Exploring Unmet Needs
Recently we held a workshop sharing findings from the Community Based Needs Assessment focusing on teens and their parents in the Methow Valley.
Recently we held a workshop sharing findings from the Community Based Needs Assessment focusing on teens and their parents in the Methow Valley. Parents and educators in the workshop worked together to understand the findings and generate ideas regarding what resources or programming would be most needed.
After talking with community partners who work with teens, parents of teens, and teens themselves, we heard a few top issues of concern for teens: mental health, substance use, gender identity, and sexual health.
During the workshop, participants prioritized increased access to mental health care for teens (and parents), educational workshops, access to more accurate information, and support groups. Topics of highest interest included: healthy communication, sexual education for parents (how to talk to your teen about it), mental health awareness, and teen brain development. Our Okanogan Healthy Youth team is working on cool info sheets on those priority topics. Stay tuned!
And a new mental health group offering for parents and their teen is coming this winter from local mental health counselors Molly Filer and Nick Crimp.