Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2021/support-groups-for-physically-and-sexually-abused-teens https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens

Additional Information
Used for	Funds will be used to underwrite the more than $32,000 cost of Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens. This ongoing program is facilitated by a licensed therapist and follows a structured curriculum. Groups—one for boys and another for girls—provide emotional support and reduce trauma to teens victimized by severe physical and sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
Benefits	Teens involved in these groups become better equipped to deal with the myriad problems that occur after experiencing physical and sexual trauma or sex trafficking. Groups help victims become survivors and end the cycle of abuse. Groups also help prevent teens from getting into abusive relationships, becoming sexually trafficked, turning to prostitution, or engaging in other criminal behavior. It gives teens a way to share their problems openly and honestly, receive help, and acquire tools needed to navigate adult life.
Proposal Description	The Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens is facilitated by a licensed therapists and follows a structured curriculum. The groups provide emotional support and lessens the trauma to teens who have been the victims of severe physical and sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Teens involved in these groups become better equipped to deal with the myriad problems that occur after experiencing such trauma. Groups help victims become survivors and end the cycle of abuse. The Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens are the only such support groups in Nueces County. “A Peer Support Group is an intervention that leverages shared experience to foster trust, decrease stigma, and create a sustainable forum for seeking help and sharing information about support resources and positive coping strategies” (Money, et al., 2011). The Support Groups for Physically and Sexually Abused Teens brings together teens of similar ages and offers them a chance to cope better and feel less isolated as they connect with others facing similar challenges. Teens have an opportunity to learn and practice a new skill each week while sharing their experiences. This may result in a sense of empowerment by helping a peer while building self-confidence and strength. According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of participating in a support group may include: feeling less lonely, isolated, or judged; gaining a sense of empowerment and control; improving coping skills and a sense of adjustment; talking openly and honestly about feelings; and reducing distress, depression, and anxiety (2015). In addition, “Group work can promote self-esteem, reduce resistance, and diffuse feelings of differentness and shame” (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). As facilitators, we have seen a shift in the comfort levels of teens who attend the groups, allowing them to realize the commonalities among their peers, creating a bond and increasing self-confidence. To facilitate and provide a welcoming forum for engaging discussion, support groups typically include no more than 10 individuals, including the facilitators, and meet on a regular schedule (Money, et al., 2011). Based on feedback of members and parents, creating smaller groups has benefitted members. There are limited options for this population in our community. Participants evaluate themselves in pre and post-tests to see how the program has changed their attitudes toward self-esteem, relationships, and coping skills. At the end of the eight-week session, they complete a written evaluation of the program. We hope to provide five eight-week sessions in 2022.