Much deserved kudos for area kids in the Boys Council and Girls Circle programs were delved out at a barbecue celebration event held at the Adams County Juvenile Court building June 14.

The programs are aimed at developing necessary life skills to help troubled youth counteract social and interpersonal forces that impede growth and development by promoting an emotionally safe setting where they can nurture caring relationships with others and be their own voice.

“We’re trying to help build a strong foundation of moral and social values within the kids,” said Adams County Probation Councilor and Juvenile Detention Alternative Coordinator Benny Medina. “These kids are not very confident in themselves and have a hard time introducing themselves or even just talking with other people. We want them to believe they have the ability to be successful in these areas.”

Another course taught through Juvenile Services aimed to help improve interaction with others, Medina said is the Anger Regression Training or ART program. It’s a 10 week class that is held three times per week. Social skills are taught on Monday, anger control skills on Tuesday, and reasoning skills on Thursday where kids inexact with each other and are required to come up with concepts to problem solve.

“I tell them we (adults) get angry too and that there some things you can do when you are angry that are positive that help you overcome anger,” he said. “There are going to be some stressful days – days when you don’t know what to do — so we want them to have the tools that help them react in the right way without getting into trouble.”

There were 10 kids enrolled in the ART program this year.

Angel Valencia, 13, was one of 13 guys who graduated from the Boys Circle program last Wednesday.

“I’m learning to control my anger and to think twice before I say or do something that might get me into trouble,” he said. “I’m also learning how to give out compliments and to respect others.”

Medina said he’s seen a huge transition by Angel over the course of the 10 weeks. “He used to just get angry and completely shut down. He still doesn’t talk much, but what I like is he smiles more, laughs more and that’s good.”