COVER STORY THE HANLEY INSTITUTE Be kind. It’s that simple.
you for. Let’s just work on growing.”
Jenny Hanley isn’t about red tape or rules. She’s not into bureaucracy, and she certainly doesn’t tolerate any bullshit.
In order to help kids become responsible and respectful members of society, she said it’s easiest to just jump into tough topics. Hanley said the Four S’s, self esteem, suicide, substance abuse and sex, are all openly and honestly discussed at the centre.
When it comes to the kids at the Hanley Institute, her mission is extremely straightforward. “It’s a simple model,” she said. “We don’t enable kids; we empower them.” Hanley began the Hanley Institute in 2018. When she first opened the youth centre in Flesherton, she had two kids participate in after-school programs. Now, upwards of 20 pre-teens and teens can be found at the Spring Street facility any given day after school. On top of drop-ins and after school programs, Hanley also facilitates summer day camps, offers one-on-one education sessions and group workshops. Everything is designed to help rural kids in Grey County become the best possible versions of themselves through coping skills, effective communication, development of healthy friendships and relationships, and most importantly, being kind. “If a kid is not being the person they could be, that’s what I’m here for,” she said. “We want to give kids every opportunity we can.” Hanley is an Educational Assistant by day and has a background in Addiction Support. She’s also mom to a 19-yearold daughter, and legal guardian to an 18-year-old son. Her experiences parenting and working in schools and rehabilitation centres have helped create a very real and relevant environment in the Hanley Institute. “You need to talk their lingo and be real to them,” she said. “There’s too much enabling and sugar-coating shit with kids. For me, I’m straight up. Say it as it is.” No topic or conversation is off limits. Having worked with mental health patients, gangs and drug dealers, Hanley said: “There’s nothing you can say that I’m going to judge 16
“I want kids to have the correct information,” she said. “We talk about drugs all the time, and the consequences of drug use. That way, if kids make the conscious decision to get high, they at least have that information beforehand.” Her approach certainly resonates with the kids. Every time someone walks into the Hanley Institute, they must stop and make eye contact with the person they see in the mirror. Hanley supervises as they say something nice to that person. Next, they have to sign in and sign up for a job. That “chore” is their way of being part of the Hanley Institute household. “We’re a family,” Hanley said. “You make a mess, you clean it up.” Giving youth a say also helps make them feel like they belong. “I really want the youth to have a huge impact on how this place is run,” she said. Another initiative Hanley takes quite seriously is the rule of five. If a kid says something negative about someone or something, they have to verbalize five positives about that person or thing. Hanley said kids will hold other kids accountable. “This needs to be a safe place,” she said. “If kids are going to be jerks to each other, they’re not going to be welcome. Let’s make good choices.” Facilities like the Hanley Institute definitely exist in more urban centres, but Hanley said there is a need for centres in rural places like Grey County as well. The challenges facing area kids and teens are not dissimilar
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