NEWBURGH – Thirteen professional advocates for Newburgh youth held a two-hour roundtable discussion at Newburgh Free Library on Thursday night. The meeting was designed to present to the concerned public an overview of the dozen or so programs they have instituted to help their youth, and specifically to stop violence before it starts.
There have been several instances of fights breaking out in the halls and bathrooms at the two Newburgh Free Academy campuses in recent weeks, in some cases, prompting Newburgh City Police patrols and heightening security at the schools.
Discussion included one of the most successful programs they have implemented school-wide – social-emotional training that can help youth recognize their emotions and learn to self- regulate tension before a situation becomes violent.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Michael Regan oversees 60 social workers, psychologists and school counselors in the Newburgh school system who are the unofficial guardians of 11,000 Newburgh youth.
Regan said that the broad spectrum of supportive interventions may start in a student’s life as young as Pre-K by learning these self-regulating techniques. Through techniques like recognizing when anger is taking charge, taking a few moments to breathe deeply and meditate, role-playing and even virtual peace trails, these programs can set a routine for both a better quality of life and even the lives of these children.
The numbers tell the story. Statistics show that the 9th and 10th grades, when a teen’s hormones are raging, are the most troublesome years. The problems frequently lead to drug abuse. But the network of services keeps going.
School counselor Angela Donaldson said that the current most pressing issue is finding out why more youth are not involved in afterschool programs they are currently offering. Is it a transportation problem, an image issue, or what? She suggests having the teens themselves hold some roundtable discussions and “Tell us what THEY want. They will speak freely in their own group and are at an age where they want to take charge.”
Assistant Superintendent Chris Bayer said, “Learning social emotional behavior is as important as math.” The SNUG program which is now used at the Boys and Girls Club, identifies any who need additional care. SNUG spells “guns” backwards.
Orange County Commissioner of Social Services Darcie Miller praised the work of the panel members and detailed some of the ways the county is helping as well. As the afterschool programs grow there will be stimulus monies to help their success. She agreed that parental involvement is one of the keys. On the other hand, since these children were helped in many ways during the pandemic by support from the school system, and even food, it’s good to hear that many Newburgh children now feel that school is their “Safe Place,” she said.
Acting Superintendent Ed Forgit said, “There is not a night that I don’t go to bed thinking of these kids, every one of them, and wonder what else we can do for them. We can’t just talk about our successes. We need to identify the holes in the program and fix them, to find out why there are not more participants in these programs.”
He said the is looking for ideas from everyone. “It’s not just about love. It’s commitment!”
