Sue Scheff: Planned Parenthood – Teen Time
by Sue Scheff on Mar 20, 2010
On Thursday March 25th, 2010, at 6:00pm – 8:00 pm join the discussion of Planned Parenthood’s legislative priorities, how to deal with anti-choice attacks, and how you can help advance women’s reproductive health care rights. There are several briefings coming up, so you can attend one that best fits your schedule.
This is a free event. A light dinner will be served, and your RSVP is kindly requested. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Takeata King Pang at Takeata.Pang@ppsoflo.org or (561) 472-9942.
Promoting education on teen pregnancy enhances your daughter’s awareness about STD’s, pregnancy prevention, birth control options including abstinence as well as the sensitive issue of adoption.
Planned Parenthood of South Florida also offers The Teen Time® Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (Teen Time®) which uses a holistic approach that aims to empower youth. The program helps young people to develop personal goals and the desire for a productive future.
In addition to developing sexual literacy and educating teens about the risks associated with sexual activity, the program also emphasizes the importance of education and employment. Youths start the program at age 11 or 12 and continue past high school. They work with them five days a week, after school, and throughout the summer. There are sites in Belle Glade, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce, in areas with high rates of teen pregnancy and low high school graduation rates.
Find out more about Teen Time – click here.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens. Watch video and read more.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Planned Parenthood, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Time
Sue Scheff: Homeless Teens
by Sue Scheff on Mar 17, 2010
We know about homeless people and the challenges they face. Many homeless people suffer from a mental illness, some have lost their jobs and homes.
However hearing about homeless youths can be disturbing. After all, these are truly children that have had to grow up fast. No matter what the circumstances are, whether they were in an abusive home, are addicts, or their parents simply don’t want them; being homeless is a place where no one wants to be or even talk about.
In South Florida, the Covenant House offers relief for homeless teens. Covenant House Florida serves runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth under 21 including teen parents and their babies.
Each year, we reach hundreds of kids in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando via street outreach, crisis shelters, transitional housing projects, and aftercare, making Covenant House Florida one of the largest private agencies serving runaway and homeless youth in the state of Florida.
Services offered:
- Street Outreach by van and foot
- Shelter Care — nourishing meals, clean clothes, and a safe place to sleep: current capacity Ft Lauderdale 68 Youths / Orlando 20 Youths (both locations accessible to young mothers and their babies)
- Counseling, Case Management, and Referrals
- Health Services at on-site clinics
- Family Reunification
- Substance Abuse Intervention
- Pregnancy Prevention/Teen Parent Education
- Education
- Job Readiness
- Life Skills Instruction
- Transportation Assistance
- Pastoral Ministry
- Rights of Passage Transitional Housing
- Aftercare/Walk-In Services
To contact the Covenant House for more information, call toll free at 1-800-683-8338.
Must watch video and read more. Help get young people off the streets.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Homeless Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Animal Assisted Therapy for Teens and Elders
by Sue Scheff on Mar 15, 2010
Does your teenager (18 years old and up) have a passion for their pet? Do they enjoy helping others? If so, The Humane Society of Broward County offers a rewarding program. Animal Assisted Therapy Programs (AAT) is a rewarding experience for your teen and their companion animal.
First you will need to attend the Humane Society of Broward County’s Volunteer Orientation. Volunteer Orientation is scheduled through their Volunteer Services Department at 954-266-6814.
The Animal Assisted Therapy Program (AAT) is not only for young adults; parents and people of all ages can help make a difference in many lives. If your teen is seeking a career in psychology, social work or veterinarian, this could be an excellent introduction. For adults, it is a great way to meet others that share your love of animals and helping others.
Once you have completed the Volunteer Orientation, you will be required to attend a 2 ½ hour AAT class without your animal. This class will teach you all about our Animal Assisted Therapy Program and what skill requirements both you and your animal must possess in order to be considered for our program.
After the AAT course is completed, you and your animal might require further training. Training is determined by the type of program you and your animal will be participating in, and what skill sets you and your animal have or need to have in order to participate. AAT Advanced Obedience Training classes are held at the Humane Society and are scheduled once a week for 6 weeks. The Manager of the AAT program will decide if you and your animal require further training before being evaluated for the program. – Humane Society of Broward County
If you are interested in joining AAT program, please contact the Humane Society directly at 954-266-6856 or email them at therapy@hsbroward.com .
Not in Broward County? To find the nearest Humane Society near you, click here.
Watch slideshow of animals and read more on Examiner.
Tags: Assisted Animal Therapy, Canine Therapy, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Increasing Your Teens Study Skills
by Sue Scheff on Mar 10, 2010
Motivating students today can be a challenge. Many children are very bright, intelligent and have the ability to get excellent grades, however are underachievers. This can be extremely frustrating to parents as well as teachers.
PS Youth Outreach Center located in Lauderdale Lakes, offers Broward County youths an opportunity to learn better study skills, prepare for SAT’s, ACT’s as well as GED preparation. PS Youth also helps teens and young adults with career development by offering assistance with resume writing, interview tips, filling out applications and computer classes.
Paula Scott, President of PS Youth Outreach Center, said they are planning a Summer Camp which will also foster educational growth and retention during the summer months as well as incorporate some fun, educational activities. PS Youth’s one-on-one tutoring rate is very low, in comparison to other tutoring and private educational services.
PS Youth Outreach Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which serves at-risk youth between the ages of 5-22 who reside in Broward County. The agency was founded in 2006 as a reaction to the numerous youth of Broward County who are under-served or unaware of the many services available.
Education is a privilege which many of our youth become discouraged to follow through with. Whether discouraged by social distractions, familial distractions, or simply a lack of guidance, these youth need to be helped through education.
PS Youth is approved by FDOE and the School Board of Broward County. Call today and learn more! 954-358-0625 or email at info@psyouth.org . Are you able to sponsor a student or have school supplies to donate? Learn more, click here.
Be an educated parent, it can help your child reach their greatest potential.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: ACT, FCAT, Parenting, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, PS Youth Outreach, SAT, Study Skills, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Dr. Drew Talks about Cough Medicine Abuse
by Sue Scheff on Mar 09, 2010
Recently I was privileged to be part of an interesting and educational conversation with Dr. Drew and Jeff Wolfsberg.
Jeff Wolfsberg posted an excellent outline of our discussion. For parents that are raising teens today, it is imperative you understand the dangers of cough medicine abuse as well as other medicines in your home.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Cough Medicine Abuse, Dr. Drew, Drug Use, Parenting, Parenting Resources, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Substance Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Troubled Teens
Sue Scheff: FCATs start today in Florida – Could Facebook and Video Games be the cause of a decline in grades?
by Sue Scheff on Mar 09, 2010
If you live in Florida and have children that attend public school, the FCAT’s (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) is part of public school testing. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® (FCAT) is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. The FCAT, administered to students in Grades 3-11, consists of criterion-referenced tests (CRT) in mathematics, reading, science, and writing, which measure student progress toward meeting the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) benchmarks.
The Sun-Sentinel reports Education experts say the drop-off can be attributed to many things – a progressively more difficult test, students’ backgrounds and a decreased focus on teaching students to read in upper grades.
Then there are the distractions, such as playing video games or connecting with friends on Facebook.
The numbers tell the story. Only four of Broward’s 32 high schools had at least 75 percent of students reading at grade level in the past five years, according to a Sun Sentinel analysis of FCAT reading scores. That’s compared with 98 of 140 elementary and 23 of 41 middle schools.
Overall in Broward, 37 percent of 10th-graders and 57 percent of eighth-graders scored a 3 or higher on last year’s state reading test. Broward’s eighth-graders performed slightly higher than the statewide average of 54 percent, while 10th-graders mirrored the statewide figures.
Parents need to get involved. They need to learn how to set boundaries and simply unplug from the distractions. Struggling students also might have a problem getting motivated to take tests, parents need to encourage their children and help them to understand the importance of education.
Source: Sun-Sentinel
Be an educated parent, you will have successful teens!
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Educational Testing, FCAT, parenting advice, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Study Skills, Sue Scheff, Teachers, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Underage Drinking and Teens – FAMILY TALK
by Sue Scheff on Mar 07, 2010
Each year at this time, teens begin planning for some of the most memorable moments of their lives, including celebrating proms and graduations with friends and family. To help keep these celebrations safe for everyone, it¹s important to remind adults to encourage teens to celebrate safely and without alcohol.
According to the 2009 GfK Roper Youth Report, 68 percent of youth, ages 8 to 17, cite their parents as the number one influence on their decisions about whether they drink alcohol or not. In addition, government research shows that teens who report drinking usually get their alcohol from adults.
To help prevent underage drinking, the Family Talk program encourages open, honest communication between parents and children. Developed by an advisory panel of education, family counseling, child psychology and alcohol treatment professionals, Family Talk materials are distributed free to parents and educators by Anheuser-Busch and its national network of distributors.
These materials may be downloaded at www.familytalkonline.com in English and Spanish.
Progress is being made in the fight against underage drinking, by raising awareness and through sound educational programs and strong partnerships. In fact, 85 percent of adolescents, ages 12 to 17, are doing the right thing by not drinking, according to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teen drunk-driving fatalities have declined 34 percent since 2000.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Binge drinking, Family Talk, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Issues, Underage Drinking
Sue Scheff: Teens with Depression
by Sue Scheff on Mar 06, 2010
With the recent headlines of the suicide of Marie Osmond’s son and TV teen actor of Growing Pains, Andrew Koenig, we are learning and hearing more about depression in children as well as a keen awareness to suicidal signs in our teens.
Do you suspect your child is suffering with depression? Are you concerned your teen is becoming more withdrawn, secretive, isolated? Childhood and teenage depression is often in hiding.
What is pediatric depression?
It’s normal for children and teenagers to have sad or moody days, but when those feelings last for two weeks or longer, it could indicate that something more serious is going on. As adults, it can be hard for us to accept that children can also have depression, but research is going on now to help find new medicines for children with depression in the future.
If your child has been displaying one or more of these signs of depression for at least two weeks, and they are interfering with his/her ability to function, then he/she may be depressed and eligible to take part in this research:
- Frequent sadness, or crying
- Decreased interest in activities
- Persistent boredom; low energy
- Social isolation
- Low self-esteem and guilt
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
- Increased irritability, anger, or hostility
- Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school
- Poor concentration
- A major change in eating and/or sleeping patterns
- Talk of, or efforts to run away from home
Source: Kids With Depression
Are you worried or concerned that your child or teen is struggling with depression? Visit www.kidswithdepression.com and learn more.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Depression, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Depression, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Sadness, Teen Suicide
Sue Scheff: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Free publications promote awareness
by Sue Scheff on Mar 05, 2010
Parenting involves many more challenges and issues today than generations earlier. While years ago our parents concerns were with a teen getting pregnant or a form of STD such as Herpes, today there are many more serious concerns that both women and girls need to be aware of. This doesn’t mean these issues didn’t exist years ago, however it does mean we have come further in our education of knowledge and awareness.
March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). This a nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Read more about NWGHAAD.
When women are faced with HIV/AIDS, their physical health is not the only issue at hand. Often accompanying the physical illness associated with the virus are mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
The Office on Women’s Health has two publications-one for health professionals and one for consumers-that focus on building positive awareness about women’s mental health. They address environmental and cultural barriers to seeking help and suggest gender-appropriate strategies for recovery.
Order your free mental health publications for women today! Click here.
Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens!
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: AIDS, HIV, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sex Education, STD, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Sex
Sue Scheff: Fake Pot – Do you know what your teens are smoking?
by Sue Scheff on Mar 04, 2010
As parents scramble to keep up with the challenges of raising teens today, they are now thrown another curve ball. Most know that smoking pot, although not legal and seems to becoming more addictive among youths, is a trend that some parents brush under the rug with the justification that “it is only pot.”
Recently after speaking with a parent of an at risk teen, she said her therapist actually told her teen it was “okay” to smoke marijuana. Excuse me? This parent was horrified and this only empowered the teen. Obviously they are not returning to that therapist, but how many others feel this way?
Parenting is hard enough, and it is the parent that is the strongest tool in helping our teens to understand the dangers of drug abuse.
Now we have what is being called, K2 – or “Spice,” Genie” and “Zohai” – that is commonly sold in head shops as incense and referred to as the “fake-pot“. Produced in China and Korea, the mixture of herbs and spices is sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Users roll it up in joints or inhale it from pipes, just like the real thing. – AP
K2 costs between $20 and $50 for three grams, similar to the street price of marijuana, but with the key advantages of being legal and undetectable in drug tests. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration has classified it a “drug or chemical of concern.”
Kansas and Missouri already have bills to ban the mystery substance. What is your state doing about this latest trend?
Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Drug Use, Fake Marijuana, K2, Parenting, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Peer Pressure, Smoking Pot, Substance Abuse, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help
