Outcome Report 2023-2024

This was the second year of Telling It with a majority of the youth from this year’s 8th grade group. Telling It met with 16-18 8th graders weekly during advisory period of the ’23 – ’24 academic year.

1 drama-in-education professional with 40+ years of experience, 1 licensed clinical social worker, and 1 resident artist attended every session, and 4 guest artists held 8 visiting workshops in their artistic expertise.

Compared to the start of the academic year, as a group, the 8th graders increased their abilities across all Telling It outcome metrics*: emotional literacy and expression, emotional regulation, positive peer socialization, safe sharing of feelings, thoughts, and ideas, pride in abilities, identifying an emotional support, and identifying triggers. 

• 100% reporting knowing how to express how they feel
• 92.8% reported having ways to help themselves feel better when upset 
• 86% like spending time with other people
• 92.8% felt safe sharing their feelings, thoughts, and ideas
• 85.7% have someone they could talk to if they have a problem
• 78.6% know the types of things that upset them

Student Testimonials

• “Lots of people should join (Telling It) with mental health problems. This would literally save lives.”

• “I like to check in on myself every once in a while and Telling It lets me do that through activities.”

* Percentages combine responses “sometimes”, “usually”, and “always” (as opposed to “never” and “rarely”)

This was the first year that Telling It worked with the youth from this year’s 7th grade group. Telling It met with 7-10 7th graders weekly during advisory period of the ’23 – ’24 academic year.

1 drama-in-education professional with 40+ years of experience, 1 licensed clinical social worker, and 1 resident artist attended every session, and 4 guest artists held 8 visiting workshops in their artistic expertise.

Compared to the start of the academic year, as a group, the 7th graders increased their abilities across all Telling It outcome metrics*: positive peer socialization, identifying an emotional support, and identifying triggers. 

• 100% enjoy spending time with other people
• 89% feel proud of what they can do in school
• 89% report having someone to talk to if they have a problem
• 78% always know the types of things that upset them
  

Student Testimonial

• “If I were you, I would add all the grades in separate sessions. Make it everyday, come more days, and make it longer.”
  

* Percentages combine responses “sometimes”, “usually”, and “always” (as opposed to “never” and “rarely”)

Telling It met with the pre-adjudicated youth in the Juvenile Detention Program of Washtenaw County Children’s Services. Telling It held a 10-week pilot program, split between the two units, for weekly 90+ minute sessions. After an overwhelmingly successful pilot program, the county instantaneously renewed their contract with Telling It for another 10-week program. 

Youth Feedback:

• 100% of youth stated they enjoyed the Telling It program
• 100% of youth want Telling It to continue as a regular program at the JDC and in the broader community
• Youth expressed their favorite parts of Telling It are the freedom of expression, and a lack of judgment, meeting new and diverse people with a variety of life experiences, and the activities. 
• “Telling It is fun; we have freedom of speech without judgment. I really like the service you give out. I can think about what I am going through, and I can tell you all.”
• “You all helped while I’m here because normally I’m sad. I wish it’d be a program outside of here when we’re home.”
• “I have a great time with Telling It. It helps with a good night’s sleep.”

JDC Staff Feedback:

• “It gave them more life experiences. They learned to use creativity to deal with their frustrations. They learned teamwork and how to get along with different people and adapt to different things.”
• “Telling It gave the kids a way to express themselves in ways they weren't able to. It was a safe space to express themselves, and without consequences for it. There was a diversity of different cultures / backgrounds of people that they don't normally talk to. Things you showed them help them express their emotions and be themselves. They have been allowed to relieve themselves, you entertained them, and they liked it.”
• “This was a safe space for them to express themselves. I think you all did well - a great job providing a space for them to be open, lend an ear, and offer a different perspective.”
  

Telling It met with 8-10 youth (ages 8-16) involved in the Ypsilanti Parent Network (YPN) – a two-generation intensive family support program of SOS Community Services – for weekly 90 minute sessions.

Overwhelming Success:

• 100% of youth participants reported enjoying Telling It and want to continue.
• Favorite things about Telling It: games, the people, fun, and food.
• What they get from attending: fun and games, something to do, makes them happy, and the food.
• Parents told the YPN coordinator that youth participants were better at expressing themselves at home.
• Previously timid youth who did not want to participate (or even enter the room) ended the year as enthusiastic members and regularly expressed themselves.
• Youth showed increased emotional regulation skills; going from regularly crying or showing emotional dysregulation which impacted their participation, to calmly expressing their feelings and continuing to participate.
• Youth learned all the team members’ names (~20) and always noticed if anyone was absent.