A Positive Approach to Teen Health (PATH) has many great people behind it including Donna Golob. PATH was founded in 1993 by Wilma Willard. When Willard retired two years ago, Donna Golob expanded the mission of PATH to include more of a Positive Youth Development approach. The mission of PATH is to “Equip, empower and encourage teens to make healthy choices through life skills, relationship and character building education.” Donna is passionate in her mission to educate and encourage youth in what can be a confusing and discouraging culture and that is why Donna is this week’s Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Golob has taken an active role in developing the current curricula, Planned Potential, that is used in the classroom by the education team. Planned Potential is a program geared towards 6th, 7th and 8th grade students with a three year program including fifteen sessions taught in the classroom. Students are educated and empowered on subjects such as: peer pressure, bullying, self confidence, avoiding risky behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, alcohol, character and integrity, career choices and more.
Golob said, “Our goal is to give kids all the information; the key is all, not just bits and pieces so that they can make good decisions.”
In addition to the youth programs offered by PATH there are also opportunities for parents and community members to be educated and equipped to address the trials and trends of today’s youth. A strong adult support system is essential to the overall health of our teens beginning with good parent communication.
Golob stated, “Our evaluations and national evaluations are finding more and more that the connection to family and student is important. It is important for the student to understand and recognize where their parents stand and what their expectations are for them regarding high risk behaviors.”
Statistics show that teens who have engaged parents are more likely to avoid high risk behaviors and do better scholastically than those who come from a home where parents are not involved.
But, if the teens do not have a parent in the home they are comfortable with, they are encouraged to talk with another trusted adult like a teacher or maybe a neighbor or youth pastor.
“For me it was my neighbor. I used to babysit for her and she became my confidant,” Golob stated. “She became my mentor. I could be honest with her and she didn’t judge me.”
Golob went on to admit, “When I was a teen I sometimes didn’t make the best decisions and when I think back, if there was someone or something like PATH, I might have made better decisions. One reason our programs are successful is because we teach with a male and a female in the classroom and kids do reach out or confide in the educators. They ask questions and our educators bring them relevant and accurate answers. That really makes a difference.”
Golob gives much of the credit of the success of PATH to the people that work for PATH.
“I work with an amazing team from the administrative team to the educators to the evaluation team. They have a passion for what we do and I think we look at our jobs not just as a job but as a mission. My personal mission is to make a positive impact on teens.” She added, “I have worked with youths since I was a youth myself in my early twenties working with church youth groups. I have always had a heart and a passion to work with youths and when I started making better decisions in my own life as a youth, I wanted to give back.”
With almost 20 years of dedication PATH has continued to branch out empowering and educating over 120,000 youths on subjects regarding drugs, sex, alcohol and relationship violence since 1993. At the lead is a passionate woman who has a heart and desire to make a positive impact on the lives of our teens and that is why Donna Golob is a Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Save the date, A Positive Approach to Teen Health [PATH] presents:
American Teens in Crisis conference on April 16, 2013 for details or to find out more about the programs offered at PATH for teens and parents visit or contact PATH at:
info@pathblazer.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Positive-Approach-to-Teen-Health/278994158947?ref=stream
PO Box 1063
Valparaiso, IN 46384
219-548-8783