Teaching Social Skills to Youth, 4th Edition

Updated and revised, this definitive guide to social skills instruction now features thirteen new skills and their behavioral steps, fresh insights into providing culturally responsive treatment that respects individual identity, more inclusive language, and updated research on social-emotional learning and executive function.

The 196 social and life skills showcased in this fourth edition will empower young people to have greater success in school, at home, on the job, and in their relationships. Several of the new skills promote the values and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those skills include:

- Sticking Up for Yourself

- Sticking Up for Others

- Agreeing to Disagree

- Recognizing Your Own Personal Biases or Opinions

Other new skills focus on personal autonomy (Gaining Consent, Giving Consent, and Responding to Persons of Authority). Plus, there are new skills that teach young people how to interact with law enforcement (Being Prepared for an Interaction with Law Enforcement and Responding to Law Enforcement/Police Interactions).

The manual reflects and focuses on the importance of teaching social skills to youth of all ages, the elements of social behavior (task and behavior analysis), individual and group teaching techniques, generalization of skills, the role of skill-based interventions for difficult youth problems, and the Boys Town Social Skills Curriculum itself.

For ease and convenience, there are four appendices that group skills by behavior problem areas, common situations or circumstances, social and emotional learning competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making), and skill type (social, emotional management, academic, moral/ethical, and independent living). Every skill is available for download and print through BoysTownPress.org.

Teaching Social Skills to Youth, Fourth Edition is ideal for classrooms, individual and group therapy, and job training programs. Educators and caregivers can use this guide to strengthen their cultural competence, increase the skill competency of children, help improve student behavior in school, and develop individualized service plans for troubled or at-risk youth. It is an excellent companion to the highly acclaimed Mental Health from Diagnosis to Delivery and Building Resiliency in Youth, both available from Boys Town Press.

The authors have decades of experience working with children and families, and they are experts on issues related to youth aggression, antisocial behavior, abuse, delinquency, and mental health.

Jeff Tierney, M.Ed. is a former Boys Town expert with 28 years of experience, including serving as Director of Staff and Program Evaluation and Director of Training. Throughout his career, he served children and families in residential, shelter, foster care, and in-home settings. Jeff is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and advocate for young people living with, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive challenges.

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Erin Green, M.S. is Director, Boys Town Press, in Boys Town's Youth Care Division. In her tenure with Boys Town she has overseen the publication of dozens of trade publications, activity guides and children's books. Erin's experience includes working with youth in general and special education settings, and providing support to parents and educators working with children with special needs, mental health diagnoses or emotional/behavioral disorders. Erin speaks at conferences, and is a national trainer and author. Erin and her husband live in Omaha, NE with their two children.

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Tom Dowd, MA, is a former Director of Boys Town National Training.

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Kat McGrady (Ed.D, LCPC, NCC) has experience as an educator, school counselor, and mental health therapist. Her dedication to child & adolescent wellbeing and to education is evident in her work to provide parents, professionals, and youth with individualized strategies and evidence-based practices in order to promote growth and success. Currently, Kat works in private practice as therapist and parent coach. She also serves as an adjunct professor for the Johns Hopkins University Master's in Education program, as well as a doctoral advisor for the Johns Hopkins University School of Education.