Posts by Alyssa Hall

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) reports that teenagers in Tennessee are 18.64% less likely to use drugs than adolescents (ages 12-17) nationwide. However, drug use is still significantly impacting teenagers across our state. According to NCDAS, 35,000 (6.78%) of Tennessee teenagers reported using drugs in the last month. Within that number, 82.86%…

TeensHealth gives six helpful tips to raise self-esteem. Others can greatly impact a teen’s self-esteem, so it is important for parents to incorporate the tips listed below when discussing self-esteem with their teenager. Be with people who treat you well. – Who you surround yourself with can make a huge difference in your experiences. Say…

When life events happen that can be alarming or even traumatizing, it is important to follow up with open communication with your child. Here are a few things to consider as you have these conversations. Be a calming influence. Your reaction will impact your child’s reaction. Allow your children to have a conversation where they…

This week, our freshman students heard from multiple teachers about how to be successful in the classroom. Ten topics were covered, and they are listed below. Time Management Organization Learning Styles Place, Posture & Plan Alert Attendance Taking Good Notes Breaking It Up Studying In Groups Asking For Help Prioritizing Health During the presentation on…

There are smart phone applications designed to help parents navigate our technology driven world. Screenagers has gathered several great resources for parents to explore. Feel encouraged to monitor your child’s cell phone use with these potentially helpful apps.

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) shared a post directed to mental health providers. In this post there was a graphic that addressed the four core strategies for managing stress and anxiety that NICABM adapted from Shelly Harrell, PhD. The graphic was too good not to share with our community…

It is important for parents to stay up to date with the social media trends. There are a large amount of applications that teenagers are using today. In order for parents to help their child navigate this technology driven world, parents need to know the apps that are influencing their child. The Yik Yak application…

Compassion fatigue is a phrase that is being discussed around the country as we all start another school year. Tim Elmore, Growing Leaders Founder, defines compassion fatigue as “the cost of caring.” In his recently published blog post on this topic, Mr. Elmore gives some guidance on how to navigate this type of fatigue. His…

Sissy Goff, local parenting expert, recently wrote a journal article for Christian Parenting about the rise in anxiety kids are feeling. She addresses three things that children of all ages need from their caregivers. A safe place to process their emotions Access to peers Us to manage our own emotions Click on the button below…

The last year has been filled with abundant amounts of change. With the changes we have experienced comes the opportunity for growth. Covid has impacted teenagers in very unique ways. Tim Elmore addresses this topic in his recent blog post: “Quaranteens: Three Ideas to Help Students Grow in the Pandemic.” He gives three ways we…