Portage County Alliance for Youth

Developmental Asset Article for April 2009

By Mary Ann Krems and Dee Erlandson of PCAY and assistance from Gen Kirchman of CESA 5

“Preventing Teens from Engaging in Risky Behaviors as a Means of Coping with Stress” is a recent informational piece received from Gen Kirchman, CESA 5. Youth struggle with a great deal of stress in their everyday lives—-from family situations, to school, to money, to peer pressure. Sadly, many youth lack the coping skills needed to make healthy decisions when it comes to their own safety. Without guidance, support, and direction from a parent or other trusted adult, many youth may turn to risky and unhealthy behaviors. Their choices can include the experimentation and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

Those working within juvenile detention centers often report that many of their resident youth share the common challenge of not having a significant adult in their life. Having such an adult who is present to affirm a youth and can assist with setting healthy limits and boundaries can make a significant difference in their positive growth and development. Support and boundaries are both developmental assets that help manage stress for young people and we each have a role in helping to build them for the youth in our lives.

As you seek further advice on the role of building assets, the following web sites are suggested for parents and other adults looking for information and help.

  1. www.MVParents.com : Brief informative articles on parenting topics.
  2. www.TheAntiDrug.com : articles of interest for parents.
  3. www.TheAntiDrug.com/resources : or call 1-800-788-2800 to place bulk orders free of charge (resources include Navigating the Teen Years: A Parent’s Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens, The Teen Years: A Roadmap for Parents: an interactive DC-ROM on teen development, and Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free).
  4. www.thatsnotcool.com : a website to raise awareness about digital dating abuse.
  5. www.drugs.com : a pill ID wizard for questions about identifying a specific pill.
  6. Wondering about the meaning of some slang terms? www.urbandictionary.com may help.
  7. For younger children: Empowering Youth at http://2passthetorch.com and 5 Minutes for Mom linked there.

And, of course, Portage County Alliance for Youth maintains a web site for youth and parents with resources and things to do at www.pcayouth.org.

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