B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network) is an exciting new parent outreach initiative that works with Brookline school administrators and PTOs to engage and educate parents on how to successfully navigate the complex social and emotional challenges currently affecting teens and pre-teens – developmental challenges all our kids face in some form or other that often can lead to risky behavior.
Our goals are to facilitate connections:
* with other parents,
* with school and town resources, and
* with helpful information on a wide variety of teen concern
Our goals are to facilitate connections:
* with other parents,
* with school and town resources, and
* with helpful information on a wide variety of teen concern
CHECK OUT THE LATEST PARENT NETWORK NEWSLETTER ON "UNDERAGE DRINKING AND THE LAW"
The news is full of stories about teens drinking too much and engaging in dangerous behavior, sometimes becoming grievously injured or even dying from alcohol poisoning, falling, drowning, crashing in a car. More and more, it is not just the teens, but the adults who are being held accountable. From North Andover to Burlington to right in our own backyard, there are cautionary tales galore that make underage drinking not only a dangerous health problem for developing teens, but a legal issue for their parents as well. B-CASA's latest PARENT NETWORK NEWSLETTER is a special issue on "Underage Drinking and the Law," and features a primer on the new Social Host laws, “What do I do if…” expert advice, “The Accidental House Party,” and a report on the recent Community Forum, which yielded a wealth of excellent ideas for educating parents to help stem the problem of underage drinking.
JOANI GELTMAN PRESENTS SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR
PARENTS OF RISING FRESHMEN, MAY 27, 7 p.m. Brookline High School
On May 27, child development expert Joani Geltman presents a special program for parents of BHS rising freshman to help parents understand and prepare for some of the big transitions from middle school to high school. Check out Joani's Parent Tip Sheet!
ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH
April was Alcohol Awareness Month, an annual public awareness campaign that encourages local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues, including the pervasive problem of underage drinking, which includes nearly 11 million American teens today. (Roughly 25% of teens aged 12-20 admit to drinking within a given 30-day period.) The campaign calls for parents, school, communities and organizations to take a stand against a problem costing the U.S. nearly $200 billion a year. Across the country, communities are hosting a variety of events and initiatives that call attention to the issue of underage drinking's impact on public safety as well as the often devastating effects alcohol can have on the development of the growing body.
Even though Alcohol Awareness Month is over, it's never to late to have the conversation with your teen. Check out our special ALCOHOL AWARENESS NEWSLETTER as well as our TIP SHEET on facts and strategies for talking to your teen about underage alcohol use. For the Tip Sheet in Russian, click here.
April was Alcohol Awareness Month, an annual public awareness campaign that encourages local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues, including the pervasive problem of underage drinking, which includes nearly 11 million American teens today. (Roughly 25% of teens aged 12-20 admit to drinking within a given 30-day period.) The campaign calls for parents, school, communities and organizations to take a stand against a problem costing the U.S. nearly $200 billion a year. Across the country, communities are hosting a variety of events and initiatives that call attention to the issue of underage drinking's impact on public safety as well as the often devastating effects alcohol can have on the development of the growing body.
Even though Alcohol Awareness Month is over, it's never to late to have the conversation with your teen. Check out our special ALCOHOL AWARENESS NEWSLETTER as well as our TIP SHEET on facts and strategies for talking to your teen about underage alcohol use. For the Tip Sheet in Russian, click here.
Visit the US Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse Alcohol and Drug Information web page.
The Teen Brain and Today’s Chemical Culture
An Evening of Information, Insight and Discussion
for Parents and Teens
SUMMARY INFO
Nearly 300 adults and teens filed into Brookline High School’s Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium Thursday night, March 4, for The Teen Brain and Today’s Chemical Culture: An Evening of Information, Insight and Discussion for Parents and Teens. Sponsored by B-PEN, B-CASA (Brookline Coalition Against Substance Abuse), the Jeremy S. Kritzman Initiative on Drugs and Alcohol, and several other organizations, this special “Day of Awareness” event addressed the special vulnerabilities of the developing teen brain in today’s “a drink or pill will make it better” culture. Presenter/panelists include McLean Hospital brain development specialist Marisa M. Silveri, Ph.D. and Kitty Dukakis.
The evening opened with a B-CASA award presentation to Former First Lady of Massachusetts Kitty Dukakis for her extraordinary activism in a wide spectrum of health and human rights issues. (To read complete summary, click here.) For complete release/invite information click here.
RESOURCES
For a list of websites, articles and online videos about teen brain development and how it affects adolescent behavior ("What was he/she thinking?"), click here.
THE TEEN BRAIN -- SOME SIMPLE FACTS
For a downloadable tip sheet of basic information on teen brain development, click here.
B-CASA'S PARENT NETWORK NEWSLETTER -- SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE TEEN BRAIN
-- clickhere
An Evening of Information, Insight and Discussion
for Parents and Teens
SUMMARY INFO
Nearly 300 adults and teens filed into Brookline High School’s Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium Thursday night, March 4, for The Teen Brain and Today’s Chemical Culture: An Evening of Information, Insight and Discussion for Parents and Teens. Sponsored by B-PEN, B-CASA (Brookline Coalition Against Substance Abuse), the Jeremy S. Kritzman Initiative on Drugs and Alcohol, and several other organizations, this special “Day of Awareness” event addressed the special vulnerabilities of the developing teen brain in today’s “a drink or pill will make it better” culture. Presenter/panelists include McLean Hospital brain development specialist Marisa M. Silveri, Ph.D. and Kitty Dukakis.
The evening opened with a B-CASA award presentation to Former First Lady of Massachusetts Kitty Dukakis for her extraordinary activism in a wide spectrum of health and human rights issues. (To read complete summary, click here.) For complete release/invite information click here.
RESOURCES
For a list of websites, articles and online videos about teen brain development and how it affects adolescent behavior ("What was he/she thinking?"), click here.
THE TEEN BRAIN -- SOME SIMPLE FACTS
For a downloadable tip sheet of basic information on teen brain development, click here.
B-CASA'S PARENT NETWORK NEWSLETTER -- SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE TEEN BRAIN
-- clickhere
PARENT NETWORK GET-TOGETHERS
To complement regular PTO meetings, grade-geared Parent Network get-togethers at each school provide opportunities for helping parents get to know, support and strategize with one another around some of the common social, emotional, and developmental concerns all our kids face. Contact B-PEN coordinators June Harris, june_harris@brookline.k12.ma.us or Karen Campbell, karencampbell4@rcn.com for more information on B-PEN’s resources, newsletter, presentations or for help starting a Parent Network.
To complement regular PTO meetings, grade-geared Parent Network get-togethers at each school provide opportunities for helping parents get to know, support and strategize with one another around some of the common social, emotional, and developmental concerns all our kids face. Contact B-PEN coordinators June Harris, june_harris@brookline.k12.ma.us or Karen Campbell, karencampbell4@rcn.com for more information on B-PEN’s resources, newsletter, presentations or for help starting a Parent Network.
FAMILY FUN TIP
Did you know one of the most important ways to keep kids safe from risky behavior is right at your kitchen table? Family dinners have been proven to keep kids grounded and connected.Bon appétit!
B-PEN, an initiative of B-CASA (Brookline Coalition Against Substance Abuse), is funded by a grant from the Drug Free Support Program sponsored by SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is supported by the Town of Brookline Health Department and Brookline High School. To learn more about B-CASA's resources, committees and how you can get involved go to WWW. BCASA.ORG. B-PEN logo designed by Jill Winitzer.