Guide to Snowball Large and Small Groups
1. The CCOS support group meets weekly so teens can feel secure OP SNOWBALL will be there when needed.2. Adult leaders must be able to relate to teens in a person to person way and be willing to participate as a person in the discussions.
3. Adult leaders should act as facilitators and should allow the Teen Staff to manage the group as much as possible. The adults must remember that this is a teen-to-teen program.
4. It is important to remember the fundamental goals of CCOS are helping the teens find themselves as persons, for each teen to become responsible for him/herself, for each to be able to make his/her own decisions, and for each to develop a sense of self and community caring.
5. The CCOS support group should be considered as an oasis for teens from a world of pressures, relationship problems, criticism and insensitivity. While it is essential that honesty be maintained, the climate of the meeting must be non-confrontive, caring, supportive and respectful.
6. The group must not be used for proselytizing one point of view on any subject. Most differences of opinions and beliefs must be respected.
7. Teens and adults must respect each other and the confidences expressed in the group, both in Snowball activities and outside of Snowball.
8. Teen participants must have the ability to sit through large group and small group discussions without disrupting the group. They must help the group to remain focused.
9. The meetings should be as informal as possible without being disruptive. Some teens have difficulty being a part of a group and should be allowed to sit outside of the group until they are ready to participate.
10. The first hour, or Large Group, may be given over to talks on subjects important to the teens, but the second hour must be reserved for Small Group when each teen must be given the chance to talk about whatever he or she chooses.
11. It is the responsibility of the Adult and Teen Staff to see that each person has a chance to talk and to keep the discussion focused.
12. While teens may discuss serious problems they are having, CCOS is not a treatment program. CCOS should provide information about local treatment resources where professional help can be found if needed. In some instances, CCOS staff will refer to those agencies.
