Helping our youth discover their gifts, passions and confidence is a shared responsibility. It is a journey for each individual adolescent as well as the system supporting them. We long to offer support to enhance the ways your community offers adolescents the encouragement, safety, and resources they need to cope with the challenges they are facing. As these needs are met, adolescents may also discover the amazing gifts they carry and may contribute in powerful new ways to a healthy future.
Systemic approach
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” -Leo Buscaglia
A healthy environment is formed by many simple and caring acts multiplying one another. Megan Miller has thoughtfully designed the Empowering Youth & Communities program to invest not only in the youth you interact with, but also in the network of people that support them.
School
- Supporting Staff to promote well-being to maximize students ability to flourish in and out of the classroom
- Identify community resources and a team committed to promoting wellbeing in ongoing ways
Adolescents
- Engage and Train peer leaders
- Promote student-led connection and support
- Create a team of adults who support peer leaders
Parents /community
- Continue to build resources and allies in the community
- Identify community partners that are committed to supporting youth
empowering youth & Communities program
To kick off the Empowering Youth & Communities program, Megan offers a time of interaction with those who are longing to strengthen your systems of support. This time will be spent identifying current strengths and desires for growth to support the youth in your community. As your team identies existing local support resources, Megan will help leverage proven practices and her experiences as a licensed marriage and family therapist to identify your priorities and how to best proceed as you continue to create supportice connections with youth that decrease risky behaviors and set them on a path to success.
A team of supportive adults will be identified and trained in their role as supportive adults. Youth will engage in interactive experiences and peer leaders will be identified and trained to offer space for others within their community. Peer leaders will be strengthened and empowered to offer activities to get other students engaged and connected with others students within their community. These connections provide the opporutnity to be seen and celebrated in new ways.
Megan will provide space for other adult groups to get educated and involved in supporting your community priorities for youth and create more space for that movement toward more connection to expand and continue to be supported.
This format is designed to promote ongoing discussions and opportunities for added support. The commitment to continue to build connections and interactions among students and their communities is a process that is unique to each community. Success is celebrated and continued to be built upon reoccurring experiences throughout the year.
Megan will provide support as you continue to develop and uncover how to sustain and maximize the benefits of this program. If there are additional questions and discussions that are sparked that are not fulfilled within these offerings, Megan is also available for ongoing consultation.
Impact
Bringing together and organizing support for our most valuable resource is time well spent! The Empowering Youth and Their Communities program strives to empower your community realize the opportunities they have to provide environments where students feel safe and seen. This program also offers the tools needed to share the responsibility to support students that will promote their overall health, which also positively impacts their ability to learn.
As students experience affirmation and know that their community is a place where others are invested in their wellbeing, their brains will be able to relax and grow in powerful new ways. By drawing on the passion and commitment of your community, organizing available resources, and empowering people with a plan for helping those who need support, everyone benefits!
About Megan
Megan Miller, a licensed marriage and family therapist and current school board member in her community, is honored to walk with you to discover how to form consistent opportunities to pour into and encourage the adolescents you engage with through our Empowering Youth & Communities program.
Megan has a passion for empowering others to find the hope and unique gifts within their own story. She is passionate about interacting with a variety of audiences including those navigating grief, overall health, as well as celebrating the unique gifts we each bring.
In addition to customized group retreats and retreats that are open to the public she works to promote healing and safe spaces with the horses of Restoration Ranch and other professionals.
Testimonial
“When Megan started speaking and everyone in the room was watching with steadfast attention. The presentation was amazing as it started with her story and ended with her “counseling/comforting” everyone in the room that has gone through struggles.
“I have asked Megan to tell her story at two separate events over the years in Sioux Falls and will ask her again! After both events, the response from the attendees was extremely positive. Many wanted her name and contact information. I am excited for the ways Megan continues to spread her encouraging words through her work with Restoration Ranch!”
Mark Schlueter
Wealth Advisor, Thrivent, Sioux Falls, SD*Image sources: neeadvantage.com (teachers), www.timeanddate.com (youth), www.texaschildrens.org (parents)