation

22
Two-year Follow-up Outcomes

• Student data show positive impact on
• Knowledge and use of leadership skills
• Involvement in school activities
• Attitudes toward their schools
• Academic work
• Future plans
• Mentor data show positive impact on
• Knowledge and use of leadership skills
• Knowledge and use of team-building and teamwork
• Involvement in other school improvement efforts

Zinn, L.F. (2003). The Second Mile Leadership
Insitutes 2000 and 2001 A comparison of two-year
follow-up evaluation data. Unpublished paper.
23
Immediate Outcomes

• Mean rating by students of 4.19 on scale of 1
  (poor) to 5 (excellent)
• Students said Institute helped most in
• Teaching importance of teamwork and their
  valuable roles as team members
• Enhancing social skills, ability to meet new
  people, and becoming less shy
• Teaching students about themselves
• Helping students take leadership roles and become
  better leaders
• Learning to work with people unlike them

24
Early InterventionPrograms
Challenge Program Friend Program Friend Fitness
25
Challenge Program
Challenge Program SMILE (Second Mile Intensive
Learning Experience) Leaders Program
26
Program Goal
To promote academic, behavioral, and social
success for youngsters dealing with challenging
circumstances.
27
Target Population

• Students dealing with challenging circumstances
  who are in need of extra support in their lives
• New referrals
• Boys and girls, ages 8-12
• Returning participants
• Boys and girls, ages 9-15 (depending on the
  specific program)
• Must have made significant progress on personal,
  academic and service goals during the school year

28
Intervention

• Six-day residential programs targeted to level of
  prior Challenge Program experience
• Structured curriculum using high-interest
  recreational activities to promote increased
  personal and school success, including
• Better understanding of themselves and others
• Pro-social and healthy living behaviors and
  attitudes
• Year-round follow-up and support for personal,
  academic, and service goal attainment

29
Outcomes Assessment of Liability and Exposure to
Substance Abuse and Antisocial Behavior (ALEXSA)

• Analyses indicate participants were
• Achieving better academically
• Experiencing lower levels of depression
• Committing more strongly to school
• Engaging in more effective problem-solving
  behaviors
• Resorting to maladaptive anger coping behaviors
  less frequently

Reid, M.A. and E.E. Reid (2006). Initial
Results from the ALEXSA on Challenge Program
Participants Risk and Protective Factors.
Unpublished paper. Pennsylvania State
University.
30
Outcomes Challenge Program Parent Survey 2006

• Parents/guardians reported that, following
  participation in the program, participants
• Engage in positive academic behaviors
• Had improved grades
• Infrequently engage in problem behaviors
• More frequently follow house rules
• Frequently display indications of
  self-confidence, coping skills, and positive
  relationships

Reid, M.A. and E.E. Reid (2007). Evaluation of
the Challenge Program Results from the Challenge
Program Parent Survey. Unpublished paper.
Pennsylvania State University.
31
Outcomes Returning Participants 2004
Notes Distinguished and High Honors Certificates
are awarded based on mean ratings by school
counselors on their Participant Evaluations
submitted as part of the application packet.
Community Service Certificates are awarded to
those participants returning verification of
completion of their community service goals.
32
Outcomes What Participants and School
Counselors Say
Im doing great on my goals Ive accomplished
more than I thought I would. My teacher is
working a lot to help me achieve my goals.
--Participant
Thank you for the wonderful experience you have
provided for my students. They have benefited
tremendously from their involvement with The
Second Mile. --Elementary school
counselor
(My student) couldnt wait to fill me in on her
week at the program. Thanks for all you do to
help kids. --Middle school counselor
I have been doing better in school since I went
to Challenge. You guys gave me a lot of
courage. --Participant
It was the best week of my life! --Participant
33
Friend Program
Centre Region (PSU-Univ. Park) Blair/Huntingdon
Counties (PSU-Altoona) Clinton County (Lock Haven
U.) Lancaster County (Millersville U.) Southeast
Region (Villanova U.) Lehigh Valley (Muhlenberg
and Cedar Crest Colleges)
34
Program Goal
To provide positive adult role models to promote
academic, behavioral, and social success for
youngsters dealing with challenging circumstances.
35
Target Population

• Kindergarten through grade 6 students
• Needing support and positive adult role models
  due to
• Changing family circumstances
• Difficulties with academic or social issues
• Geographic isolation
• Financial hardship and/or
• Lack of adult support and guidance

36
Intervention

• Scheduled events throughout the school year
  (number of events varies by site)
• Meaningful relationships between individual Young
  Friends and College Friend mentors
• Structured curriculum incorporating recreation
  and social interaction, which includes
• Reinforcement of pro-social behaviors
• Exposure to diverse careers and cultures
• Community service
• Individual goal-setting and implementation

37
Outcomes

• College Friends evaluations of Young Friends
  showed significant changes during the course of
  one program year
• Fulfills basic social conventions
• Displays comfort and confidence in new situations
• Expresses needs, wants, and feelings clearly and
  appropriately
• Interacts well with age peers
• Interacts well with adults
• Makes positive statements about school experience
• Shows enthusiasm about helping others during
  events

Zinn, L.F. (2003). The Second Mile Friend
Program Centre region 2002-2003. Unpublished
paper.
38
Friend FitnessProgram
State College Chester County
Clinton County
39
Program Goal
To provide positive adult role models to promote
academic, behavioral, personal fitness, and
social success for adolescents dealing with
challenging circumstances.
40
Target Population

• Males and females, ages 11-17
• Individuals with potential for success but in
  need of additional support due to
• Significant changes in life circumstances
• Difficulties with social issues
• Problems with school attendance, academic
  performance, or behavior
• Financial hardship and/or
• Lack of adult support and guidance

41
Intervention

• Year-round program
• Workouts twice per week under direct guidance of
  mentor
• Individualized goal-setting and monitoring
• Positive reinforcement for attendance, effort,
  and goal attainment
• Celebrations of individual and group
  accomplishments

42
Outcomes

• Relative to comparison marking period one year
  ago (or just prior to program entrance)
• 65 improved school attendance or maintained
  perfect attendance
• 75 reduced unexcused absences or maintained
  perfect records
• 88 improved average of all grades
• 71 improved average of grades on core courses
  (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science)

Zinn, L.F. (2004). The Second Mile Friend
Fitness program Participant school attendance
and performance. Unpublished paper.
43
Outcomes

• Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• Enhanced social skills
• Improved academic performance
• Increased ability to set and achieve short- and
  long-term goals
• Positive physical changes

Galbavy, R. (2004). Influences on the
effectiveness of mentoring at-risk youth.
Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of
Hawaii.
44
Community-BasedServices
Foster Family Support Childrens Scholarship
Fund Counseling and Referral Services
45
Foster Family Support
46
Program Goal
To recruit new foster parents and to recognize
and retain current foster parents and their
families.
47
Target Population

• Foster parents and their families
• Foster children
• Birth parents needing supervised settings for
  visitations
• Children and Youth Agencies across the
  Commonwealth

48
Intervention

• In partnership with Pennsylvania businesses,
• Recreational opportunities for foster children
  and their families
• Recognition of foster parents reaching service
  milestones
• Production and distribution of public service
  announcements to Children and Youth agencies to
  recruit new foster parents

49
Outcomes

• Benefits to foster children
• Opportunities for educational and recreational
  activities
• Mutual support and sharing of experiences
• Opportunities for structured visits with birth
  families
• Benefits to foster families
• Mutual support and sharing of experiences
• Recognition of foster parents efforts

Without The Second Mile, we just wouldnt have
the budget to do the things that were able to do
for our Foster Families. Weve always counted on
The Second Mile. Its always there for us.
-- Lisa Bednarchik (County Foster Family
Coordinator)
Zinn, L.F. (2005). The Second Miles Foster
Family Support Program Program Evaluation..
Unpublished paper.
50
Childrens Scholarship Fund
51
Program Goals
To provide recognition and support for youth,
enabling them to meet immediate needs and achieve
long-term goals.
52
Target Population

• Childrens Fund grants
• Youngsters up to age 18 needing small financial
  (usually 50) grants for specific needs
• Post-Secondary Scholarship Program
• Current or past Second Mile program participants
  planning to attend or attending post-secondary
  institutions
• Community Service Awards
• Graduating high school seniors with demonstrated
  commitment to community service in select areas
  with Second Mile Chapters or Affiliates

53
Outcomes What Students Say
The scholarship has helped so much Without The
Second Mile, I would still be in Philadelphia
looking for my star.
My father lost his job, and I wasnt sure Id
have enough money to get through school. Thank
you for your support in helping me achieve my
goal.
The Second Mile was a great place to interact
with other children. I am a more outgoing person
and this is partly due to my experience in the
Friend Program. I plan to get a B.S. in
biobehavioral health and a second degree in
nursing.
Without your gift, my dream of becoming a teacher
would not be possible!
Without the support of The Second Mile, I would
not be able to afford my education at Lycoming
College. Your ongoing support proves to me that
there are generous people out there who care
about the future of Americas next generation.
54
Counseling and Referral Services
55
Program Goals
To provide direct services and/or links to
resources supporting youth and families in need.
56
Target Population

• Youth in central Pennsylvania, who are in need of
  therapeutic support and unable to obtain that
  support elsewhere
• Youth and their families across the Commonwealth,
  who are in need of referrals to appropriate human
  services agencies

57
Intervention

• Individual and family counseling to support youth
  in developing self-confidence, coping strategies,
  and interpersonal skills
• Referrals to providers which connect youth and
  families in need to appropriate programs and
  services

58
Outcomes What Parents Say
My son was really struggling making the
transition from one school to another. His school
grades and attendance were suffering, and he was
very withdrawn and unhappy. We saw, and my son
experienced, real changes as a result of
counseling. He ended the school year
successfully and in much better spirits.
When we found out our daughter had some
significant health issues, we werent sure where
to turn. We appreciated your connecting us with
The Special Kids Network. They had information
about many different resources all in one place.
59
Community Education
60
Program Goals
To provide education and training for parents,
professionals, and youth in unique ways not
covered by the traditional nine programs.
61
Target Population

• Professionals Working with Youth
• Trainings, materials, and other support to aid
  them in their work. Includes TSM serving as Act
  48 provider, making some programs (Challenge,
  Leadership) more attractive to educators as they
  earn state-required continuing education credits
  for their participation
• Parents
• Presentations, public forums, and media (e.g.
  fathering column in Centre Daily Times)

62
Target Population (continued)

• Children Youth
• Special events and trainings, often at the
  request of schools
• Community at Large
• Through participation in consortiums like Council
  for Human Services and Communities That Care, TSM
  provides programs and services to a wide array of
  Pennsylvanians

63
The Second Mile

• Offering 9 distinct programs in the following
  areas
• Prevention
• Early Intervention
• Community-based Services
• Providing help and hope to Pennsylvania youth and
  their families

64
(No Transcript)
65
The Second Mile

• Programs and Services