Resiliency
PARENT COFFEE
PRESENTED BY:
MANTUA ES STUDENT SERVICES TEAM
OCTOBER 27, 2014
What is Resiliency?
 Resiliency is the inner strength/capacity to overcome
adversity by responding in healthy, competent, and
successful ways, day after day, with challenges and
demands that one might encounter
 Resilient youth possess a set of common assets or
internal protective factors
Developmental Assets of Resiliency
 Social competence – communication skills, empathy,
humor, working cooperatively, etc.
 Problem-solving – decision making, critical thinking,
creativity, etc.
 Self-Awareness and Control – impulse control, self-
esteem, independence, self-monitoring behavior
 Initiative – setting goals, motivation, persistence
Building
resiliency
Increase Pro-Social Bonding
 Providing youth with positive connections with their
peers and adults
Positive bond with at least one caring, trusted adult
 Cooperative peer-to-peer connections
 Participation in extracurricular activities

Set Clear, Consistent Boundaries
 Provide youth with clear rules on behavior
expectations
Collaboratively designing clear behavioral expectations
 Knowledge of developmentally appropriate expectations
 Appropriate and consistent consequences

Teach Life Skills
 Providing youth with independent skills to navigate
life’s challenges
Social, problem-solving and coping skills
 Making healthy choices
 Appropriate modeling of pro-social behavior

Provide Caring and Support
 Providing youth unconditional positive regard and
encouragement
Kindness and encouragement
 Celebration of successes
 Sense of community belonging

Set and Communicate High Expectations
 Providing youth with the understanding that they
can be successful
Goal setting
 Positive thinking and belief in oneself
 Plan for educational and vocational endeavors

Provide Opportunities for
Meaningful Participation
 Providing youth with the responsibility and chance
to demonstrate their competence and eagerness to
contribute
Collaborative voice in decision-making
 Community service and volunteering
 Leadership roles

Questions, Comments, Concerns?
Reference
 Henderson, N. & Milstein, M. (2003). Resiliency in
Schools: Making it Happen for Students and
Educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.