Response ability Pathways (RAP) is a universal curriculum providing essential skills for that deal with young people in the family; School, or wider community.

All children and youth need supportive mentors who respond to their needs rather than react to their problems.  RAP provides these response – abilities to guide young people on pathways to responsibility.

RAP applies resilience science to meet the growth needs of all young people.

Young people need opportunities to develop Belonging, Mastery, independence and Generosity.  RAP is grounded in research evidence on resilience, brain science and positive youth development.  RAP translates the latest research into practical methods for building strengths in all youth, even those presenting difficult behavior problems.

RAP is a powerful alternative to either punitive or permissive approaches.

This training counters current punitive approaches that lock adults and caregivers in conflict with young people.  Instead of reactive, coercive interactions, youth are enlisted as responsible agents in positive change.  RAP deals with problems by focusing on strengths and solutions.  Brief  “teaching moments” instill positive behaviors and values.  Rather than enforcing obedience, RAP sets high expectations for youth to take responsibility and show respect for self and others.

As an alternative to punitive discipline strategies. RAP offers experiential training in three practical ‘response abilities’ that are the basis of natural human helping behaviors.  Participants will learn to connect with and engage a young person in need, help them clarify immediate problems, and support them in taking responsibility to restore harmony in their lives.

RAP training developed by Dr Larry Brendtro and Lesley du Toit, is based on Circle of Courage principles.  These principles focus on the need for all young people to develop belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.

RAP is recommended for educators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, youth workers and staff in treatment and juvenile justice settings.  The skills also apply to parents, foster parents, mentors and mature youth who are peer helpers.

RAP is a highly experimental and provides practical skills for building courageous kids.  Basic RAP principals are presented in creative formats and the course is enlivened by engaging videos and small-group role plays.  Participants develop abilities to disengage from adversarial encounters, connect with adult-wary youngsters, restore bonds of respect and create climates where all young can flourish.

The RAP certification course is three days or the 21 hours and training can be delivered in a number of different mediums in order to meet the client’s needs.

RAP provides essential skills for all who deal with challenging children and Youth.  It develops abilities to respond to needs instead of react to problems so that young people take pathways to responsibility.

RAP taps the latest evidence based practices.  Participants regularly rate RAP as the most powerful training in their personal and professional experience.  RAP puts circle of courage principles into practice providing youth with opportunities for growth in belonging, mastery independence and generosity.

Training leads to RAP certification and course credit can be arranged.