Choosing what to eat for dinner is a simple decision we can make without much thought. Difficult decisions such as where to go for college require careful and more serious thinking. In this session of Talking Points for Teens, the focus will be on making those tough decisions. We will examine the pros and cons for the different outcomes of each tou...

Virtual Learning, Covid-19 pandemic and isolation from friends are just some of the struggles our teens have been facing since March 2020. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Talking Points for Teens will focus on how teens can manage their emotions when life doesn't seem to be going their way. Please click the link below to access...

April not only brought showers, it was also Alcohol Awareness Month. Although we are seeing a decline in teenage drinking, the numbers are still too high. In this session of Talking Points For Teens, we focus on the dangers of alcohol and underage drinking. Please click the link below to access our YouTube channel to view the Talking Points For Teens video. Enjoy the video. Stay Safe, Stay Safe He...

  The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will be holding their annual event, National Alcohol and Drugs Facts Week March 22-28, 2021. This annual event brings together teens and community groups to bring awareness and 'SHATTER THE MYTHS" about drugs and alcohol. In this session of Talking Points for Teens we discuss 5 fac...

TALKING POINTS FOR TEENS Now That Marijuana Is Legal, What Does It Mean For Teens? Is marijuana safe now that it is legal? Is it legal for everyone? Are there dangers to using marijuana? These are some of the questions teens might be having when it comes to the legalization of marijuana. My name is Amy Argiriou, I am the facilitator for the Botvins LifeSkills Training program for middle school stu...

 Cadca Mid-Year Training Institute Members of the Mercer Council had the honor and privilege of attending the 2020 CADCA’s Virtual Mid-Year Training Institute. Barbara Sprechman, Amy Argiriou, Vanessa DeRosa, and Malissa Arnold spent the week of July 26-30th in intensive, informative, and enlightening virtual workshops. Attendees had over 80 training sessions to choose from. Topics ranged fro...

"IN TIMES OF GREAT STRESS OR ADVERSITY, IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO KEEP BUSY, TO PLOW YOUR ANGER AND YOUR ENERGY INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE."                                                               Lee Iacocca As we continue with our Covid-19 lockdo...

As our days seem to be filled with the unknown, the anxiety we feel seems to be increasing. COVID-19 has affected everyone in some capacity. As a LifeSkills Training facilitator, I have had to apply the skills that I teach my students to myself and my family. One thing that I have decided to use is my logic side of the brain and not my anxiety side. My logic side sent me right to the LST technique...

On October 24th and 25th, I had the pleasure of being trained in the Strengthening Families Program (SPF). It was an intense two day training that was powerful and informative. It is a program that is very easy to follow and one that I am sure is very rewarding for the families and the facilitators when the program is completed.SFP is a 14- session evidenced based family skills training program. T...