10 Rites of Passage

Denver Conference 2007

Two Days
The 10 Rites of Passage
Charles Lee-Johnson, MSW
This abstinence, parenthood and marriage education program teaches at-risk
youth responsibility to self, family and community with a focus on long-term life goals.
Qualifies you to teach the program and includes support in setting-up your program in
community and faith-based settings. $100 spouse discount.

This training willcertify attendees to teach the Ten Step Rites of Passage
program in their setting.

Participants will receive a curriculum (with interactive workshops used
in the Rites of Passage Program), a certificate of completion, and future
support in setting-up their program.

The rites of Passage Program promotes the value of interdependence
between self, family, community and the world.

The program is a character building model, which promotes self-discipline
and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own actions and
choices. Participants are provided with tools and the information to help
youth develop health promoting behaviors, improved study skills, the
ability to plan for one’s future, increased practical knowledge of political,
economic and social systems that impact their lives. Past participants have
described their training experience as “life changing”. Community Based
Organizations, and Faith Communities will undoubtedly see their work
with youth and families reach unimaginable and immeasurable heights
after completing the training.

The Ten Rites of Passage:

1. Personal Rite of Passage is designed to break down stereotypes.
The premise is that life is hard for everyone. This “hardness” is further
complicated by race and gender. The major goal is to prepare individuals
to succeed in the “hard” life ahead.

2. Spiritual Rite of Passage is designed to help an individual understand
that the struggle to make your life positive and productive is prescribed
and supported by your “Higher Power” (God, Allah, Buddha, etc.). The
struggles are designed to build you, not to break you. The development
of your spiritual self is directly related to those struggles. The major goal
of the Spiritual Rite of Passage is to assist in the development of pro-social
goals, morals and values.

3. Economic Rite of Passage is designed to facilitate the understanding
that true adulthood cannot be established and maintained without a
sound economic base.

4. Political Rite of Passage is designed to facilitate the understanding
that the participation in the politics of your community or state and
federal government is a responsibility of adulthood.

5. Social Rite of Passage is designed to increase an individual’s
understanding that the world, your community, your family should
benefit from your presence, and not suffer because you are here.

6. Emotional Rite of Passage is designed to help individuals
understand that to verbally and physically express a full range of
emotions is an adult thing to do.

7. Mental Rite of Passage is designed to assist individuals to understand
that in order to be an adult, you must acquire knowledge – and the
acquisition of knowledge is a continuing life long process.

8. Physical Rite of Passage is designed to assist individuals in the
understanding that physical development, health and maintenance
are key to the attainment of adulthood. How you treat your body
determines how you live your life.

9. Historical Rite of Passage is designed to assist individuals that
a complete thorough and honest perception of history makes it
possible for one to take specific, purposeful and positive action
in the development of their particular ethnic group, community,
state, the country and the world.

10. Cultural Rite of Passage is designed to assist individuals
with the understanding that it is through your culture that you
learn to manage the world around you. It is from your culture
that you draw your values and perceptions. For it is through
the culture that one learns how to behave appropriately in the world.

Although each Rite of Passage is listed separately, it is important
to understand that they are not taught as an independent entity
and that the acquisition of the skills noted in each Rite of Passage
does not denote a passage into adulthood. The continued
struggle to develop in each of the areas constitutes adulthood.

Training Outcomes for each module:

1. Personal Rite Of Passage
1. Enhanced Self-Esteem 8. Role Model Selections
2. Community Connections 9. Enhanced Sense of Achievement
3. Basic Problem-Solving Skills 10. Enhanced Sense of Empowerment
4. Personal vision (Short & Long Term) 11. Basic Understanding of Cultural and Ethnic Origin
5. Personal Life Planning (Short & Long Term) 12. Educational Assessment
6. Increased Discipline 13. Development of a Personal Support Network
7. List of Personal Affirmations 14. Enhanced Personal Relationships

2. Spiritual Rites of Passage
1. Social, Legal, Morals and Attitudes 5. Subscription of Non-Violence as a Lifestyle
2. Enhanced Sense of Community Connections 6. Nonviolent Conflict Resolution Skills
3. Understanding and Appreciation of Friendship 7. Stress Reduction Skills/Continue Self-Inventory
4. Respect of Life 8. Personal Value System

3. Economic Rites of Passage
1. Expectations of the Work Place 5. Economic Classes
2. Basic Money Management 6. Job Skills
3. Planning and goal setting 7. Career Preparation
4. Cultural Contributions to Economy 8. Philanthropy

4. Political Rites of Passage
1. Understanding of Political System 6. Leadership Skills
2. Understanding of the Importance of Politics 7. Community Organization Skills
3. Meeting Political Officials 8. Knowledge of Local Elected Officials
4. How to Follow a piece of Legislation 9. Voter Registration
5. How to wield Political Influence 10. Skills to file complaint with a public agency.

5. Social Rites of Passage
1. Sense of Community 8. Skills for Shared Apartment Life
2. Volunteerism 9. Strategies to Thwart Social Obstacles
3. Social Networking 10. Fair Housing Practices
4. Accessing Community Resources 11. City Transportation Services
5. Active Member of a Social Support Group 12. Pass Written Test for Drivers License
6. Evaluation of Family and Peer Relationships 13. Secure Drivers License
7. Appropriate Dress and Behavior for various social functions 14. Proper and Safe use of the Internet

6. Mental Rites of Passage
1. How to study 11. Development of Critical and Analytical Skills
2. How to Take Tests 12. Mental Health Checklist-How To Develop Your Mind
3. Knowledge of Personal Learning Styles 13. Exposure to Community Mental Health Facilities.
4. Development of a personal Education Plan 14. Decrease In Resistance To Mental Health Intervention Modalities
5. Increase Decision Making Skills 15. Continue Self Inventory
6. Increased Knowledge of Culturally Appropriate Thinking 16. Life-Long Process-Acceptance of Learning of A life Long process.
7. Enhanced Appreciation of Books and Reading 17. Attitude Toward Learning Enhanced Positive Attitude Toward Learning
8. Increase Reading Skills 18. High School Graduation
9. Complete Education Assessment 19. Senior College/Junior College/Vocation School Application and Admission
10. Increased Math Skills 20. Participation in SAT/ACT Preparation Course

7. Physical Rites of Passage
1. Enhance Understanding of Bodily Functions 10. Increased Knowledge of How to Treat Minor Illnesses.
2 Enhanced Understanding of Good Nutrition 11. Increased Knowledge of First Aid and CPR
3. Enhanced Understanding and Appreciation of Physical Exercise 12. Enhanced knowledge of Good Grooming Practices
4. Enhanced Understanding of Drugs 13. Enhanced Knowledge of Personal Hygiene
5. Enhanced Food Management Skills (cooking and storage of food) 14. Enhanced Development of Clothing Maintenance Skills.
6 Enhanced Alcohol and Drug Resistance Skills 15. Enhanced Knowledge and Use of General Household Maintenance Skills.
7. Enhanced Knowledge of the Harmful Effects of Tobacco. 16. Stress Reduction Skills
8. Enhanced Understanding of Sex, Sexuality, 17. Enhanced Appreciation of the Need for Rest and Relaxation.
Birth Control and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
9. Increase Awareness and Use of
Medical and Dental Facilities

8. Emotional Rites of Passage
1. Non-Violence Conflict Resolution Skills 10. How to Express and Exhibit Emotions Without Harm to Others/Self.
2 Increased Emotional Maturity 11. How to Distinguish Emotional Abuse
3. Knowledge of How to Initiate Positive Relationships 12. How to Defend Oneself Emotionally
4. Knowledge of How to Evaluate Peer Relationships 13. Enhanced Skills to Avoid and Relieve Depression
5. Enhanced Skills to Resist Negative Peer Pressure 14. How to Relieve Boredom
6 Enhanced Skills to Exert Positive Peer Pressure 15. Developed Skills for Motivation
7. Enhanced Understanding of Emotions/Their Work & Purpose. 16. Development of an Emotional Vocabulary
8. Enhanced Understanding of Love-Sex Relations 17. Increase Anger Management Skills
9. Enhancing Understanding of Hate and Its Harm 18. Continue Self-Inventory

9. Historical Rites of Passage
1. Family History
2. Cultural History
3. Improved Self-Esteem
4. Sense of Historical Debt
5. Sense of Community

10. Cultural Rites of Passage
1. Appreciation of Positive Cultural Values
2. Cultural Frame of Reference

For more information contact:
The National Family Life and Education Center
(310) 665-1888
email: rjnflec@aol.com
www.nflec.org

Register for this Training Institute with Smart Marriages. On-line registration available in March.