The document discusses a research project analyzing time-out programs for troubled youth, identifying workable elements like seasons, nature, animals, physical activity, and community. Researchers observed different programs to determine what makes them effective and will design a generalizable method incorporating elements like farm work, individual rooms, and focus on positive development. The goal is to help youth have a break from difficulties and strengthen guidance through an encouraging environment.

1. Katrien Sel
Katrien.Sel@oobc-nieuwevaart.be
15 March 2013, Lisbon
“The art of getting into trouble”

3.  Difficult dealing with rising tensions
 Expressing needs in a non-social manner
 Solution?
 Need for a break for all parties

4. “an active period of calmness for the
youngsters and their surroundings to deblock
the difficulties in the guidance, this way
raising the motivation of all people involved
and thus strengthen the guidance”

5.  Retired officer
 A new chance for so
called ‘troubled
youngsters’

6.  Rest
 Importance of other environment
 Belief in youngsters: they have capabilities
 Warmth and confirmation
 Time: at the tempo of the children and youngsters
 Respect for the youngster and his/her story
 Encourage initiative
 Sports and work: physically being active
 Experience-based learning
 Everything done together
 No knowledge on the guest’s background, only what
he/she wants to tell

9.  We experience a rising demand for
youngsters to have a time-out.
 Research project
 Research questions:
◦ What are the workable elements of time-out?
◦ How can we design a more general method of
time-out?

10.  Qualitative Research
 Identify workable elements:
◦ Participatory observation
◦ Document analyses
◦ Semi structered interviewing
◦ Images
 General method design:
◦ Theoretical explorative research

11. o 12- 18 year
o Boys (girls if there is a femal accompanist)
o 2011 : 49
o Largest group: 14 – 17 year
o Maximum stay 5 days
o Reasons: aggression and rule-breaking

12. Your stay at “De Kruiskenshoeve”:
- Application
- Intake
- During your stay
- Completion

13.  Application by the institution, counsellor,
school, youngster himself, …
 Stay: max. 5 days
 Within a week: Intake
◦ Arrival with counsellor
◦ Rules are agreed upon

14.  Helping with work at the farm
 Own room

15.  Short evaluation
 Conversations with mentor and youngster
 Focus on positive aspects

16. “At this moment I feel a bit
down, but everything will be
alright because I believe in it.
Sometimes I just can’t
function properly, but I try my
best for the future. I really
want to assume a positive
attitude and maintain it. I
know I will have a hard time,
but I believe it’s worth it. I am
now with a person (Robert)
that is nice and knows a lot. I
hope you all understand that I
have endured a lot, but that I
have already changed
somewhat for the better.
Kind regards, Michael.”
Michael’s letter Translated extract

17.  Workable elements
◦ Seasons
◦ Network
◦ Ecology
 Farm
 Animals and plants
◦ Action
◦ Together

18. Seasons

21.  Animals

23. Action

24. Together

25.  Workable elements become more and more
clear
 Goal : to implement these elements into a re-
usable method
 Ecology needs to have comporable elements
 Balance between providing support and
challenge