Georgia Public Health District 2

HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS

Banks

Dawson

Forsyth

Franklin

Habersham

Hall

Hart

Lumpkin

Rabun

Stephens

Towns

Union

White

NIYÉLO

The mission of Niyélo is to assist each of the thirteen counties within DHR Health District 2 with development of an Adventure Based Counseling program within their school system/community. Niyélo will achieve this by providing ongoing training, networking opportunities, and consulting services to those that are committed to creating a positive change in the lives of children. In order to maintain a therapeutically oriented program throughout the district, Niyélo will continue to develop standards of high quality in relation to the facilitation of youth groups.

Niyélo Overview

Niyélo is a highly structured, adventure-based, group counseling program that works with at-risk youth to help them develop self-esteem, communication skills, the ability to make wise choices, and more responsible patterns of behavior. The program is task oriented and follows an experiential learning cycle, with adequate time provided for processing and group discussions. Setting personal goals and having the opportunity to receive feedback related to observed behaviors gives at-risk youth the opportunity to explore new behaviors within a supportive environment. Niyélo activities are therapeutic, as opposed to recreational, and consist of carefully sequenced activities, initiatives, and ropes course elements, which are tailored to promote personal growth in areas such as effective means of expressing anger, conflict resolution, communication, cooperation and group problem solving, trust in self and others, awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses, and leadership.

The Niyélo program is unique to Public Health District 2, and has been in operation since the late 1980s, when it was called Vision Quest. Over time it has grown significantly, until today it operates in 11 out of 13 counties in District 2, with ropes courses located throughout the region. Many courses are on school grounds, with Niyélo groups incorporated into school counseling programs. Local Program Coordinators, who are generally school district employees or youth development professionals from community organizations, are supported by District staff. Niyélo is funded in part through the Georgia Department of Human Resources, as well as through collaborative efforts throughout the thirteen-county district. Niyélo training is accredited through Project Adventure.

Niyélo groups are led by two facilitators functioning as co-leaders. Both facilitators must be appropriately qualified and must be present for all sessions of their therapeutic group. Groups are 8-16 members in size. Potential group members are screened to ensure that they understand the purpose and format of the group and are willing to participate. A consent and release form must be signed by each child's parent or guardian before the child participates in the group.

The name Niyélo means "It's up to you," and the program follows the Challenge By Choice philosophy, such that participants choose a level of participation where they feel challenged but not threatened. Participants also agree to a mutual contract, which calls for individual challenge and accountability, as well as a group commitment to being actively involved in each other's experiential learning process. Contract details are tailored to the needs of the group, but remain centered on the core components of being safe, striving toward goals, participating in honest feedback, and not devaluing or being negative toward self or others.

Read the latest version of our newsletter,

Ripples

Download our 2008

Training Catalog

Niyélo Wishlist

Although funded in large part by the GA Division of Public Health, Niyélo relies on assistance from a variety of sources for resources to provide quality training and youth groups.

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