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THE PESA POST
The latest news, views and announcements from
Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

January 6, 2023
New Year, S.M.A.R.T. Goals
PESA supports youth in achieving self-determined objectives
Youth experience mixed messages throughout their life that pull them in multiple directions. This can sometimes lead them to express maladaptive behaviors that result in negative interactions with parents, peers, and law enforcement.

To teach youth crucial skills during their time with PESA, various evidence-based and strength-based approaches to reform the youth’s behavior are implemented. One of these techniques is called S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely Goals.

“For the youth PESA supports, it allows them to recognize and celebrate small areas of personal growth,” says Fleur, an MSW Intern. S.M.A.R.T. Goals are a step by step process that allows the social worker to gain insight into the youth’s overarching objective, while also granting them the tools to self-support once they have completed their program. 
Fleur recalls working with a youth on challenging their procrastination tendencies and establishing a sense of self worth and value. “We first defined what self worth is for them before determining some of the different techniques they might use to increase their sense of self worth.” 

“Their goals seem to be progressing forward and that is what is so beneficial about using S.M.A.R.T. goals with youth. It can help the therapist empower youth to take charge of events in their life. Because sometimes, being able to recognize and celebrate the progress made allows the youth to start to feel as if anything is possible,” says Fleur. “Essentially, S.M.A.R.T. Goals have the added benefit that no idea, concept, or project is too big or too small, thereby allowing the youth and families to feel like they have no limits to how, what, when, and where they can improve.”

For those interested in learning more about implementing S.M.A.R.T. Goals into their daily routine, please contact us.