youth and family development

"I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung

Reginald Dwayne Betts's Trajectory

• Reginald Dwayne Betts took a paralegal course and a writing correspondence course while in prison.


• Despite costing staff time, the prison allowed him to do this before Pell Grants and college programs were available.


• Years after release, initial metrics would have shown unemployment and low wages, making it seem li

Demonization and Blame

• Reginald Dwayne Betts believes the lack of forgiveness in society stems from real fear and demonization on both sides.


• Our investment in assigning blame creates structures that hinder commonality.


• Betts acknowledges his perspective is shaped by having resources and support, which many formerly incarcerated individuals lack.


• The

Competence and a feeling of well-being or self-esteem are important for both children and parents. We build our self-esteem by recognizing the positive and the negative messages and experiences life has offered us, and by making healthy decisions about those offerings. Nurture and structure help us do this. A balance of loving nurture and consisten

Children who develop self-efficacy learn to believe they can rely on their abilities when facing a challenge.

Encouragement focuses on effort and improvement,