American Indian Life Skills (AILS) is an effective, culturally grounded, life-skills training program that aims to reduce American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescent suicide by reducing risk and increasing protective factors. Developed by Dr. Teresa D. LaFromboise in collaboration with students and community members from the Zuni Pueblo and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, this curriculum teaches adolescents life skills such as communication, problem-solving, building self-esteem, stress management, anger regulation, and goal setting. It also teaches students specific methods to help a peer who is experiencing suicidal thinking and seek help from an appropriate help-giver.
Suicidal behavior is a major health concern that takes an enormous toll on a school and the community. Learning how to discuss feelings associated with suicide and to use suicide prevention skills will empower students to take more control over their lives and better handle situations that arise in their lives. Learning the life coping skills and suicide prevention skills in the American Indian Life Skills curriculum will help students become a better of support for each other and their community. The curriculum is meant to be used as part of a comprehensive life skills program. The curriculum can be integrated into already established classes such as health education, social studies, or language arts, etc. For more information and resources on the American Indian Life Skills Curriculum see the contact information below.
CONTACT SPTHB:
Phone: (405)-652-9200
Email: info@spthb.org
Life Skills
Life skills is not a therapeutic or clinical group. Weekly activities are designed to help youth become the best versions of themselves. The curriculum comes with an easy-to-follow lesson plan and activity ideas that can be adapted for your community and the students you are working with. To ensure these activities are beneficial for youth and that they are provided with transparency, students will be asked to complete a brief pre and post-test survey. This allows for a tailored experience for the individual students.
7 Sections of the American Indian Life Skills Intervention
Lessons Build Core Skills to Address:
Mediating Factors: Positive Thinking/Effective Problem Solving
Below is an example of a classroom schedule for implementing the curriculum into your classroom, however it is ok to make the curriculum your own within the constraints of the skills training model to fit your community.
Week 1:
1.1 Building Community within the Classroom (pre-surveys)
Week 2:
1.2 Working Together to Get Things Done
Week 3:
1.3 Trustworthiness
1.4 Surveying My Background and Family History
Week 4:
1.5 Building Self-Esteem Through Self-Awareness
Week 5:
1.6 Building Self-Esteem Through Role-Models
1.7 Role-Models and What a Person Is
Week 6:
2.2 Learnings to Recognize Emotions and Feelings
Week 7:
2.3 Recognizing Depression
Week 8:
2.5 Recognizing Stress and How it Affects Feelings
Week 9:
2.6 Recognizing Self-Talk and How it Affects Feelings
2.7 Learning to Control Self-Talk and Use it to Improve My Life
Week 10:
2.8 Recognizing Anger
2.9 Expressing Justified Anger
Week 11:
3.1 Communicating Better Through Listening/Attending Skills
3.2 Speaking Concretely About Feelings
Week 12:
Suicide Prevention-Warning Signs, How to Help, and Protective Factors
Week 13:
6.1 Evaluating What to Do and What Not to Do if a Friend is Thinking About Suicide
6.2 Learning About Community Resources for Suicide Prevention
Week 14:
Post-Survey (class content left up to facilitator)
Therapeutic Activity
Media Day with Chris Reed
Week 15:
Focus Groups
You can send any message to 988 to start a text conversation.
For more 988 information and resources visit, 988oklahoma.com