THE JOURNEY - TESTIMONIALS &

"Robin Hood and his men"

"The Journey has a tremendous impact on their daily lives. Kids learn to live the values taught within the story."

- Carmen Wilson - Special Services Teacher - Collinsville Public Schools

SUCCESS STORIES
Comments from Educators, Students and Shelters....
Educators:
-Tracy Storck
Special Education Teacher
Bixby-

"The Journey program is a great behavior management tool. The program is intriguing and holds the interest of the students.

It is simple to implement and the activities correlate with the curriculum"

-Marcialee Ledbetter, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
OU-Tulsa-

"Research has conclusively shown that abuse and neglect can have lasting effects on the biological and psychological health of children and adolescents.

Abused and neglected children come in to foster care with individual strengths and weaknesses, varying levels of functioning, and a range of psychological and emotional needs.

The most recent research indicates 80 percent of children in foster care are suffering from mental illness. Many of them view the world as a dangerous place, full of people who cannot be trusted. Many of them view themselves as inadequate and unlovable, unworthy of attention and care.

Effective treatment is challenging and requires more than a simple behavior management program and/or psychotropic medication. The Journey Program addresses the more complex needs of these wounded children and adolescents through an interwoven approach that includes story and narrative, personal mentoring and education.

Children are given specific tools for the development of life skills, along with the underpinning of the narrative of The Journey. It is this integrative approach that allows the children to begin to incorporate a healthier sense of self and heal their psyche.

It is the depth of this program, implemented by dedicated staff, which has resulted in noteworthy improvements at the Laura Dester Shelter including fewer restraints, hospitizations, AWOLs and assaults."

-Amy Harnish
Special Education Teacher
Glenpool Elementary-

"During my first year of teaching at Glenpool in 1998, I became acquainted with Dr. McCarty during my class therapy sessions. While visiting with him during one of the sessions, he mentioned to me that he had an idea for a behavioral management system. At that time, it was only an idea that he was "brainstorming" and keeping notes of.

As the year progressed, Dr. McCarty's ideas became more considerable in detail. It was after one of our group sessions, that I offered to help him in any way necessary. We began our quest in 2000, with a very humble interpretation of what is now known as "The Journey".

After attending an educational workshop specifically for "The Journey" program directed by Dr. McCarty, we quickly implemented the complete and final version in our classroom in 2002. In order to utilize the program to its best potential, we felt that a visual would only enhance the program's success. With this said, we began our mural.

"The Journey" wraps around our entire classroom walls beginning with Outland and ending with The Lost Village. In between each quest, there are numerous footprints that lead to the next adventure.

Each student can take a possible two steps per day and earn two tokens a day, depending on the behavior. When the student reaches each different adventure and successfully accomplishes the goal specifically set for him/her, a reward is given.

With each accomplishment, not only does the adventure/goals get more difficult to obtain, but the rewards become more substantial. It is my opinion that as a classroom teacher, the adjoining curriculum book that is designed specifically for the elementary level, is a wonderful and a "must have" tool.

This year my students who range from third grade to fifth grade, have enjoyed the program. Other students not in my program hear about it and ask me if they can join "The Journey". My students (due to confidentiality will be referred to as their initial only) have progressed differently throughout the year.

We have three "Knights In Training" that are just about at Merlin's Treehouse. These three students, Z, R, and C, support one another, not only in "The Journey", but outside our classroom as well. T has been on hold a numerous amount of times, and is in limbo between Outland and Robin Hood's Camp.

D is struggling and has been placed back in Outland for the third time, but continues to gain support from his group members and has confidence that one day he will begin "The Journey".

Personally, I feel that this has been a very beneficial program for my students. They enjoy participating in the program, they have learned from and about other group members, and they are acquiring daily life skills to have a successful life."

Amy Harnish
Special Education Teacher
Glenpool Elementary

Students:

"The journey is a mystical story or game to play. It was created to build upon our hopes and dreams. Some kids come here feeling like there is no hope and that their life is over.

The Journey is a way of rebuilding those hopes, a way of showing kids and people in general that there is magic out there and that it can happen to you.

The Journey helps build upon our self-esteem and gives us the courage to go on with our lives. The Journey can show people that their dreams can come true.

Some people think that The Journey is about magic myths - but it's truly about the magic we make for ourselves and for our lives."

Amy - 14 years old
Shelter Resident


"I really like The Journey. It has taught me a lot of self-control and to get over your past and just look into your future.

The Journey helps you get over your problems and to move on. The staff is really nice and they try to help out as much as they can."

Thank you staff.

13-year-old resident
Laura Dester Shelter (2003)

Shelters

State of Oklahoma
Department of Human Services
Laura Dester Shelter

We have used the "Journey" at our shelter with positive results.

At our shelter we had a 60 percent decrease in assaults on staff, 38 percent decrease in assaults on other residents, and a 68 percent decrease in the number of youth running away from shelter care.

Program evaluation indicates that youth were able to assume more responsibility for their actions, build skills that enable them to face problems, deal with their problems in a more responsible manner as well as become more empathetic for their peers.

Marshall Tyner, Director
Laura Dester Shelter


Bill Waller
Child Welfare Social Work Supervisor

"Since The Journey started at our shelter, statistics who AWOL's are down nearly 70 percent, assaults on staff have dropped nearly 60 percent and assaults on peers are down approximately 40 percent.
In my opinion, The Journey has been one of the biggest factors for these positive results."

Dale Powel
Direct Care Supervisor
Child welfare Shelter
Tulsa, Okla.

"The Journey program is a very inspirational tool. Both children and young adults benefit from the program. Since reading the story and working the curriculum, the difference in the children's outlook on life is amazing.

I find my learning something different every time I read a Chapter. The Journey, with its different philosophies seamlessly interwoven in each paragraph, assists the "Guides" in assisting the children with their problems.

The program teaches the children that it is okay to be different, to be wrong, angry, frustrated, etc., as long as they can "come to grips" with their situation, learn what one can and carry on.

A truly unique and timely venture to help the children deal with their problems. I'm proud to have been given the opportunity to have met Dr. McCarty and Ms. Taliferro, and to have been given the tools to teach the children one Chapter at a time."
Daisy Royal
Direct Care Staff
Laura Dester Shelter

The Journey Adventure is a welcome challenge for residents here at the
shelter. It is an acceptable, rewarding learning experience. Children as young as six are able to discern the need to maintain positive views of their future as they learn to manage the steps that shape their destiny.