Teen Smoking - Not On Tobacco - N.O.T.

Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) is a state of the art anti-tobacco program specifically designed for high school students who want to quit smoking. N-O-T helps teens to stop smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke by identifying why they smoke, pinpointing social influences that encourage them to smoke, combating social pressures, understanding immediate benefits of quitting, setting realistic and attainable goals for change, and developing life management skills.

Call 1-800-LUNGUSA to learn more about N-O-T in your area.

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Cramster Updated for your 2010-2011 School Year!

Cramster is the leading provider of homework help for college and high school students.  Students can get unstuck on any homework problem, from quantitative textbook problems to humanities-focused free response questions.

With thousands of step-by-step hints and solutions from more than 400 textbooks and subject experts readily available to answer virtually any homework question, we are a service every student should know about.  Students have the ability to use most of these features at no cost.  For those wishing to have complete access to Cramster, premium memberships can be either earned or purchased.

So what’s new?

The redesign gives students even more flexibility in getting the best answers to their homework questions.  Students now use Karma Points, Cramster’s currency, to ask any question and select how fast they want their questions answered: 0 – 2 hours, 2 – 12 hours, or 12 – 24 hours.  They earn Karma Points by helping out and answering questions posted by their fellow students, hence the ‘Karma’ theme.

Check out their new updated website at www.cramster.com. 

What Are We Really Teaching Our Children

By Ronda Wada

“Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work! As parents, we have the best of intentions and do our best to provide our children with the skills, values and morals that we believe will serve them as adults. Yet we are often inadvertently undermining our own best efforts through normal everyday activities. Stop putting all that hard work to waste! In “What Are We REALLY Teaching Our Children”, Ronda Wada reveals the contradictions in what we want to be teaching our children and what we are REALLY teaching them. 

Order today at http://www.theteenexperts.com/ . 

The Pink Locker Society - Coming Sept 14th

KidsHealth.org created The Pink Locker Society just for girls like you. You’re curious, smart, and ready to find out more about growing up.

Coming soon - September 14th to be exact, you can get your copy of The Pinker Locker Society from Amazon or other major book stores.

The Pink Locker Society (PLS) has a mysterious past and an uncertain future. Meet the members of this secret society and one very important cute boy. Just between you and me, Jemma has a monster-sized crush on him. But does he want to be more than friends?

Meet the cast of the PLS here.

Pre-orders are now being accepted!

KidsHealth for Teens - TeenHealth

KidsHealth.org and TeenHealth.org is a vast website full of excellent and educational resources, tips and more about raising today's kids and teens.

About TeenHealth:

We're a safe, private place for teens who need honest, accurate information and advice about health, emotions, and life. TeensHealth is accessible 24 hours a day so you can get the doctor-approved information you need to make educated decisions — or help a friend who needs advice. There's a lot of confusing, misleading, and just plain wrong health information on the Web. Our mission is to tell it to you straight.

TeensHealth is part of the KidsHealth family of websites. These sites, run by the nonprofit Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, provide accurate, up-to-date health information that's free of "doctor speak."
A team of pediatricians and other medical experts reviews all KidsHealth content regularly to ensure the information is as current as possible. That doesn't mean TeensHealth takes the place of an in-person visit with a doctor. Nothing beats a personal consultation with a physician who can get your health history, do a physical exam, and talk with you one-on-one. What TeensHealth can do is help you learn ways to keep your body and mind healthy.

Scholastic Reading for All Ages

I am thrilled to have a neighbor that works for Scholastic.  She is constantly giving me books to read, of course these are for middle school students, however they stories are wonderful!

As an avid reader, I never considered middle school or high school novels. I am probably the one and only that didn't read The Twilight Series, although I did read at least two of the Harry Potter books years ago when my son read them.  He is now a young adult.

Scholastic has excellent, educational and gripping novels.  The next time you see their book fair at your school, you may want to pick up a book or two that you and your child can read.


Learn more here.

Problem Teens, Struggling Teens, Defiant Teens: Back to School Diasters

As school starts, many parents reach their wit's end.  Whether your teen is an underachiever, experimenting with drugs more than "typical teen" or making some very poor choices, you may find yourself considering residential therapy.

This is not shipping them off - this is about giving them a second opportunity at a bright future.

How much defiance can you tolerate?
How many times will you catch your teen smoking pot? Drinking?
How many times will you have to tell your teen that their curfew is XYZ?

Who are they hanging out with?  As a parent, it is easy to fall into the trap that it is the friend and not your child, but remember - it is your child making these choices.

If you find yourself cornered and need assistance with teen help programs, visit www.helpyourteens.com for more information. You will soon learn the sticker shock and the big business of teen help.  Be an educated parent - get guidance from PURE.

Stop Substance Abuse - Recovery Month 2010

Recovery Month is an annual observance that takes place during the month of September.

The Recovery Month observance highlights the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment, lauds the contributions of treatment providers and promotes the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The observance also encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective substance abuse treatment for those in need. Each year a new theme, or emphasis, is selected for the observance.

Recovery Month provides a platform to celebrate people in recovery and those who serve them. Each September, thousands of treatment programs around the country celebrate their successes and share them with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues in an effort to educate the public about treatment, how it works, for whom, and why. Substance abuse treatment providers have made significant accomplishments, having transformed the lives of untold thousands of Americans. These successes often go unnoticed by the broader population; therefore, Recovery Month provides a vehicle to celebrate these successes.

Recovery Month also serves to educate the public on substance abuse as a national health crisis, that addiction is a treatable disease, and that recovery is possible. Recovery Month highlights the benefits of treatment for not only the affected individual, but for their family, friends, workplace, and society as a whole. Educating the public reduces the stigma associated with addiction and treatment. Accurate knowledge of the disease helps people to understand the importance of supporting treatment programs, those who work within the treatment field, and those in need of treatment.

Read more and watch video.

Troubled Teens, Teen Help, Defiant Teens, Rebellious Teens

We recognize that each family is different with a variety of needs. P.U.R.E. believes in creating Parent Awareness to help you become an educated parent in the teen help industry. We will give you a feeling of comfort in a situation that can be confusing, stressful, frustrating, and sometimes desperate.

We have helped over 15,000 families just like yours. Our years of experience have proved to be great comfort to many desperate parents. But it is the results that we have achieved over the years of working with families with out-of-control teens that have brought the greatest relief. 


Learn more about Parents' Universal Resource Experts by visiting www.helpyourteens.com. 


Member of the Better Business Bureau and helping families since 2001.


Are you considering residential therapy? Wilderness programs? Therapeutic programs?  Contact P.U.R.E. for guidance and information in the daunting and confusing business of teen help.

Sue Scheff: VolunteerSpot Save Parents Time and Hassel at Back-to-School

As massive budget cuts hit schools across country, free online tool makes it easy for parents to help our nation’s teachers


Back-to-school is right around the corner, and due to recent state-wide budget cuts, teachers and schools need parents’ help this year more than ever before. Parents will be asked to step-up and help in the classroom, the campus, and to support fundraisers. VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com), a free online coordination tool, simplifies the volunteer experience and makes it easier for more parents to get involved. Most importantly, VolunteerSpot is a proven success; the online sign up tool increases parent participation by 20% and raises school donation rates, too.

Any teacher or parent-leader can invite volunteers to sign up electronically through VolunteerSpot.com, and in two simple-clicks, parents can sign up for whatever activity and time works for them -- from reading to the class or brining snacks to the Fall party, to helping in library or cafeteria, to staffing important fundraisers like the school carnival or stadium concession stand. VolunteerSpot even sends automated messages reminding volunteers of their commitments. No more “reply all” emails, late night phone tag, or disorganized paper sign-up sheets.

“Back-to-school is an exciting but stressful time for teachers and parent-leaders as they set up their classrooms and prepare for the year’s fundraising activities,” said Karen Bantuveris, Founder & CEO, VolunteerSpot. “It’s our responsibility as parents to help out in any way we can, and VolunteerSpot helps by making it easier for more parents to get involved at school.”

“VolunteerSpot made it so easy to sign up parents to read to my kindergarten class,” says Erin W., of Austin, TX. “I set up the schedule in a few minutes, and VolunteerSpot did the rest. Within 48 hours, all the spots were full and the best part is the kids love seeing their parents in the classroom.”

VolunteerSpot brings the simplicity of an online party invitation to school volunteering and makes it easy for anyone to ask for help. The site also provides unique tools, from free e-books, including the new “Room Parent Survival Guide,” and smart tips on everything from how to throw a successful school carnival or bake sale to Teacher Appreciation Week.

VolunteerSpot recently helped the Carmel Unified School District in California win a $100,000 donation when they were faced with the request to mobilize volunteers for the US Open.  Asked to assemble a team to work approximately 14,000 hours over the course of seven days, the school district enlisted VolunteerSpot’s easy-to-use sign-up sheets, automatic e-mail reminders and organizational tools to ensure that the event went off without a hitch.

 

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 About VolunteerSpot

Based in Austin, Texas, privately held VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com) is a free Web-based organization tool that powers grassroots volunteering at school and in the community. Founded by ‘mompreneur’ and PTA leader, Karen Bantuveris, VolunteerSpot's easy online sign-up tool saves time, streamlines communication and makes it simple for more people to get involved. VolunteerSpot has help organize more than a quarter-million volunteers since its public launch in April, 2009. VolunteerSpot is perfect for coordinating groups for anything - PTA activities, classroom helpers, carnivals and festivals, tournaments, VBS, service projects, mentoring sessions, group campouts, ministry meals, book fairs, swim meets, and more.... VolunteerSpot, DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!!!

"I Was A Bully, But I Stopped...."

Broward County is no stranger to bullying.  Last school year Deerfield Beach Middle School held the spotlight in the most negative of circumstances.  Starting with Michael Brewer who was nearly burned to death, and several months later the brutal and savage beating of Josie Ratley.

As a community, a group of Broward County middle school students joined together with the help of State Farm, The Broward Sheriff's Office and The Humanity Project to publish two books targeted at combating bullying.

The Miami Herald reported one of the bullying books is about a privileged and selfish character Lucina who has everything she wants but degrades everyone who doesn't share her fortune. The other book is about Michael, who is dyslexic and of black and Asian heritage. He's influenced by his abusive father to bully others.

Students also worked on illustrations and cover art. The books will be used as part of The Humanity Project's innovative Anti-bullying Through the Arts program in Broward during the school year.

Congratulations to all these students and a special thanks to State Farm, Broward County Sheriff's Office and The Humanity Project for stepping up and reaching out to our kids - our future!

Learn more at the www.TheHumanityProject.com.

Sources: Miami Herald, The Humanity Project

Watch video and read more.

Girl World Tour Fall 2010 with Rosalind Wiseman

Moms & daughters (ages 8-14) are invited to join Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally-recognized author, mom and expert on teens & parenting for a fun-filled evening of mother-daughter bonding. In addition to celebrating Rosalind’s latest books, the tour will feature an interactive discussion about confidence, friendships, sweat-inducing moments and common mother-daughter challenges. A Q&A session and book signing will follow. The two-hour event is sure to get mothers and daughters talking, laughing and connecting.

Event Details

$40** per mother-daughter pair includes: admission to the event, ***one copy of each of Rosalind’s latest books, and a gift bag featuring free samples of Dove go fresh deodorant!  Offer details and Rebate information will be available at the event.

Parents will receive Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World and daughters will receive Rosalind’s debut young adult novel Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials.

*We welcome any adult with a young girl in their life to attend the event. Fathers, big sisters, Girl Scout troop leaders, aunts, etc. are all welcome! Attend with the 8-14 year old girl in your life and share important conversations about her friendships, growth, and development.

**Cost of tickets may vary slightly in each market. Please contact your local host at the number provided for further details.

***Additional tickets may be purchased for $20 per person (also includes a book and gift bag).

Phoenix, AZ – Monday, September 20, 2010
Host: Changing Hands Bookstore
Location: Desert Mountain High School Auditorium, 12575 East Vía Linda, Scottsdale
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Tickets: Available from Changing Hands in-store, or by calling (480) 730-0205.

Salt Lake City, UT – Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Host: The King’s English Bookshop
Location: Rowland Hall St. Mark’s; Larimer Auditorium; Lincoln Street Campus, 843 Lincoln Street, Salt Lake City
Time: 7-9pm
Tickets: Available from The King’s English online, in-store, or by calling (801) 484-9100.

Tampa, FL – Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Host: Inkwood Books
Location: St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School Auditorium, 2101 South Hubert Avenue, Tampa
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Tickets: TBA
Baltimore, MD – Monday, October 18, 2010
Host: Greetings & Readings
Location: Catonsville High School Auditorium, 421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Baltimore
Time: 7-9pm
Tickets: TBA

Pittsburgh, PA – Friday, November 5, 2010
Host: Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Location: Chatham University Campbell Memorial Chapel, 5799 West Woodland Road, Pittsburgh
Time: 7-9pm
Tickets: TBA

Hartford, CT- Monday, November 15, 2010
Host: RJ Julia Booksellers
Location: TBA
Time: TBA
Tickets: TBA

Ridgewood, NJ – Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Host: Books, Bytes & Beyond
Location: George Washington Middle School, 155 Washington Place, Ridgewood
Time: 7-9pm
Tickets: TBA

Miami, FL – Tuesday,  December 7, 2010
Host: Books & Books
Location: Temple Judea, 5500 Granada Boulevard, Coral Gables
Time: 7-9pm
Tickets: TBA

Sue Scheff: What is an iMOM? Get Involved today!

Inspiration, ideas, insights, information and more are all part of being an iMOM. From preschool to prom,  you will find valuable articles and tips for helping you be a better parent.

About iMOM:


iMOM is the newest program of Family First and the complement to the organization’s popular All Pro Dad fatherhood program. iMOM’s unique focus is to equip mothers with information, ideas and encouragement to positively impact their children in the following areas:

• Wisdom: Wisdom enables us to make good decisions in life. Without wisdom, a child is likely to make bad choices and suffer the consequences for those choices with potentially increasing regularity.

• Health: A healthy lifestyle is an important factor in a child’s life. How a child treats his or her body has a direct impact on how he or she grows physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

• Purpose: Without parental direction about life’s purpose, children will seek out answers for themselves. Often these answers will come from other youth and may not reflect a healthy, productive lifestyle.

• Relationships: Good relationship skills are essential. This skill development begins at birth through a child’s attachment to his or her mother. Without the ability to form and sustain lasting relationships, whether personal or professional, a child will struggle to find lasting joy and productivity in life.

The iMOM program is run by a team of moms, who have children ranging in ages from 3 to 21 and we understand everything you have to do as a mom. Their desire is to help meet your needs by providing you access to everything we have learned and are learning. iMOM is working for you, so you can do everything a mom does – only better.

Learn more at www.iMOM.com.

As Broward, Dade and Palm Beach County get ready for schools to open, take the time to learn how you can help your child get a better start to a great school year.  Remember, put family first!

Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens!


Watch video and read more.

All Pro Dad: Getting Father's Involved In Their Kid's Lives

All Pro Dad's  is a simple idea with a profound impact. It's a one-hour monthly breakfast held before school where fathers and their children meet with other dads and kids in the school cafeteria or a local restaurant. During this time, they discuss a wide range of family topics, spend time together, create fun memories, and are equipped with resources to strengthen their relationship. For more about All Pro Dad’s, please watch the short video here.

All Pro Dad is part of Family First.  Learn more and become part of your child's school and your community today.  It can make a world of difference to many!

Read more.

Sue Scheff: TIME TO ACT! Drug Free America

TIME TO ACT! is a first-of-its kind online help resource for parents and caregivers who suspect or know their child is experimenting, using or has a problem with alcohol or drugs.

Discovering that a teen is using drugs or alcohol can be a scary experience for parents — many feel alone, ashamed, and confused about what to do next. The Partnership believes that no parent should go through this alone, without guidance from experts and other parents.

Time To Act! was created to ensure that every parent has free access, on their own terms, to the most current research-based information on how to help their child — and their family — take the next steps. It is the only site of its kind designed to address parents in an active state of concern about how to help their child, whether they’ve used once or have a known drug or alcohol problem.

Read more.

Sue Scheff: UPROAR - Learn about Huffing and Your Kids

Inhalants.  They have been in the news and on the teen scene for years now; as a matter of fact, it was reported that there has been a 158% increase in the use of  huffing refrigerant in teenagers.
Most parents will continue to say, 'not my teen', however how do you really know it isn't your teen?

Just ask Mona Casey in Coral Springs, she lost her son 15 year-old Charles Gray just before his 16th birthday, when he inhaled refrigerant.  Especially in Florida, air conditioning refrigerant is prevalent, it is also deadly.  Watch video to see how dangerous it can be.

Throughout her grief, Mona Casey founded a group, United Parents to Restrict Open Access to Refrigerant, (UPROAR).  Huffing chemicals such as refrigerant can result in death on the first use. This is a risk we cannot afford to take with our children. One of the goals of UPROAR is to propose solutions to lawmakers and governing bodies to address this problem.

What is inhalant use?


Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching a high. Inhalants are legal, everyday products which have a useful purpose, but can be misused. You're probably familiar with many of these substances -- paint, glue and others. But you probably don't know that there are more than 1,000 products that are very dangerous when inhaled -- things like typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane and even cooking spray. See Products Abused as Inhalants for more details.

It is time parents stop being ignorant to the fact teens and tweens don't understand the dangers of huffing.  Kids as young as 11 years-old are huffing and dying.  Watch video.

Talk to your kids today!  School will be opening, peer pressure will be starting, school hallways are full of kids trying to fit in and be cool.  Will they take it a step further fit in with a sniff?

Sources: Just News, UPROAR, Inhalants.org

Be an educated parent, you can save a life!


Watch video and read more.

Teen Transport - Safe and Sound Youth Transportation

If you have never had to deal with a teenager that has been out-of-control or extremely defiant, using drugs, hanging with the wrong peer group or making extremely bad choices, you may never hear of teen transportation or also known as teen escorts.

For the many families that have employed the services of a teen transportation company, one name always is clear - Safe and Sound Youth Transportation.

When a parent comes to the conclusion they need to get their teen outside help of a residential therapy school or program, many will contact the owner of Safe and Sound Youth Transportation, Lorraine Colpitts.  What you will find is a caring, nurturing, well-educated and professional in her field on the other end of the phone.

Just recently a Broward County family used the services of Safe and Sound Youth Transportation and as difficult as it was, it was a decision they made in the best interest of their daughter.  As their daughter was smoking pot, frequently not coming home and simply defied her parent's, Carol and Mark (names are changed for confidentiality) knew they had to do something.

After contacting Parents' Universal Resource Experts, and determining what the best program would be for their 16  year-old daughter, their next call was to Lorraine at Safe and Sound Youth Transportation.
Carol said: "This was literally the hardest decision my husband and I have ever had to make.  Our fears were eased after talking to Lorraine.  The level of professionalism with genuine care put me at ease."

Mark added: "I never thought this would ever happen to our family, especially my angel [referring to his daughter], but she was running  her life into a dark hole and we didn't see any other way out.  After trying therapy at home, it just wasn't working.  I am not thrilled it came to this, but knowing there are experts out there to guide us, really helped us to make this decision."

Lorraine Colpitts said she speaks with parents on a daily basis and assures them they are not alone.  She give them support both emotionally as well as getting them to the next step of healing for the family.

If you are a family that is struggling with an at-risk teen, know there is help out there.  Realize there may be many teen escorts, however using one that is licensed and insured to transport teens is critical.  You don't want just anyone transporting your teen, be sure they use ethical methods, and understand that your child's safety is priority.

Mission statement from Safe and Sound Youth Transportation:


To ensure the Safe and Reliable Intervention/Transport of your teen from your home or your child's current placement to your chosen destination in the most professional, yet nurturing and efficient manner possible. 

We go the extra miles....

We take having the responsibility of your child very seriously and will see them all the way through this part of their journey. We are committed to you and your family, and will always treat them with the utmost dignity and respect, kindness and compassion.


For more information call Lorraine at 1-866-990-1900 or visit www.safeandsoundtransportation.com.

Lorraine Colpitts also contributed to Health Communications parenting book, Wit's End, Advice and Resources for Saving your Out-of-Control Teen by Sue Scheff.

Read more and watch slideshow.

Sue Scheff: Teen Truth - Answering Those Difficult Questions Teens Have

The Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) in partnership with WAHI Media has created TeenTruth.org, an interactive, web-based initiative promoting positive lifestyle choices among Florida youth. The website is designed to educate teens, parents, and citizens about a wide range of issues that teens deal with on a daily basis. DOH’s Office of Positive Youth Development has been able to use WAHI’s highly effective technology to reach and hold the attention of teens, engaging them in conversation and presenting them with valuable facts.

Teen Truth tells real stories and how you as a parent can improve your communication skills with your teenagers. Times have changed with teens today!  Teen life is a mind field, they have access to all sorts of things that generations prior weren't aware of.
As school opens shortly, it is not only time to get school supplies and uniforms/clothing ready, it is critical you talk to your kids about peer pressure, sex, drugs, technology etc.  

Teen Truth tells you like it is, even if you don't want to hear it, you will and you will also see why it is imperative you learn this.

Before your teen hooks-up (gets together with a total stranger for sex), be proactive, talk to your teens, ask  them about it and let them know the dangers of hooking up.

Teens can guard their private lives very well, it is up to parents to learn all they can about them.  This is not invasion of privacy - it is when safety trumps privacy!

Do yourself a favor, watch the short videos on TeenTruth.org. Answer the questions honestly, don't be a parent in denial, you are not helping your teen that way.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!

Read more.