Reaching High-Risk Adolescents at Expanded Sites

HiTOPS is expanding its efforts to provide risk reduction, prevention education and health services to two high-risk and vulnerable youth populations: incarcerated youth and youth at risk for out-of-home placement. HiTOPS was awarded full funding from Princeton Area Community Foundation's 2010 Spring Greater Mercer Grant to support planning, assessment and delivery of services to these adolescents.

With this funding, HiTOPS is using the summer months to prepare for its ninth and most extensive year of programming for incarcerated youth in four counties. Staff and peer-educators will provide risk reduction and prevention education on the following topics: HIV education, pregnancy prevention, dating violence prevention, homophobia reduction, STD prevention and date rape prevention. In addition, this year, education staff will meet with staff from six different juvenile justice sites to learn more about the specific needs of each site, and develop relationships and programs that will support prevention education for youth.

The Greater Mercer Grant also supports HiTOPS’ ability to respond to a newly identified need in the community. Capitol County’s Children’s Collaborative (CCCC) is an independent, nonprofit care management provider in Mercer County, who came to HiTOPS requesting sexual health education, and specifically reproductive health and healthy decision-making for their adolescent population. CCCC serves children with moderate and high need mental health and behavioral challenges, and works to link them to resources and supports in the community. HiTOPS will be able to work with CCCC case workers to help them address the sexual health needs of adolescent clients and provide youth with health care vouchers for services in HiTOPS comprehensive adolescent health center. In addition to workshops and training for case workers, HiTOPS will be working with CCCC- affiliated parents and youth directly to encourage risk-reduction and health enhancing decision-making and behaviors.

HiTOPS is grateful to Princeton Area Community Foundation and its pool of donors who provide valuable support where the need is greatest. For more information about the program, email elizabeth@hitops.org.

Smooth Transitions

Chances are, this summer a young person you know is on the verge of transitioning to a new school this fall. Whether to middle school, high school or college, this transition, though exciting, can be a time of stress and high emotion for kids and parents. Here are some tips for a smoother transition.

Elementary School to Middle School

The transition to middle school with its new building, changing classes and multiple teachers unfortunately collides with the changes of puberty. Help allay fears about pimples, periods and growth spurts by reminding them that they, like everybody else, are going through normal body changes. Expect kids to be moody and unpredictable and try not to over react to their outbursts or sullenness. Middle school kids are really worried about fitting in, having friends, and avoiding anything that makes them seem different. Give them lots of support and help them find ways to be with friends and develop new interests.

Middle School to High School

Many rising ninth-graders have heightened anxiety about new academic pressures, as well as social pressure related to friends, parties and dating. They are developmentally working on independence and separation and may not express these fears to you. Keep them connected to the family through activities and meals but make their friends welcome in your household. Be sure they get a tour of the high school and meet with their Guidance Counselor to make sure class schedules are in order.

Off to College

“I can’t WAIT to get out of here.” “I can’t WAIT for him to leave.” The conflicts that arise between parents and teens leaving for college are perfectly timed to make it possible to let each other go. Emotions run high for both parents and teens – loss, anxiety, frustration, joy – and you may spend all of your energy reacting to each other. Talk about how it feels to have them leave; offer non-judgmental help for tasks left to be done; understand that beneath the procrastination or attitude lies a child who is leaving home for the first time. Find ways to be encouraging and supportive and let them know they will be missed (even though you may be counting the minutes).

Please forward this article to anyone you know who may benefit.

- Elizabeth Walters, elizabeth@hitops.org