The following may sound a little wordy but be patient and pay special attention to the second paragraph:

"The Children’s Hospital Association is offering a webinar tour of the newly launched Speak Now for Kids website at www.speaknowforkids.org. Speak Now for Kids is a nonpartisan online advocacy network designed to help raise public awareness of the unique challenges children and families face in our changing health care system. Advocates are encouraged to: interact with other champions for children’s health care by learning about issues affecting kids’ health; exchange information through an online forum; and take action in support of public policies that benefit kids and families.

 We're parents, grandparents, teachers, nurses, doctors, hospital workers, teens — people like you, who care about how kids' health care affects our future. Join us and become a champion for children's health."

My point here is go to their web site and tell your story. If you feel you have gotten good help let them know. If you feel you have gotten poor help tell your story. You deserve to give your side of the picture. Perhaps you will learn where you can get more help in your neck of the woods with your problems at home. Just do it.

Posted by answersforteens at 6:33 PM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

I am updating The Resource Chapter in the book, FOR TEENAGERS LIVING WITH A PARENT WHO ABUSES ALCOHOL/DRUGS. As you know addresses change. New help agencies are born. Some help agencies close down. While doing my research I came across the following new site. I want you all to have it before the new edition comes out. If you ever feel down, blue or need help visit these people.

CTL (Crisis Text Line) helps individuals in crisis by connecting them with a compassionate, trained listener through a toll-free texting service. CTL is available nationwide and 24/7. Text “CTL” to 741741 You can also visit their web site www.crisistextline.org 

Posted by answersforteens at 11:04 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 7 October 2013 11:15 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  hug me

It's suicide week but I truly feel being aware of feeling blue, feeling threatened needs to be done year round. If you have a friend, relative or you yourself are feeling down copy, paste this browser into your computer: http://www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/2013/09/11/abbie-walks-and-talks-for-suicide-prevention/

It's important to reach out. If the first person you talk to isn't on your page go to someone else. Lets hear from you.

Posted by answersforteens at 2:20 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

September is recovery month. No matter what is going on in your life you can do something for yourself. Join an event in your neck of the woods. Just go to: 

http://www.recoverymonth.gov/Community-Events/Find-An-Event.aspx

You should be able to find something near you. Joining other teens in the same situation will strengthen you, give you new ideas and give you peace.

You may also want to share your story with others. Remember it is all anonymous. Go to:

http://www.recoverymonth.gov/Voices-for-Recovery.aspx

Feel free to write us what you did. 

Posted by answersforteens at 5:26 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  bright

I have discovered a sweet web site named IN THE ROOMS. It is a place where you can vent your worries and talk to teens with similar worries. Some of you may worry that you have inherited your parent(s)’ addictions. The possibility exists that you may on the other hand say, “Oh, forget it. I am not like my parent.” Yet, you may have replaced your parent(s)’ addiction with another just to think you are different from them. However, addiction is addiction no matter what you use.  If you have no addiction it is still good to let people know what you are going through. You can join any of the meetings and let them know what life is like in your home. It’s all anonymous  so you will not be invading your family’s privacy. No one will know who you are. Go for it.

In the words of In The Rooms: Whether you're in recovery, seeking help from any addiction, family or friend, register for IN THE ROOMS now. You'll get exclusive free access to Daily Meditations, Speaker Tapes and Daily Online Video AA / NA meetings. There are over 240,000 members who are willing to share their experience, strength and hope with YOU.

Posted by answersforteens at 5:04 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 31 August 2013 5:09 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

I do hope that those of you who read this do not consider yourself a bully. Those of you who are bullied may want to get together with others who are bullied in your school and discuss what you can do to help. Educators are becoming more and more aware of the problem. If you love to write or make movies the item which I just received and am quoting may be of interest to you. Read on:

 2013 NO BULL National Education Conference and Teen Video Awards To be Held August 10th in Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 8, 2013) -Celebrities from Movies, Television, Music and Sports will gather alongside national bullying activists on Saturday, August 10th in Los Angeles for the 2013 NO BULL National Education Conference and NO BULL Teen Video Awards.  The awards show will narrow down 15 nominees who wrote and directed short films and Public Service Announcements about the importance of bullying prevention and digital responsibility.  Grown Up's 2 star actor, Nadji Jeter, will host and Brett Ostro, a former producer on the Teen Choice Awards, the Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards, and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, will serve as the producer for the annual event. Special guest performers include #1 recording artist Ryan Beatty, Epic Records recording artist Marcus Canty and artist Allan I.

The NO BULL Teen Video Awards is a blend of "Oscars meets the Grammys" where social change starts at the youth level. Awards presented include Best Acting, Best Directing, Best Documentary of the Year, Best Message, Best Visual Effects, Best PSA of the Year and more. Through the magic of filmmaking and the power of peer-to-peer influence, The Great American NO BULL Challenge empowers teens to become leaders by taking action to address a significant issue and need within their daily lives, bullying prevention, campus safety and the importance of being digitally responsible. The NO BULL Challenge is providing the much-needed platform and spark to encourage youth activism to inspire the world's 200 million teenagers to make a difference on one magical evening.

All 15 NO BULL Award Nominees have won an all expense trip to this years' award show, and "Noble" award winners will receive prizes such as a college scholarship for $500, GoPro video cameras, an internship with Emmy award-winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch (BULLY!), trip to the Sundance Film Festival, VIP and backstage access to the 2013 FOX Teen Choice Awards. Past award winners have appeared on The Today Show, The Steve Harvey Show and many other media outlets as well as special youth guests at schools around the country and for Washington DC's National Bullying Prevention Summit, hosted by the federal government.

Materials from the event will be developed for distribution by NO BULL's Education Academy. This includes the campaign's award winning short films, ready-to-use classroom curriculum and assembly programs available at no cost to schools across the country.
Celebrities expected to attend include:
World War Z stars Abigail Hargrove and Fabrizio Guido, Big Time Rush's Kelli Goss, Tucker Albrizzi and Savannah Jayde, Glee's Lauren Potter, actor and DWTS contestant Kyle Massey, Nickelodeon actress Kayla Maisonet, television hosts Joey and Elise Luthman, The Middle actors Brittany Ross and Brock Ciarelli, Man of Steel actress Jadin Gould, MTV's The Wanted Life crew, Hit The Floor actor Jonathan McDaniel, ABC's The Secret Life of The American Teenager actress Camille Winbush, Pretty Little Liars actor Cody Christian, Are We There Yet actor Coy Stewart, Racecar driver Zach Veach, ABC's Family Tools actor Brandon P. Bell, The Awakening star Brandon Tyler Russell, Hannah Montana actress Romi Dames, So You Think You Can Dance's Allison Holker, Step Up Revolution's Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Disney's Crash & Bernstein star Landry Bender, Cartoon Network's Incredible Crew actress Shauna Case, The Twilight Saga's Amadou Ly, Disney Channel A.N.T. Farm star Carlon Jeffery, Nickelodeon Zoey 101 star Christopher Massey, General Hospital's Haley Pullos and Kristen Alderson, Nickelodeon's The Thundermans star Lou Wegner, Olivia star Laci Kay, musician Noah Urrea, X-Factor's Mali Nicole and more.

 

Posted by answersforteens at 8:11 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Melissa Gower-Pence, the founder of CraftCruises which includes Craft Cruises For Kids, has noticed that more boys are knitting than  ever before. And why not? Knitting has a calming effect and enables those wanting money to sell their products to stores catering to children clothes and boutiques offering hand knitted merchandise.

If you have not found a job this summer whether you are a boy or a girl you might consider learning how to knit. If you don’t know how to knit your local yarn store will help you get started. If supplies are a problem go to Needle Arts Mentoring Program  at http://www.tnna.org/page/NAMPHome  or  c/o Helping Hands Foundation, Inc. 1100-H Brandywine Blvd. Zanesville, OH 43701-7303. E-mail: HelpingHands@Offinger.com . This group will tell you what is available in your area and if need be will supply you free of charge with the necessary material. Send us photos of your new accomplishments.

Posted by answersforteens at 6:13 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

For those of you who have a desire to write you have read in the past my comments about ONE TEEN STORY.  They are a magazine for teenagers who have a story to tell. If you don't want to spend the money to subscribe ask your library to get the magazine. Read it before you write your own story. If you have a good relationship with your English teacher she/he might help you organize your story. Anyway here is the latest info from the publisher.

One Teen Story just a year old, the monthly magazine of short fiction for young people is getting a new editor-in-chief: Patrick Ryan, 47, was the associate editor of Granta from 2009 to 2013. Designed for readers 14 and up, One Teen Story publishes nine issues a year. Like its parent magazine, it doesn’t carry photographs or advertising. It’s just exactly what it says: one story per issue.

Ryan says young people are “looking for engaging reads about people whom they can identify with. It’s not about having a message or the positive spin. It always starts on a character level, and it has to have an interesting story. If you look at the ‘Twilight’ characters and the ‘Harry Potter’ characters, they feel very contemporary.”

Ryan knows what he’s talking about because he’s written for this market himself. In addition to publishing a collection of short stories for adults, he’s the author of three novels for young adults: “Saints of Augustine,” “In Mike We Trust” and “Gemini Bites.”

Posted by answersforteens at 2:32 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 20 June 2013 10:02 AM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  a-ok

Wellness week is coming this September, but you know what - wellness should be year round. The subjects which cover wellness week are so important you need to work on them year round. Be good to yourself. Take the pledge not to take drugs or drink. Those of you who have read my book know that addiction is hereditary. Much has to do with how we metabolize alcohol and/or drugs. Think about the points listed below. They have been put together by SAMHSA. Perhaps you can help to organize some activities in your community. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with SAMHSA at wellness@samhsa.hhs.gov 

National Wellness Week 2013 Schedule:

Monday, September 16

Overview of Eight Dimensions
Overarching activities about SAMHSA's Wellness Initiative, National Wellness Week, and how the Eight Dimensions help people recover and build resilience, especially when confronted with traumatic, mental health, or substance use challenges.

Tuesday, September 17

Physical Dimension
Activities promoting healthy behaviors, including smoking cessation, physical activity, nutrition, adequate sleep, and safe medication use.

Wednesday, September 18

Intellectual Dimension
Activities encouraging individuals to participate in the Artistic Expression for Wellness national activity, such as writing poetry or developing artwork. Also, messages inspiring creativity and mentally stimulating activities, such as writing poetry or teaching others about one's area of interest.

• Artistic Expression for Wellness national activity

Thursday, September 19

Spiritual Dimension
Activities encouraging incorporating pursuits such as meditation, prayer, or music into one's efforts to enhance recovery.

Friday, September 20

Social and Emotional Dimensions
Activities encouraging individuals to join the Line Dance for Wellness in communities across the country. Dancing is a great stress reliever and also provides social interaction. Individuals can also incorporate the social and emotional dimensions in a variety of other ways, such as volunteering, joining a book club, or simply spending more time with family and friends.

• Line Dance for Wellness national activity

Saturday, September 21

Financial and Occupational Dimensions
Activities promoting tips and support on how to manage one's finances. Encouraging individuals to explore work opportunities that will provide satisfaction in their lives.

• Financial dimension national activity (please check back periodically for more information).

Sunday, September 22

Environmental Dimension
Activities promoting ways individuals can improve healthy environmental surroundings to support their physical and mental health.

***

Posted by answersforteens at 12:16 AM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 12:32 AM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

It is so sad that we have people in this world who want to hurt us. Yes, I am talking about the Boston tragedy. If this has upset you or if you live in Boston and have been touched by the terrorism seek out someone to talk to here. Here is a resource:

The toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy. This free, confidential, and multilingual crisis support service is also available via SMS—text "TalkWithUs" to 66746. Callers and texters are connected to trained and caring professionals who provide confidential counseling, referrals, and other needed support services.

Posted by answersforteens at 5:57 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 15 May 2013 4:12 PM EDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink