Early interventions in the prevention of youth crime

 

Children from minority communities have been found to have issues with substance abuse as well as low academic performance. A result of this situation is that they have ended up becoming vulnerable mainly because of the considerable lack of opportunities and role models both at home and at school. It has become essential to make sure that early interventions are made to promote a reduction in the number of individuals from these communities that abuse substances. Furthermore, it has become critical that these interventions are made early in the lives of the children so that they can be able to grow up with the knowledge that substance abuse is wrong while also seeking to achieve greater objectives that will help them have a better standard of life. One of the most significant interventions that have been identified as being critical to the achievement of this objective is group counseling, which ensures that there is the development of significant change in the perception of minority children concerning the world and their place in it. A group counseling environment is also one that seeks to promote greater inclusivity in such a way that minority children do not feel out of place and are instead encouraged to become an essential part of the counseling process through active participation.

Group Objectives

There are a number of important objectives that are supposed to be achieved within the context of the group therapy process. These objectives are aimed at making sure that there is not only a reduction in the number of minority children that abuse substances, but also the promotion of an improvement in their academic performance. Therefore, one of the most important objectives of the group is to ensure that there is the development of an open environment within which the participants are able to talk openly concerning their personal and communal problems in such a way that ensures that there is the enhancement of an understanding of their backgrounds and how they can be helped (Ogrodniczuk & Piper, 2003). Furthermore, it is essential that there is the development of a level of diversity in the group process in a way that helps minority children from diverse backgrounds to interact effectively so that they can find out the common aspects concerning them. A discussion of the various problems that plague them in their daily lives helps in the identification of risk factors and through this process, it becomes possible for the counselor to provide the guidance necessary to alleviate the problems that are discovered.

Group Format

 Before the formation of the group, it is pertinent to make sure that there is the development of a group format. This format is aimed at promoting greater effectiveness within the group so that it can work towards supporting the counseling of the participants. One of the most important considerations that have to be made is the need to promote diversity, and this process should be conducted in a way that promotes the inclusion of children or individuals from different communities and backgrounds (Thomas & Pender, 2008). Furthermore, there is need to determine the size of the group, and in this case, it is essential to make sure that the membership of the group does not exceed twenty individuals. It is also necessary that there is the enhancement of group effectiveness through setting duration for the sessions as well as their frequency. This group will need to have sessions for at least three months, which should be conducted twice a week. Finally, the group will need to be closed because it is critical for the participants to get to know one another well and to become used to each other; a process that is likely to be difficult if new participants come in frequently.

Group Leadership and Counseling Theory

The counseling theory that will be used within the group is the narrative therapy because it is an extremely effective way of reaching the participants. This is because the narrative therapy is one that essentially adopts an approach that does not blame individuals, and is instead quite respective towards them to such an extent that it promotes these individuals as the ones who really know themselves (Hayward, 2003). This is a critical approach, especially for children from minority groups who, if another approach is used, could end up feeling as if they are being judged or misunderstood. Furthermore, it is essential that the narrative therapy approach is used because it promotes a view of problems that is separate from the individuals involved, and this is pertinent to the group counseling process because it makes the participants use their own skills, competencies, and values in order to bring about a reduction of the influence of various problems that they might have over their lives. This approach also requires that there is a single leadership style because it ensures that there is a single figure of authority within the group that all the participants look up to. In this way, it will be possible to make sure that there is the promotion of a situation where there is few leadership or counseling conflicts while at the same time enhancing the trust of participants.

Ethical Group Practices

It is necessary that the group leadership is conducted in as a professional manner as possible through the observation of the regulatory requirements that have been set. Furthermore, it is essential that the interests of the participants of the group are given the most priority because it ensures that there is not only an enhancement of their positive development, but also promotes a situation where they have good attitude towards the counseling process. Moreover, there is need to make sure that the counselor is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the group because it helps them to become a better manager of a diversity of participants (Thomas & Pender, 2008). This achievement cannot be underestimated because it promotes the development of strong initiatives aimed at making sure that the counseling sessions are highly successful. It is critical that the counselor makes an assessment of themselves before undertaking the process in order to find out their capabilities and bring about an understanding of how their beliefs and values can have an impact on the participants of the group (Thomas & Pender, 2008). It is also essential that there is the development of means through which to make an assessment of the group environment in such a way that promotes a multicultural environment for the individuals that participate in the group.

Summary of Diversity Integration

It is necessary to make sure that there is the establishment of diversity within the group because it is the best means of helping in the achievement of its objectives. The integration process should be conducted in such a way that promotes the development of strong relationships between the participants so that they can be able to come to terms with the issues that are common among them. Furthermore, there is need to promote a situation where there is the inclusion of individuals from a diversity of minority communities so that they can be able to consider the diverse challenges that their communities face. A consequence of the implementation of such an initiative is that there will be greater integration within the group because it ensures that there is the achievement of an environment of safety and ease among the participants (Kivlighan Jr & Tarrant, 2001). It is also necessary to make sure that there is the consideration of those aspects that are involved in the creation of an effective group such as the number of participants as well as the cultural and ethical factors that might influence the way that participants will respond to the counseling sessions.

Conclusion

The process of structuring the group and determining the theory that is to be used in the counseling sessions is an essential one in promoting its efficiency. It is therefore essential for the counselor to make sure that there is the development of initiatives aimed at not only enhancing group integration, but also the development of a multicultural character that is necessary for the achievement of diversity. Finally, it is pertinent that the counselor is able to make an assessment of his capabilities as well as the structure of the group in order to develop a more efficient way to help minority children avoid substance abuse, and enhance their academic performance.

Domestic Violence and its effect in society

 

Domestic violence is an issue that has an effect on all individuals in society because men, women, and children are affected. It occurs on all manner of relationships individuals might be in and this might be sexual or familial. While this may be the case, in most instances, it is women who are victims, and this is especially the case in highly patriarchal societies or communities, where women tend to be disenfranchised (Childress, Gioia, & Campbell, 2017). Moreover, it also takes place in the most unexpected of places, such as in the West; although most cases that take place end up being unreported. Thus, the development of an understanding of domestic violence is critical towards the development of clear initiatives aimed at reducing occurrences and promoting healthy relationships between individuals. This paper seeks to make an analysis of domestic violence, its occurrence, and the causes.

Domestic violence is defined as an individual using a diverse means to achieve control over another. These means can include physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse, and in most instances, women and children tend to be the most abused. Women are especially victims because they are looked upon as the weaker sex and have had the patriarchal order imposed on them (Childress et al., 2017). The depiction of women in video games, magazines, and other media in a negative way has helped degrade their position in society further. Because of this situation, it has become common for women to become the biggest victims of domestic violence, although in recent years, there has also been an increase of men who have reported being abused. This comes in the backdrop of domestic violence increasingly being seen as a problem that affects many relationships, with both men and women falling victim to it.

Domestic violence is caused by a diversity of issues and these tend to be based on a feeling of lack of control over everyday matters. One of the most significant causes of domestic violence is stress, which affects a considerable number of individuals because of the pressures of daily life (Anderberg, Rainer, Wadsworth, & Wilson, 2016). For example, a breadwinner in a family might end up becoming stressed because of their inability to provide effectively for their dependents. A result is that they might end up taking their stress or guilt on their spouses or children in the form of hitting or yelling (Katz, 2015). These cases tend to be the most common when it comes to domestic violence, and it has the effect of having a negative impact on both the perpetrators and their victims. Since it occurs among individuals with close or intimate relationships, it becomes difficult for both parties to recover effectively enough to resume the relationship they had before the violence begun.

Another cause of domestic violence is the abuse of alcohol or drugs, which has the effect of interfering with the judgment of the users. A consequence is that these individuals end up in a situation where they get into their homes under the influence (Anderberg et al., 2016). These circumstances are extremely pertinent when it comes to the analysis of domestic violence because many things can happen. For example, the individual who abuses alcohol or drugs can turn violent and take such actions as hitting or sexually abusing either their spouses or children. The individual does not realize what he is doing because he is under the influence and once the effect of the abused substance gets finished, he ends up having feelings of remorse and shame. The continued abuse of substances can end up creating a situation where violent episodes continue to occur at the domestic level.

There are also instances where the abuser makes use of domestic violence as a means of maintaining control over their victims. This can be a child or any other member of their family and it involves the use of violence in order to create a sense of fear in their victims (Callaghan, Alexander, Sixsmith, & Fellin, 2015). The use of violence is often in addition to using other means of control including guilt and shame to force their victims to accept their wishes (Perrin, 2017). Under these circumstances, domestic violence becomes a cycle that involves what the perpetrator is feeling at different times. There are occasions where the violence is either continuous, or ends up taking place after long periods of time. The perpetrator may end up having feelings of guilt or blaming their actions on other aspects such as drunkenness but over time, the violence becomes a cycle.

In conclusion, domestic violence is a serious problem that needs to be tackled efficiently in order to bring it to an end. There needs to be the development of initiatives aimed at making sure that problems are identified and solved early enough before they escalate to violent situations. The discussion above has shown that domestic violence has a negative effect on both victims and perpetrators. This is because they both end up becoming a part of violent cycle that involved physical and psychological harm that makes it difficult for both of them to have healthy relationships.

The role of digital media in the success of the Virgin Group

 

Digital media has had a significant effect on the growth of the Virgin Group over the last five years. This is because it ensures that there is the advancement of the promotional aspects of the Virgin brand in such a way that it has become more recognizable. Furthermore, digital media has ensured that there is the establishment of means through which the Group is able to promote its products, through viral marketing, in such a way that it responds to the individual desires of current and potential customers (Kirby, 2012). This has helped to create an environment where the Virgin Group has become more interactive with the online community in a manner that has made it one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. It has also been responsible for the creation of much needed avenues through which to make sure that it receives feedback from its customers concerning its products to such an extent that it has become possible to bring about the achievement of much needed improvements to align these products to the desires of its customers. 

The Virgin Group has been able to easily adapt to digital media as a part of its strategy to reach as many potential customers as possible while at the same time keeping up with the most essential means through which to enhance its image as a global brand. A result has been that this corporation has been able to align itself with the various interests that can be associated with customers as well as the wider public so that the latter have been given an insight concerning the activities conducted by Virgin. Therefore, digital media has been instrumental in creating a situation where there has been an increase in the popularity of Virgin products because of the belief that these products are in line with the contemporary world. Virgin has also taken advantage of this form of media to increase its sales margins because it has been able to make use of the various platforms that it provides to not only attract customers, but also to make sales. Thus, the Virgin Group has been able to achieve massive benefits through the use of digital media because it is not only interactive, but it also ensures that there is an enhancement of customer experience that makes the Virgin brand an extremely recognizable and important one in the contemporary world.

The Virgin website is one that shoes the eight elements of an e-commerce business model. This is seen through the way that it develops it value proposition, which ensures that it is not only recognizable, but also appeals to the customer. The website also makes use of the affiliate revenue model, which essentially directs the potential customer to the specific Virgin brand in which he or she has an interest. Furthermore, it takes advantage of the market opportunities available because it is not only highly interactive, but also seeks to ensure that there is the advancement of a situation where it taps the billions of internet users every day (Butler, 2010). Furthermore, the website seems to put into consideration the competitors that Virgin has and this is done through putting all the available brands or companies under its banner within the website. In this way, the visitor is better able to access the various services provided by Virgin without necessarily having to undertake new searches that are aimed at finding the products that they need elsewhere. In the website, Virgin also shows a strong marketing strategy that is based on its diverse achievements so far and how that has been able to have a positive impact on the lives of its customers. It also shows the organizational development of Virgin in a way that promotes a positive image concerning the way that it has grown over the years. Finally, the management team of the Group is featured prominently in the website; ensuring that there is the promotion of Virgin’s observance of such initiatives as cultural diversity. 

The Group’s value proposition is one that promotes the idea that the Virgin brand exists to support viable businesses, which is a critical endeavor considering that it essentially seeks to develop new businesses that are in line with the needs of contemporary society. Its market strategy is based on this concept because Virgin is a corporation that is always seeking new opportunities, especially in those areas where there is either very little investment, or where there is a potential for the development of improvements that can provide a niche market for Virgin (Lagner, 2006). Thus, Virgin has been able to take advantage of new opportunities while at the same time making sure that it creates innovations that have been adopted by other companies in the same industries in order to remain competitive. Under such circumstances, it has become possible for Virgin to remain a popular brand across the world based on its ability to not only provide quality, but also affordable products (Boothby, 2009).

One of the most significant aspects of the Virgin Group’s approach to marketing communications is that it constantly seeks to ensure that there is the advancement of the Virgin brand. This means that all the products that fall under this brand have to make sure that they follow the same ethos in order to promote brand consistency. The Virgin brand is one that is constantly promotes as being one that stands “…value for money, quality, innovation, fun, and a sense of competitive challenge” (Matters). This stance is critical because it is the basis upon which all marketing communication from the company is founded. It essentially seeks to show that all the products that are based on the Virgin brand are those of a higher quality than that from the competition. Furthermore, the marketing of the Virgin brand is one that essentially promotes the idea among its audience that it is offering a product that is not only satisfactory to the customers, but also go beyond customer expectations in such a way that they end up feeling that they are getting their money’s worth. Under these circumstances, the marketing communication strategy of Virgin is aimed at the promotion of the Virgin brand in such a way that the customers look forward to using their services because not because they need to, but because they want to; making it the consumer choice rather than just convenience when it comes to their decision to make use of Virgin products. 

The online communication channels available are made use of by Virgin in such a way that it is able to promote as many of its brands as possible. This is based on the monolithic branding approach, which seeks to ensure that the Virgin name is made use of in all of its products, for example Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Music, or Virgin Trains, among many others (Boje & Smith, 2010). The use of Virgin as a brand name is critical to its marketing communication because it is one of the most recognizable brand names in the world. It is also one that has gained the trust of customers for decades, and because of its use on a diversity of products within the organization, these products are believed to be trustworthy by consumers. Therefore, the companies that make up a part of the Virgin brand tend to make use of logos that are designed and styles in a similar way; ensuring that there is the promotion of a situation where there is the advancement of consistency and trustworthiness of the products that are being promoted.

The Virgin Group is one that has specialized in the use of technology to make sure that it enhances its competitive advantage. One of the most significant initiatives that it has undertaken is to make use of such technologies as the internet, especially through its website, to make sure that it reaches as many people as possible. Most of the advertisements that are made within the websites that are owned by the companies under the group are those that are aimed at having a positive impact on its customers. The Group takes advantage of the extremely positive and global name that it has made for itself over the years to promote the diversity of companies and products that it has to offer (Dobni, 2006). Under such circumstances, Virgin is unique from its competitors and has an advantage over them because rather than selling a diversity of brands individually, the Virgin Group instead seeks to sell the Virgin brand. It makes the customers feel that they are dealing with a single entity which promotes an image of Virgin as being an extremely caring and personal entity. Moreover, the name of the head of the corporation, Richard Branson, is one that is extremely well known and has come to be associated with the Virgin brand as a whole. A consequence is that Branson’s name and image is tied to the promotional aspects of the Virgin Group and this is to such an extent that he has become an essential aspect of adding to the competitive advantage of Virgin (Altman, 2009). 

Another aspect of Virgin’s branding strategy that enhances its competitive advantage is that Branson utilizes celebrities in the promotion of its products. This is especially the case considering that he is often depicted or seen with celebrities and this enhances the image of Virgin. It promotes a situation where there is an effective advertising strategy that aims at making sure that there is the enhancement of the product and brand image to its full effect. There is also the use of a diversity of distribution channels, both direct and indirect, across the world, which helps in bringing about more effective customer service while at the same time ensuring that there is greater brand recognition for efficiency. The easy use of technology to advance its competitive advantage can be considered an essential means of making sure that Virgin remains a recognizable brand across the world.

Richard Branson has become an inseparable part of the Virgin brand and is its face. He has been able to ensure that the Virgin brand is capable of becoming a household name because of his constant presence on social networks, which has provided a direct connection between him and customers. Branson is also depicted as a fun-loving individual, and this has been carefully cultivated to connect with the Virgin brand itself, which is not usually seen as a regular brand, but one that has a direct connection with most of the population (Grant, 2005). Branson is also an extremely customer-friendly individual because he is constantly in touch with his customers on social media and seems to be willing to listen to what they have to say. The constant feedback is important for the Virgin brand because Branson is able to steer the brand towards the achievement of goals that make it possible for customers to develop an association with efficiency with Virgin. 

His presence on social networks also enhances the image of the Virgin brand because he is seen to be a leader with a hands-on approach. Under such circumstances, customers gain confidence in the Virgin brand because they recognize that Branson has not lost touch with them and are instead always interested in their welfare. Therefore, Branson’s presence as the face of Virgin has been able to greatly enhance the recognisability of this brand across the world because Branson is an individual that has proven to be charismatic and interested in new lines of business that can promote the interests of the population (Bresciani & Schmeil, 2012). A consequence has been that Branson’s constant presence on social media continues to promote the brand image of Virgin in such a way that shows that the corporation is moving alongside its customers through the use of the same technologies and other means of communication as them. Branson’s presence on social media can be said to have a positive effect on the Virgin brand and will likely continue to do so in the foreseeable future.