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| Drugs & Alcohol Is your life affected by your child who is under the influence? Al-Anon/Alateen gives hope and help to the friends and families of alcoholics.” Does your friend have an alcohol or other drug problem? The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information brings you “A Guide For Teens” as well as a list of resources and places where you can go for help and support. Many desperate parents have Googled for home drug testing kits like Drug Test Success, with their “lowest price guarantee.” But before you reach for your wallet, read this About article, Parents Warned About Drug Testing Kits. They suggest you consult a professional before you get carried away. Parents/Family Because I Love You is a parent support group designed to help parents whose children (of all ages) have behavioral problems. This is a 25-year-old organization that appears to have a lot of heart and excellent resource links. If you are a married dad, single dad, divorced dad, custodial or non, whatever, and you have questions, legal issues or just need a clue on how to be a better father, start your search at the National Center for Fathering site. You won’t be disappointed. Speaking of guys, Menstuff, “the national men’s resource,” is one-stop browsing for everything from health issues to support groups, from the latest literature to tons of Menstuff Family and Relationship Organizations and resource links. Dads and Daughters empowers men to become better parents to their girls. The extensive site includes a plethora of national resources. Start by taking the “Dad’s Quiz” and see how you score as a parent. Stop Family Violence Dot Org, “the people’s voice for family peace” you can “get help, get informed and get involved.” Revenge or therapy, Sorry Ass Baby Daddies, has received a lot of bad press from mainstream media, but sometimes you got’ta do what you got’ta do to put a deadbeat parent in check. Plus, they’ve got some good Sorry Ass links. Click Focus Adolescent Services for help with troubled teens and healing for families. Free resources, schools, programs, support groups, state directory of helping organizations, listing of national hotlines and helplines and a great subject index. Mental Health/Helplines Does your child have a mental illness? The Healthy Minds Healthy Lives by the American Psychiatric Association, gives you a wide range of selections to research in their Psychiatric Disorder and Topic Information. The site includes a comprehensive 4 page pdf Let's Talk Facts About Teen Suicide (PDF). Some Things You Should Know About Preventing Teen Suicide by the American Academy of Pediatrics is a quick read on a hard subject. The National Runaway Switchboard is a resource we hope you don’t have to use, but let’s face it, more than a million youth a year think that they can run away from their problems. This resource is for parents, teens and educators. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Get Involved Mentors Peer Network, out of Canada, can help you find a mentor or become one, and includes hundreds of mentoring organizations and links. Speaking of mentors, one of the best is Big Brothers/Big Sisters. A great place to volunteer, but guidelines are strict. If you want to sign your kid up, better do it before he or she is born. That’s how long the wait list is in most locations. Boys and Girls Clubs of America “gives young people a safe place to learn and grow.” Check them out. The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is a strategy and action center working for justice, opportunity and peace in urban America. Based in Oakland, it includes the famous “Books Not Bars campaign. How Can I Deal With My Anger? Advice for the more mature, thoughtful and literate teenager from Teen Health. |
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