DECEMBER 8 @7PM
Research on Marijuana and Lessons Learned after Legalization:
Implications for Youth and the Powerful Role of Parents & Caregivers
Jason R. Kilmer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
University of Washington
As parents and caregivers, protecting the health and safety of the children and teens in our lives is important to us. The national debate around marijuana, and its recent legalization in NY state, open up a host of questions for many. Join us as University of Washington professor and researcher, Dr. Jason Kilmer, shares the latest science and information on marijuana and the impact of legalization on youth. In this timely and engaging session, Dr. Kilmer will also explore the important role parents and caring adults can play in reducing the risks associated with marijuana and protecting the health of the young people in our lives!
OCTOBER 28 @7PM
The Gift of Failure: Parenting and Wellness
Jessica Lahey
New York Times Best Selling Author, Educator, Recovery & Prevention Coach
We all want our children to lead healthy productive lives, but raising them in our current culture of overprotectiveness, while navigating the unique risks for substance use that impact adolescents, can be a challenge. Best-selling author Jessica Lahey will share wisdom gained from her 20-year career as a teacher, parent, and recovery and prevention coach. Learn how failure is a crucial element for long-term success. By letting go and allowing children to learn how to solve problems for themselves, we give them the skills to become self-reliant, confident, and successful adults. Jessica will explore topics such as homework, social
dynamics, and competitive sports, along with concrete, practical tools that act as protective factors and reduce our children’s risk for substance use. Parents and caregivers will leave feeling informed, challenged, and empowered.
JUNE 3 @7PM
Parenting for the Summer Before College & Beyond
Lauren Johnson, MA, CASAC, CPP
Chairperson, the Collegiate Alliance for Student Success and Prevention (CASSAP)
Beverly Pierce, MA, LCSW, CASAC, CPP
Director, Mental Health Services
Student Assistance Services Corp.
Ellen Morehouse, LCSW, CASAC, CPP
Executive Director
Student Assistance Services Corp.
The last few weeks of high school and the summer before college can impact success at college. This presentation will provide strategies for how parents can influence their student's health and well being during the transition from high school to college while respecting the students desire for independence and autonomy. Discussing academics, relationships, stress management, money, self-care, mental health, and substance use with your graduate before they start college can promote parent-student connectedness and reduce the likelihood of college non-completion. We'll also explore the standard structure of college health and wellness programs, and the resources parents should be familiar with at their student’s college will also be discussed.
MAY 4 @7PM
Supporting Teens in Reducing Their Stress (and Ours)
Matt Bellace, Ph.D.
Psychologist / Comedian
Recent research suggests that well-adjusted teenagers have stronger non-cognitive skills, such as self-control, grit and resilience. This webinar will focus on how parents can help foster those skills in a supportive environment without arguing. Specifically, it will present techniques such as mindfulness meditation, effective communication and using natural highs as healthy coping mechanisms against stress, alcohol and other drug use and bullying behavior. The goal is to help improve the quality of life for both parents and their teens. His very powerful message – we need to support young people in both words and actions if we want them to make healthy choices for themselves.
APRIL 14 @7PM
Alcohol Marketing, Youth Drinking and the Pandemic:
Who is minding the stores?
David Jernigan, Ph.D.
Boston University - School of Public Health
Department of Health law, Policy & Management
Dr. Jernigan will discuss the daily avalanche of alcoholic images and information teens experience from marketing and social media. Alcohol marketing is seen as a major risk factor for underage drinking yet kids continuously see brand ads on television, the movies, storefront posters, YouTube, and celebrity endorsements on social media. His message is one of hope - that even a small group of committed parents and citizens can achieve change by becoming advocates, investing in research, and limiting alcohol access to young people.
MARCH 11 @7PM
A Message of Hope, Purpose & Change -
Underage Drinking is Not A "Rite of Passage”
Kathi Sullivan
JVC Foundation
They say a moment in your life can change who you are. On October 17, 2008, Kathi’s 17 year-old daughter Taylor passed away from underage drinking after attending a homecoming game and a series of underage drinking parties her senior year of high school. Wanting to make something good come from the experience of losing Taylor, combined with staggering youth underage drinking statistics, are what drives Kathi to share her story and Taylor’s message. Learn the importance of communicating to your teen that “Negative choices in the past DO NOT define you. You can learn from them, and make better ones in your future!"
FEBRUARY 10 @7PM
Marijuana: Lessons Learned and the Impact on Youth
Kevin Sabet
President & CEO,
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
Luke Niforatos
Executive Vice President,
SAM
​
Will Jones III
Communications & Outreach Associate,
SAM
Former White House Advisor,
Office of National Drug Control Policy
SAM examines the impact of marijuana on communities — from the effect on youth use to drugged driving to complex concerns surrounding social justice issues. Learn the lessons learned from legalized states and the overall impact on our young people and public health at large.
JANUARY 20 @7PM
Marijuana: Parenting for Prevention
Christine Storm
Caron Treatment Center
Parents face more challenges than ever in having effective prevention conversations with their teens around marijuana use. Even though this drug is more potent than ever, perception of harm is at an all-time low due to legalization, medicinal use and methods of ingesting like vaping and edibles which seem so much easier and more palatable. We can’t give up! In this webinar, we will explore the important role parents play, discuss the landscape of cannabis products our kids may be exposed to and learn how we can reduce the chances of our teens using.