PARENT-TEEN GROUP OFFERS HELP FOR FREE NONPROFIT ACTION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR TROUBLED FAMILIES.Byline: Daily News LANCASTER -- Action, a free nonprofit parent and teen support group with programs, is expanding to the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . Meetings for parents and kids who are headed for trouble are being held at 7p.m. Thursday in the courtyard complex at Antelope Valley Principal's Administrative Unit Noun 1. administrative unit - a unit with administrative responsibilities administrative body Inland Revenue, IR - a board of the British government that administers and collects major direct taxes campus, 43423 Division St., Suite 104, Lancaster. Information is available by calling (661) 297-4660. Among the issues tackled each week are teen anger, defiance and rebellion, truancy, gang involvement and drug and alcohol abuse. The methods include teaching parents to set limits and using positive peer support. Action founder Cary Quashen, a counselor for high risk teenagers and a certified addiction specialist addiction specialist Substance abuse specialist, addictionologist, addictologist A health professional–eg, a psychiatrist, who manages a Pt with dependence on various substances of abuse–eg, alcohol, cocaine, opiates, tobacco Salary $79K + 17% bonus , said many families find themselves in stormy situations when a teen goes through tough times, and problems develop. Action offers programs in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, , Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , Glendale and Thousand Oaks. "Parents are easily caught up in the storm of emotion surrounding their teen's behaviors," Quashen said. "They expend energy in head-butting contests, parent/teacher conferences, court dates, sleepless nights and endless days of arguments, until they are ready to drop from exhaustion, stress, despair, depression, and the hopelessness of their situation." Action support groups help parents and their kids manage the conflicts before they escalate. "Support groups for parents of unruly teens are full of moms and dads who are currently going through the same problems and can empathize em·pa·thize v. To feel empathy in relation to another person. ," said Stephanie Weiss, a parent who attended meetings for nearly six years and now works as a parent group facilitator. "Support groups allow you to vent, feel validated and encouraged, learn and problem-solve, socialize so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. and help others, as well as build and keep realistic hope for the future." A good support group also will help parents determine what works and doesn't in managing their teenagers. Action bills itself as a safe place for parents to talk, cry, laugh and discuss teen behavior with others who offer practical solutions that work. While parents meet in one room, teens have their own group sessions. The program also has a 24-hour crisis line, 1-800-FOR TEEN. Weiss said her own teenager's problems drew her to the program, where she worked with 40 other parents to cope. |
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