Troubled Teens Resources

One of the most effective form of teen crisis intervention is that undertaken by individual celebrity athletes. The ones that take the time to visit and speak with the troubled teens who look up to them. In many cases athletes can raise money for programs for troubled teens that otherwise would have to scramble and fight for every thin dime.

Such is the case where a community program was saved via community efforts and the blessing of some football greats.

“Former San Francisco 49er Randy Kirk brought smiles to young faces and a $10,000 check to the El Toro Youth Center.

“Work hard, always do your best, and you’ll be able to achieve your dreams,” Kirk told a group of more than 30 children last week.

The Oct. 18 visit was great news for a program bouncing back from the brink of bankruptcy last June.

The staff breathed a sigh of relief as efforts to raise $100,000 came closer to a happy ending, with $93,000 raised so far, according to Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate, one of the community leaders working to save the center for at-risk youth in the community.”

Teen programs depend heavily on the generosity of the community and often flounder and fail for lack of funds. When that happens, the entire community suffers.

“The center has been a resource for low-income…families for about 20 years, providing after-school and summer programs for needy children and parents. Many low-income and single-parent families rely on El Toro for childcare and academic support. The center also serves as a hub of information on other social services available to low-income as well as immigrant families.”
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The fight against teen age drug abuse is not fought only by law enforcement and school officials. It is fought first by conscientious and informed parents taking a pro-active role in their school and community.

Those familiar with recent research released on the ’state of the war’ on drugs is also aware that these reports cite parents as the most critical influence in their troubled teens‘ decisions on drug use. Recent news reports also reveal that parents are not taking that role too seriously. Some think it’s just dandy for their teens to do drugs - “hey, they’ll get over it” - and some parents prefer to put their head in the sands and ignore local teen drug problems completely.

This battle can’t be fought without ongoing small community efforts such as the national non-profit,’Mothers Against Methamphetamine’ (MAMa). Unfortunately, the ostrich parents in one community had the audacity to suggest that the efforts of the local chapter of MAMa was giving the town a bad name by revealing the depth of that community’s meth problem.

“Fulghum said the nonprofit activist group, which reaches out to parents and their teens who experiment with drugs, has not been well-received by some members of the Walton County and Gwinnett sides of Loganville.

“In the beginning I was told, ‘You are giving Loganville a bad name. I can’t believe you started this organization,’” said Fulghum, who started the Loganville branch”

And now Loganville might get their wish since Filgham will be relocating and no parent has stepped forward to take her place. Don’t be the ostrich in your community. For the sake of your teen, be pre-active.

Teen help in the service of others can develop a very important characteristic that will go far in developing self-respect as well as respect for others; empathy.

The emotionally immature person, which addicts always are, is naturally narcissistic as well. The last thing they think about is how their behavior will harm those around them and hurt their family deeply. Something as seemingly simple as teaching a self-absorbed teenager that they are not the only people with problems can be a form of teen crisis intervention in and of itself.

“Lack of empathy has been cited as a possible factor in the development of antisocial behaviors, including bullying. An inability to recognize and care about the plight of the victim leaves the bullier unable to experience guilt and gives him little reason to change his behavior. By helping to develop empathy skills, we help kids become better human beings.”

Linda Carney at Suite 101 has a good post covering some of the way parents can coach their kids towards learning empathy. She buys additional school supplies to donate to her kids’ schools, allowing her two younger children to grasp that not everyone has what they have. Teenagers can get involved in their churches’ various outreach programs or join in with community efforts designed to help elderly folks with property upkeep. The point is for teens at risk to get out of their own skin and understand the plight of those who need help.

“Service projects give kids the chance to give back to others less fortunate. In addition to monetary and other donations, gifts of ones time and talent help kids feel competent and important in the world. These types of projects often also give kids the chance to work directly with the people they are helping, enabling kids to start to identify with them. This helps to further their empathy development.”

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