Imagine – It’s the second week of school and a 14-year-old walks into your office at her appointed time. She seems especially nervous today as she shuffles her feet and looks at the ground. You wonder if she’s about to cry, or maybe run back out and get back...
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School-wide risk screening can present unique challenges. But it also offers a unique opportunity to get answers to the most important questions a school can ask. Some of the benefits of school-wide screening – such as the opportunity to identify and intervene with at-risk youth in need – are...
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When it comes to identifying and preventing risk factors in youth – a few basic rules apply: You have to ASK HOW you ask matters. TECHnology makes it easier. (And more effective) The first might seem obvious – but it’s still often overlooked. In order to identify risk you’ve...
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Unprotected sex and sexual behaviors remain at the top of youth health risks. Yet connecting with youth in risk-reduction conversations is as challenging as ever. Technology can help to bridge this gap – engaging youth and opening the door to meaningful dialogue. It’s no surprise that youth are more...
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Working on a DEI, TIC, or SEL youth initiative? It’s time for a MITEY change in professional development! Motivational Interviewing or “MI” (a combination of communication strategies designed to support self-directed positive behavior change) has been studied extensively and proven to be one of the most effective techniques for...
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We’ve all seen the stats. And they are increasingly alarming. According to a recent JAMA study: major depressive disorder in teens has nearly doubled in the past decade. A situation made so much worse by the pandemic, that the surgeon general just issued a rare public advisory on the...
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Equipping parents for real talks with their tweens & teens October is Let’s Talk Month, encompassing national and statewide initiatives supporting partnerships between families and organizations that serve them to foster open and honest parent-teen conversations. Research shows that parents—the biggest influencers on teen’s decisions—are not talking often or...
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Across the nation students are back-to-school… in person, virtually and every combination in between! Now that we’ve survived the busy, chaotic first few weeks of “The Return” – what’s next? Now is the time to ensure that each valuable interaction you have helps to: Identify youth that are struggling...
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Sure, technology is smart – but can it also be emotionally intelligent? Why are youth willing to share everything on Instagram and SnapChat, or even post videos and Tik-Toks that might be as personal as sexual activity, yet they won’t give truthful answers to doctors, nurses, and educators when...
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Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a well-established communication and coaching method for effectively engaging adults and youth in risk reduction and behavior change discussions. Many times young adults are overlooked in MI discussions, yet MI strategies are a perfect fit for the unique needs of college students. College students are...
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