POWER SOURCE: Taking Charge of Your Life is a book/curriculum/program designed to help highly at-risk youth identify their strengths and take control over their lives, while increasing their understanding of the emotions and beliefs driving their high-risk and offending behavior.

It can be read individually or used in facilitator-led groups. The material is appropriate for virtually any organization serving the needs of highly at-risk youth, including juvenille institutions, secure and non-secure detention centers, drug treatment programs, private and public schools, and a variety of community-based programs.

A Spanish edition of POWER SOURCE was recently published. La Fuente del Poder: Asumir el Control de Tu Vida is available for youth who are primarily Spanish speaking.

• Contains engaging first-person accounts from highly at-risk youth and young offenders who share their own life experiences. These narratives illustrate the instructive/treatment components of the text and lend a richly authentic voice to the book.
  
  
• Offers specific techniques and strategies for anger management, stress reduction, conflict management, and impulse control.
  
  
• Addresses issues germane to adolescent development, such as creating a positive future orientation and a cohesive, healthy sense of self; examining the patterns and cycles of high-risk behavior, drug abuse, gang involvement, and peer pressure; and establishing safe, trusting relationships.
  
  
• Provides guidance and support in dealing with histories of childhood trauma resulting from physical and emotional abuse, parental neglect and abandonment, family drug addiction, domestic violence, and parental incarceration. The book helps youth process the powerful emotions of shame, anger, grief, and loss that often emerge from these experiences.
  
  
• Assists adolescents and young adults in taking ultimate responsibility for the offenses they have committed through a process called the 3As (Acknowledging their role in the offense, Accepting responsibility for their actions, and Apologizing to their victim). Empathy development and victim awareness are also key components of this module.

What At-Risk Teens are Saying about Power Source

Excerpts from unsolicited letters from youth:
Names and identifying information have been changed or omitted.

"If you've ever felt like giving up, this book shows you reasons not to."

Amy, 15 years old

"I really feel this book because I've been in the same positions. When I was arrested, I was ashamed, embarrassed, and felt like the world was against me. I felt alone, and like I was the only one who felt alone. But now I know there's people out there just like me. It felt like it was ‘my’ life story."

Shasta, 16 years old

"… Even though I still have a lot of hurt feelings, Power Source has really helped me out. It's given me a sense of hope like every thing I ever had questions about were jammed into this book. I couldn't of put everything so clear my self. Its easy to read and you get a lot of feedback that can help you. Man thanks for taking the time out your life to write this book to help those in need for hope in life, because I know how it feels to feel hopeless, and now things are looking a whole lot more hopeful. I am sure that this book will help millions of adolesense such as my self get in touch with the real them and help them loose that mask that keeps us from being the real us ...your book is great."

Pete 16 years old

Dear Reader! My name is Eric and I'm a ward-inmate at the _____. I have this "Power Source" book in front of me right now on the desk in my cell and I want to let you know that any one going threw hardships in there life should open up this book. My life on the outs was all about stealing, fighting, using drugs, and not learning from my mistakes. I'm commited to ___ because I stole a car and crashed it while under the influence. I've been locked up for three years and have 5 months or so left. My birthday is tomorrow and I’m not really happy but I'll finally be eighteen, which means its time to step up and be a man. Anyhow, this "Power Source" book is going to remain with me because this is something you can read over and over… because it's a guide to making you a mature and responsible human being. I thank the lionheart foundation for supporting those in the need. Thank you.

Eric

HI My name is Brendon. I am in _____ youth center serving 14 months. I have only 2 to go. I fear that I will only go into the adult system if I don't get the help I need. I really want and need the help. I have a friend who has a copy of a book called "Power Source" and he says it has helped him see things differently and I can see it has helped him. But I do not have any money cause my family lives too far away so I was wondering if you nice people can send me a copy so I can read it and hopefully see things differently too.

Thanks you for your time

Sincerely, Brendon

"Before, I felt like I was being disrespected by everyone who crossed my path, but now after reading this book, I know that you have control of you — no one else does unless you allow them to. I took a long look at myself I'm still not perfect, but I have a whole new outlook."

Kenyata, 20 years old

"This book can help you if you feel lost and angry. Its about real life stuff that happens to kids everyday."