“Can We Talk?” Workshop Series for Teens

This workshop series provides an opportunity to support parents who want to enroll their children in a "Can We Talk?" workshop. The workshop is designed to help community educators discuss with young adults the goals of keeping healthy and safe—and strategies for success in school and the community. The workshop is designed for teenagers. Topics addressed include:

• health and safety
• justice and the law
• medically accurate information about sexuality and health
• alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
• conflict and violence
• family values
• Internet safety and mixed messages in the media
• self esteem
• peer pressure

The workshop series can be facilitated in a variety of ways.

In an After-School Program, or Faith or Community-based Program: In faith-based, community-based, or school-based environments,  a "Can We Talk?" facilitator can provide a six-part workshop to pre-teens or teens.

At Home: The entire course is online, allowing young adults and their parents to walk through the six lessons, as part of the face- to-face workshop series.

THE WORKSHOP SERIES

Lesson 1: Can We Talk About Self Esteem and Healthy Kids?

How are young adults feeling? Hopeful or hopeless? Empowered to succeed or depressed? Parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches and other adults play a huge role in how young people feel and effective communication is key in creating positive youth-friendly environments. This workshop illustrates the problems young adults are facing every day, and how young people can talk with parents and other caring adults (and each other) about emotional health and problem solving.

Lesson 2: Can We Talk About Puberty, Sexuality, and Health?

Yes, sex is on lots of people’s minds. And that’s normal. This workshop illustrates how young adults can talk with parents and other caring adults (and each other) about medically accurate information about sexuality, health, and relationships. Special focus is placed on the promotion of healthy relationships and the prevention of teen pregnancy, STDs/HIV, and abusive relationships.

Lesson 3: Can We Talk About the Internet, Media, and Mixed Messages?

Yes, lots of us are online chatting with friends, strangers, and we all know that companies are seeking to sell everybody everything from jeans to prescription drugs.  Are young adults ready to say no to fraud, intimidation, cyberbullying, and credit card scams?  This workshop illustrates how young adults can talk with parents and other caring adults (and each other) about using the Internet (and the doorway to a billion people) safely. We want to focus on how the Internet can be a valuable resource.
 
Lesson 4: Can We Talk About Pressures, Stress, and Success?

Kids are pressured to do all kinds of things at ages that would shock most adults. By 6th grade children report feeling peer pressure to drink alcohol, party, and have sex. And life in high school is one filled with constant pressure—some good and a lot not-so-good. This workshop illustrates how young adults can talk with parents and other caring adults (and each other) about responding to unhealthy peer pressure. Focus is given to strategies of success used by young people in school and community life.

Lesson 5: Can We Talk About Bullying, Conflict, and Violence?

How are young people dealing with conflict? It’s a normal part of life. Are young adults in the role of a victim or victimizer? We already know that everybody in school is a witness to all types of bullying and harassment. This workshop illustrates how young adults (with support from peers, parents, educators, and law enforcement officers) can discuss violence prevention and take the lead in preventing violence at home, school, and in the neighborhood. The workshops provide a forum for young adults to learn how schools, parents and young people can work together to create a bullyproof and harassment-free community.
 
Lesson 6: Can We Talk About Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs?

Drugs are everywhere—from online drug stores, to the medicine cabinet, to the Friday night party down the street. This workshop illustrates how young adults, parents, and other caring adults can talk about the prevention of alcohol use and illegal drug use. The workshop provides a forum for young adults to discuss their concerns about legal and illegal drug use, as well as strategies for successfully addressing tough issues.