RENEW
Youth with emotional and behavioral challenges dropout of high school at rates 5 time higher than other students, utilize community mental health services, are incarcerated and in the juvenile justice system, and use other public services at alarmingly high rates. Interventions are needed for this population of youth that focus on high school success and graduation, planning for and linkages with post high school activities such as employment and education, and support to develop self-determination and self-advocacy skills. RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural supports, Education, and Work) is a structured facilitated planning and support process for youth who are struggling in school, at home, and in their communities. Developed in 1996 by staff at the Institute on Disability and Keene State College, the model is being provided by school staffs, community mental health centers, community-based providers, and University research project staff members. The Institute on Disability has developed a RENEW manual, a structured curriculum, planning process and outcome assessment tools, tools for school-to-career planning, person-centered planning, individualized team development and facilitation, a Youth Portfolio, and a fidelity of implementation tool. RENEW projects include training for community-based organization and school staff members, model research and evaluation, and consultation on implementation of the model.
The RENEW Model
RENEW has been found to be a practice with strong positive outcomes for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, including high rates of high school completion, high rates of employment, and high rates of post-secondary education (Bullis & Cheney, 1999; Hagner, Cheney, & Malloy, 1999). More recently, RENEW has been found to have positive clinical effects (Malloy, Sundar, Hagner, Pierias, & Viet, 2010; Wells, Malloy, & Cormier, 2006). The key features of the RENEW model are (a) self determination, reflected in the personal futures planning process, (b) creative and individualized school-to-career services including work-based learning, school-based learning, and connecting activities, (c) unconditional service provision and supports, (d) strengths-based service provision, (e) an emphasis on building relationships and linkages in the community (natural supports), (f) flexible resource development and funding, (g) wraparound team development, and (h) workplace or career-related mentoring. RENEW Facilitators focus on personal futures planning, knowledge of community resources, resource development and community resource mapping, team building and facilitation, counseling, secondary transition planning and special education rules and policies, flexible education programming (internships, independent study, and work-study, among others), naturally supported employment, and crisis management. Four goals guide the work of the RENEW facilitator: (1) high school completion, (2) employment, (3) post-secondary education and training, and (4) community integration.
RENEW Facilitator’s Manual is available for purchase at the IOD Bookstore.
The Youth Portfolio is available for download.