Bacon Street Youth and Family Services is offering free weekly online support groups in response to new challenges being faced by teens and their parents.
The parents and family group will meet Mondays beginning Sept. 14 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The teen group will start on Sept. 15 and will meet every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The groups are open to anyone attending middle and high school, or who cares for a middle or high school child, living in James City County, Williamsburg, York County, Poquoson, Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester, and Mathews. Parents and teens can drop in for as many sessions as they would like, according to a news release from Bacon Street.
Bacon Street Youth and Family Services is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides counseling, prevention programs, and community education to adolescents, young adults, and families affected by substance use and/or mental illness.
It was founded in 1971.
“The world we live in right now is a stressful and chaotic one, especially for teenagers who are still trying to figure themselves out. Many are attempting to piece back lives that have been flipped upside down,” said Allison Jarvis, prevention director at Bacon Street. “Parenting teenagers is hard enough without being in a pandemic, and people could use someone to talk to now more than ever. Bacon Street Youth and Family Services is here to help, free of judgment and full of compassion.”
The groups will be facilitated by Bacon Street’s clinical and prevention staff members. Each session will be held in a confidential space so participants can feel comfortable to talk freely.
Topics for parents and caregivers will include parenting during Covid-19, mental well being and warning signs; connecting with teens; and youth and drugs.
Teen topics include communicating with parents; “what’s going on in my head?” and youth and drugs. Teens and parents are encouraged to suggest new topics.
“Our goal is not only to provide support for teens and parents,” Jarvis said, “but also offer them a sense of community. It’s hard being a teenager right now, and it’s hard parenting a teen. You’re not alone”
Register here for the free online support groups.
Learn more about Bacon Street here or by calling 757-253-0111.
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