At the time of writing of this blog, the date is 6 December 2013. The year that was 2013 has all but whizzed by with the thundering velocity of six white boomers, legs and tails thumping with gusto to pull jolly Saint Nick across the starlit evening sky. Summer storm season is well and truly here in Brisbane, with every day of sweltering heat and unbearable humidity rewarded in the afternoon by the roar of thunder, the crackle of lightning and pitter patter of tropical rain. But mother nature's light and sound spectacular isn't the only event of note at this time of year. December marks the end of the school year for many and for some, such as year 12s, the end of their schooling career. What lies on the other side of 'schoolies' week is the bright, busy, and beautiful world of adulthood.
Adulthood, much like the earlier stages of one's life, is peppered with stressors be they social, environmental, economic or otherwise. It is argued that individuals are exposed to more stressors than ever before with astronomical advances in information and communications technology bringing news of war, famine, disease and fear to the forefront of daily life for children and adults alike. Some stressors are unavoidable and, therefore, the ability to cope with stressors and, more specifically, the resulting stress can make a tremendous difference to the quality of life enjoyed by individuals post-adolescence. The literature points to social and emotional skills' programs as the best way for individuals to learn these coping skills.
Here at Pathways, the FRIENDS Programs (developed by Professor Paula Barrett) are run each school term and each school holiday to equip children, teenagers and parents with the skills they need to cope with the stress they are bound to encounter in their lives. The ability to cope is more commonly referred to as being resilient. Professor Barrett developed the FRIENDS Programs into four age-appropriate modules that contextualise the evidence-based social and emotional learning skills proven to result in resilience building. For a time, the only way people could participate in the evidence-based FRIENDS Programs was by attending Pathways Health and Research Centre in Brisbane. However, once the research started to pile up about the effectiveness of the FRIENDS Programs, Governments from around the world started to develop a keen interest in not only social and emotional learning, but in making social and emotional learning a part of the education curriculum. For example, in New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland the FRIENDS Programs are being rolled out in schools as both a universal prevention and as a selected intervention. Professor Barrett is a firm believer in using the FRIENDS Programs as universal prevention and the literature supports this.
2013 has seen a number of new licensed partners join the international FRIENDS family. Over the last 12 months, Professor Paula Barrett has had interest from parties in Denmark, India, Iceland, the USA, the UK, Portugal and more. Researchers from Universities around the world have also come on board and there are a number of active studies in a number of cultures at present.
If 2013 is anything to go by, 2014 will be a year filled with exciting advancements and opportunities for the FRIENDS Programs and for individuals around the globe to get involved, build resilience and learn proven social and emotional skills.
Be smart, be brave, be yourself.
Adulthood, much like the earlier stages of one's life, is peppered with stressors be they social, environmental, economic or otherwise. It is argued that individuals are exposed to more stressors than ever before with astronomical advances in information and communications technology bringing news of war, famine, disease and fear to the forefront of daily life for children and adults alike. Some stressors are unavoidable and, therefore, the ability to cope with stressors and, more specifically, the resulting stress can make a tremendous difference to the quality of life enjoyed by individuals post-adolescence. The literature points to social and emotional skills' programs as the best way for individuals to learn these coping skills.
Here at Pathways, the FRIENDS Programs (developed by Professor Paula Barrett) are run each school term and each school holiday to equip children, teenagers and parents with the skills they need to cope with the stress they are bound to encounter in their lives. The ability to cope is more commonly referred to as being resilient. Professor Barrett developed the FRIENDS Programs into four age-appropriate modules that contextualise the evidence-based social and emotional learning skills proven to result in resilience building. For a time, the only way people could participate in the evidence-based FRIENDS Programs was by attending Pathways Health and Research Centre in Brisbane. However, once the research started to pile up about the effectiveness of the FRIENDS Programs, Governments from around the world started to develop a keen interest in not only social and emotional learning, but in making social and emotional learning a part of the education curriculum. For example, in New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland the FRIENDS Programs are being rolled out in schools as both a universal prevention and as a selected intervention. Professor Barrett is a firm believer in using the FRIENDS Programs as universal prevention and the literature supports this.
2013 has seen a number of new licensed partners join the international FRIENDS family. Over the last 12 months, Professor Paula Barrett has had interest from parties in Denmark, India, Iceland, the USA, the UK, Portugal and more. Researchers from Universities around the world have also come on board and there are a number of active studies in a number of cultures at present.
If 2013 is anything to go by, 2014 will be a year filled with exciting advancements and opportunities for the FRIENDS Programs and for individuals around the globe to get involved, build resilience and learn proven social and emotional skills.
Be smart, be brave, be yourself.
