602/585-3535 Keys to Excellence, Inc. Fall, 2000

Beyond the Nine Dots: A Season of Gratitude

As the weather changes and we move into the holiday season, we remind you and ourselves of a simple goal-- being thankful. Sometimes that simple goal can get lost. How does this happen??

For some of us, it is the rush to complete our busy agenda. Our lives can be so full of work, home, family, friends, commitments, and responsibilities that we come up for air and wonder where the day went. This can be especially so when we are planning for holiday celebrations, gifts, visits, etc.

For some of us, we have our eye so fixed on a goal, something we believe we want, or need that we forget to look at what we have. We just have to have that job, possession, person, or experience.
vFor some of us, life has presented a huge boulder or "rock slide," and all we can see is the problem or the lack of something in our lives. Financial difficulty, health issues, loss of people, things, or jobs, and unexpected changes can be overwhelming and blind us to what is working.

Got the picture?? We have been in all those places. With Ron's health challenges, there has been the possibility to get lost in any one of those traps. However, it has also been an extended opportunity to choose to live in gratitude and love.

Like anything we want to build into our lives, we must find the words, pictures, and feelings to reinforce the behavior until it is part of who we are. Living in gratitude is a daily process, not a weekend religious event. Some of the strategies that work for us may be helpful to you.

  • Pick a time when you are doing something routine and use it as a trigger to pause and reflect on what you have. It could be turning on the shower, your first cup of coffee, getting into the car. Each morning when I go outside to pick up our newspaper, I pause and take in the beautiful desert, the sky, the morning smells, and feel how wondrous nature is and praise the day.

  • Pick a symbol that comes into your sight throughout the day--a ring, a pet, a child, something on your desk, etc. I use two cardinals that routinely fly by my office and back patio. I smile when they fly by and remind myself to pause and shift my thinking.

  • Ask a loved one or friend to form a pact to ask this question: Quickly name 10 things that you are thankful for or that are working in your life. Ron and I do this for each other.

By remembering what we have and what is working, we reinforce our cycles of success. The strengthening of our self-image also enables us to take on the challenges more successfully.

We wish you a loving and peaceful autumn. We are grateful for you, your support, and the difference you make in the world.

Phyllis R. Antonelli and Ron Kuhn

BEYOND THE ROCKS!!!

Innovative Uses of KIV

Summer School Programs

Ben Franklin Junior High School, Fargo, ND

Their summer school Pathfinder's Program consists of a rope's program, KIV, and community service. Enrolled were students who were failing during the regular school year. After the 1999 class, each ninth grader earned the minimum credits required to graduate and attend high school. Shane Martin, Asst. Principal, writes that KIV is the most important component of the program. Nineteen students are enrolled for the summer of 2000.

Students Evaluate Programs

New Jersey Juvenile Justice CommissionMary Richter, Master Facilitator and Coordinator of Comprehensive Health, forwarded evaluations from students who have completed their Moving Toward Wellness Program, which includes the core curriculum of KIV. Thank you Mary for sharing this feedback. It is a great model for empowering students. Examples are:

Comments - Taught me to weigh out my options, The best class I have ever taken, Remember everything starts in your mind, I see there is hope.Most useful information - Self-talk, T-Charts, So What?, The Belief System, D and A Units, How to set goals, Family problem skits.As a result of this class, I will ...Think before acting, control my anger, use the tools, not lock on and keep the anything is possible attitude, realize the past is not my potential.
Skills Classes: Anger Management
Mohave County Juvenile ProbationBob and Betty Hare, Master Facilitators, outlined this class in their monthly KIV newsletter, "The Affirmation."



The goals of the Anger Management skills class are:
  1. To be able to identify emotions and accept them as neither bad nor good, but as comfortable or uncomfortable.
  2. To learn to recognize and accept our anger.
  3. To learn to manage our anger in an acceptable, nondestructive way.
  4. To learn to forgive ourselves and others, and let our anger go in a healthy, constructive way.
To accomplish these goals, the four weeksare divided up into the following units:

Identifying emotions: Learning to pinpoint theemotions that trigger inappropriate anger reactions. Key's concepts used: I.A.L.A.C. (I am loveable andcapable), Willy (Choice), The Past Is Not MyPotential, and Title Affirmations.

Recognizing and accepting anger: Learning whator who makes us angry, and how we react to thatanger. Key's concepts used: The R.O.N. Processand Headline Affirmations.

Managing our anger: Learning how to expressanger in a safe, appropriate way. Key's conceptsused: Gatekeeping, P.A.E.D., and FormulaAffirmations.

Putting anger management to work: Learninghow to implement the techniques and tools that havebeen taught in the previous sessions. Learning howto forgive others and ourselves so that we can move beyond the anger. Key's concept used: Forgiveness exercise.

Within each unit there are opportunities for "Handson" activities and group interaction. In the weekend KIV workshops, participants learn the basics of Keys. The juveniles in the Skills classes learn to apply these principles in their personal lives. If you want information on the innovative approaches, call the Keys, Inc. office.

KIV WORD FIND PUZZLE

S W P
B G T O O B T
P V L S W F W M Y T S
S W E O E U E E E C N T W
U G I E R N M E R E O C H T L
A S P T T S C L P T C O G F S
S S R O A N H O I H S B N U T M E
N E O E E O K E N R E Y D O N V L
M O L I W R C L G G A F V I H I Z C Z
Q I F V T C U A S S S L F T T W Z Y X
N T I A K G A T E K E E P I N G Z C U
P M H G Y X F C V C S S O M X D I
O A E U C A L A I B O K N W Y T A
G B C R V E X M P L R I T E L
E K L T C S L Z X W S N L C R
Z Y N E X T T I M E G J B
F E E D B A C K D N N
O D D T P Q V
J C N

Behaviors
Conditioning
Control
Create
Feedback
Feelings
Gate Keeping
IALAC
New Picture
Next Time
 Options
Personal Power
Positive
Power Phrase
Rocks
Self Esteem
Self Image
Self Talk
Thoughts
Note: The word find puzzle was created and contributed by Michele White, Master Facilitator, New Jersey Adult Dept. of Corrections, Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Yardville, NJ.

Grand Forks Juvenile Probation Sponsors KIV Refresher

In August authors, Ron Kuhn and Phyllis Antonelli, traveled to North Dakota to deliver a one day refresher class. Dennis Herbeck, Director of Juvenile Services, continues to chair the Grand Forks Community KIV Empowerment Team. As part of his contribution, agencies are brought together annually to share ideas and renew their commitment to KIV. Sandi Geddes, KIV coordinator for the probation office, assembled a cross section of agencies for the training. Five students from ongoing KIV classes also attended and brought a wonderful energy to the process. Sandi's creativity and planning ensured that the trainers and participants were able to teach, learn, and share ideas in a fun and meaningful way. In addition, Phyllis and Ron were able to visit a KIV class and talk with students and to be interviewed by the local TV station. A warm thank you to Dennis, Sandi, and Deb Carlson, Juvenile Supervisor, for hosting the training and providing us with another great experience in North Dakota.



Union County, New Jersey NCADD - A Model for Community Service

Over the past few years, Union County National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has provided agencies in their community with both Keys to Innervisions training and materials. Under the leadership of Diane Litterer, Executive Director, the Council has fostered continuity of care and a coalition among community providers. In August, Master Facilitators, Janis Mayer-Obermeier and Darwyn Minor, delivered the Facilitator Training to 35 participants. Julissa Vizcaino, KIV Coordinator, through her professional skill and enthusiasm, created a dynamic learning environment. Thank you Diane and Julissa for your continued commitment to enriching your community.

Using College Students As Facilitators

Nicole Leitner, Master Facilitator, Juvenile Probation, Fargo, ND shares the success she has been having with utilizing Moorhead State University Social Work majors in her Key's facilitation. She has been training 16-25 students in the Social Work group's class each semester since fall of 1998. They spend 20 hours of this semester on the Keys to Innervisions Program. Part of this training is to actually facilitate groups to Juvenile Court Adolescents with a trained facilitator observing and offering them feedback. Once they have completed this, they are given the opportunity to obtain certification by facilitating another group of adolescents with an experienced trainer. We average about 75% of these students wanting to become facilitators. They then go on to their careers following graduation and take the program with them. She has received approximately 10 calls from agencies asking about the program because they heard about it through one of these students. It is a great experience for all involved. She hopes this story encourages people to step out of the box and examine the many ways to spread the Key's message. You may contact Nicole through Keys to Excellence, Inc.'s main office.

Two New Agencies Join the KIV Network

August found Ed Martinez, Vice President, traveling east to provide a Facilitator Training to the Accomack County Public Schools in Virginia. For those of you who have not had the privilege of visiting this area on the peninsula, it is a gift from nature. Tearing himself away from the beach, Ed trained 30 staff from the school system. We appreciate the commitment of Donna Carr, Asst. Superintendent, who was instrumental in providing this opportunity to her staff and students. We look forward to hearing about your success.

Mineral County Schools in West Virginia had their first Facilitator Training in late August. Bobbi Moore, a Keys, Inc. Trainer, provided teachers with a specific application to behavioral disordered and alternative school students. Bobbi noted that the staff was client centered and quickly saw the application for KIV. Special thanks to Bob Miller, Special Education Director, and Dave Fritsch, Principal, for providing and coordinating this training. Welcome to the KIV network.

UPCOMING MASTER FACILITATOR TRAINING

In early spring, we are having our annual Master Facilitator Training in Scottsdale. This trainer of trainer's program enables communities and agencies to have certified trainers deliver the three day Facilitator Training. In addition, Master Facilitators are able to train other staff in the foundation units to create an Empowerment Team, to provide supervision of KIV, to provide leadership to the Core Planning Team, and to act as a liaison to Keys, Inc. It is both a cost effective and quality assurance measure. Candidates must have experience in facilitating the curriculum and be willing to participate in an exciting and intensive five day training process. Class size is limited to 10 participants. For further information, call Phyllis Antonelli.

Has your Master Facilitation Certification Expired??

We are also opening this training process to any previously trained Master Facilitators who want to be recertified and/or renew certification that has expired. There is no fee for this opportunity. Call Phyllis to enroll.

Please share this newsletter with your colleagues and clients.