LMTI SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight On: Youth Engagement

Youth engagement is at the heart of all we do at LMTI. We spend most of our time figuring out the most effective, most creative, and most FUN ways to give youth opportunities to develop the skills they need to make positive changes in their schools and communities. We find that the most important aspect of youth engagement is really all about connection. We also know that there is a big difference between being connected and feeling connection. Youth today are more connected than ever through smart phones and social media, but that does not mean that they are always experiencing the value of real human connection. Especially right now, when connection is impeded because of COVID-19 and social distancing, many youth may be feeling isolated or alone, even if they are on their phones texting their friends all night long. As adults who work with youth, we have an opportunity to adjust our sails and figure out how to reach out to the members of our Action Groups, school clubs, sports teams, or classrooms, even when we cannot physically connect with them, because when we are apart, relationships matter more than ever.

The information in this week’s Spotlight is all about how positive relationships with youth are the foundation from which we can build effective youth engagement. Again, these resources are great for anytime, but I hope you’ll take some time now to think about how you can continue to support and engage the youth in your life, even under our current circumstances.

Webinar Series

Join LMTI Director, Jamie Sierfeld, and learn more about what we really need to do to engage youth. We’ll explore the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework to help us understand the importance of creating meaningful relationships with youth and how this can be the foundation for giving them the opportunity to make a true impact in their schools and communities.

We’ve pre-recorded this session so you can watch it at your leisure, and share with anyone who you think would like to see it!

WATCH HERE

Journal Printouts

A free resource you can share with the teenagers you work with filled with easy to do positive self care and mindfulness activities. We’ll be providing new pages all the time, so they can build a journal that will grow and grow!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Resources

An ever growing list of resources that can provide support, hope, and help can be accessed on the LMTI Resources Page.

You can also check out these links, which feature helpful articles and other resources specific to supporting adolescent/teenager mental health during this pandemic:

Search Institute’e Relationships Check

A great, online quiz to use during this time of social distancing to help improve your interactions with the youth you work with. When you receive your results, you’ll also receive approaches and activities you can use to help you, even during this time!

Building Relationships During COVID-19

A helpful checklist from the Search Institute that will help you discover how you connect with and engage the youth you work with virtually.

LMTI Spotlight: Mental Health

LMTI SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight On: Mental Health

As we all work together to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thinking a lot about the youth in our lives. Youth everywhere are feeling the impact of this global crisis. Adolescents and teenagers are at particular risk during this time, as we know that this age group often responds more strongly to stress during difficult times. The loss of school, regular activities, positive support of teachers and other adults, and social distance from peers makes youth even more vulnerable. Those who have a pre-existing mental health condition, those who are experiencing family struggle related to disparity and/or the coronavirus, and those who facing additional stigma may be affected even more. It’s so much for our youth to handle.

We owe it to our youth, even though we may not be able to be physically with them right now, to give them our support and help them cope during this difficult time. The more we know about mental health ourselves, the more we can help our youth.

We’ve compiled and created some helpful resources that are good to use anytime, but that you may find especially helpful right now:

Webinar Series

Join our Assistant Supervisor, Rachel Taylor, as she explores the basics of Mental Health. This presentation contains great info with accessible language and practical knowledge for both youth and adults.

We’ve pre-recorded this session and kept it to 30 minutes long (in case you are feeling webinar/Zoomed out like we are!) so you can watch it at your leisure.

WATCH HERE

Journal Printouts

A free resource you can share with the teenagers you work with filled with easy to do positive self care and mindfulness activities. We’ll be providing new pages every week, so they can build a journal that will grow and grow!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Resources

An ever growing list of resources that can provide support, hope, and help can be accessed on the LMTI Resources Page.

You can also check out these links, which feature helpful articles and other resources specific to supporting adolescent/teenager mental health during this pandemic:

CDC- Stress & Coping

UNICEF- How teenagers can protect their mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Mental Health First Aid- Tips to Help Teens Cope During COVID-19