DHHS

Positive Youth Development Programs at Daniel Hand High School

Peer Advocates

This program trains students to be resources to their fellow peers.  The 11 week training focuses on self-awareness, communication skills, crisis intervention, and knowledge of available resources. Following the training, monthly “Alumni” meetings are held with all members. 

These trained Peer Advocates learn to respond effectively when their fellow students experience a wide range of difficulties, and they receive valuable coaching in connecting vulnerable peers to appropriate resources. If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto

Reach Out

 September

“Reach Out” is a welcome/orientation program run by Madison Youth & Family Services’ Peer Advocates in collaboration with the Daniel Hand High School Department of Guidance and Counseling.  “Reach Out” is a student-to-student project conceived of and organized to ease the transition to a new school for students coming to DHHS from other towns, other schools and other school systems.  Peer Advocates facilitate this group.

Boys Council Group

Boys Council provides boys with a space to learn and practice skills that will help them in school, sports, and home life. These skills contribute to their development into respected young males within their school and community. Topics covered include healthy competition, active listening, boys and their emotions, technology, and media portrayal of males, and more. Lessons adapted from One Circle Foundation’s, Boy’s Council Program. 

Community Service

This program trains students each summer, who are then invited to participate in a variety of community service events throughout the community.  If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto

Roots

Roots is a student-led group that empowers youth to grow, strengthen, and support one another and their community. By welcoming all students, roots enables members to advocate, lead, and engage in important issues through creating a caring and positive culture. If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto 

Safe Rides

 PROGRAM ON HOLD DUE TO COVID

Safe Rides is a confidential, student-to-student transportation service, which operates on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. during the school year. 

The primary purpose of Safe Rides is to keep people alive and safe by providing a safe ride home. A safe-Rides program focuses on an extremely high need to keep our friends and other drivers on the road safe when either their parents or another responsible party is not available to drive them home. Not only has the Safe-Rides program been used to prevent drunk driving, but also for a variety of reasons such as teens that need a safe ride home from work ranging from their ride having had too much to drink at a party, to a parent returning from a night out who may be under the influence and needing to get the babysitter home. If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto


Grade 9

QPR

Takes place in Health classes at hand

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. 

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:

•    Recognize the warning signs of suicide

•    Know how to offer hope

•    Know how to get help and save a life

9th grade sexual and gender identity

Discussion on nature verses nurture addressing that many parts of who we are can be neither or both, and addressing binaries and discussion on the spectrum of gender, sexuality, attraction, and presentation.

Grade 11

11th grade “Guy Talk”

Guy talk is a two class open discussion with young men about stereotypes, violence, pornography, leadership and more. 

Day 1 focuses on these topics directly. 

Day 2 is an opportunity for the 11th grade students to ask anonymous questions about anything discussed on day one or anything they’d like to discuss. Popular questions include topics such as college, relationships, drugs and alcohol, and mental health.

11th grade “Girl Talk” 

This open discussion format offers an opportunity for the 11th grade students to ask anonymous questions about anything they’d like to discuss. Popular questions include topics such as college, relationships, drugs and alcohol, sex, and mental health.

Girls United

This is a high school girls group that provides a safe environment to talk about current events, issues that girls face daily.  This group is a structured group for girls; it integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills 

training in a specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence in girls. If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto.

G.A.S.P (Gender and Sexualities Program)

Dedicated to providing a forum for confidential conversations about a variety of issues including homophobia, family, sexual identity, how to support friends, where to find information, and raise awareness of issues faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.  If you are interested in this program please contact Erin Corbett.

High Five Mentoring ✋

This program matches K-3rd graders with highly-motivated, well qualified high school students to provide guidance and positive role modeling.  Each high school mentor has to complete a mentor training before participating in the program.  Jeffrey students are referred by staff at Jeffrey school.

Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset. 

If you are interested in this program please contact Melissa Balletto.

Source: MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership

Mentoring Matters

This program matches 4th and 5th graders with highly-motivated, well qualified high school students to provide guidance and positive role modeling. Within the bounds of this positive peer relationship and through mutuality of experience, all young people are given further opportunity to thrive and expand their horizons.

Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset. 

Source: MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership

Choices

High School students go to an 8th grade health class to review high school scenarios and answer 8th graders questions about high school. These visits happen once per trimester to each 8th grade health class.

Community Service Training (Summer Program)

This training is available to students in 7th-12th grade that are interested in becoming more involved in and connected to their community. Once the training is complete, students will have the opportunity to volunteer at various locations. 


Email Melissa Balletto ballettom@madisonct.org for more information.