How we can help youth-supporting advocates
Youth-serving advocates like health care providers, coaches, local and state agencies, businesses, non-profits, community organizations and mental health providers play an important role in youth development. By learning best practices for communication and being a resource, you can help youth maneuver through today’s social-emotional challenges. OP offers:
Professional development and training on topics like collective trauma and care, weight bias and body diversity, and adolescent sexuality.
Resources for you to share with parents and girls, including information about our after & out-of-school programming, therapy services, and parent education opportunities.
Upcoming conferences and retreats specifically for youth-serving professionals.
How OP empowered us to help youth…
Advocate Blog
The OP Blog is full of valuable resources.
Recognizing ableism in youth culture is vital for fostering inclusivity and respect for individual youth with disabilities. Ableism, based on assumptions about abilities, can lead to exclusion and discrimination. By raising awareness and taking proactive measures, youth can help create a culture that values everyone's abilities and contributions, regardless of their ability. How does it show up?
During April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it’s a great time to review how we can help youth navigate healthy relationships, consent, and boundaries.
Black History Month celebrates and honors the achievements of Black people, and is a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. It’s also a time to honor and celebrate Black girls who make invaluable contributions to their communities. Empowered girls change their world, and the whole world too.
Gift Ideas for the Teens & Tweens in Your Life
Navigating device usage can feel like a never-ending argument. It can be hard to set boundaries and disconnect from devices now that both you and your kids are using technology more frequently.
Ah puberty – a time of change, self-discovery, and exploration. Also a time of feeling vulnerable, confused, and embarrassed for both youth and the adults in their lives. Parents, here are 9 habits you can lean into as you begin and continue having puberty talks with your teens.
More often than expected, we hear adults and parents of young people who are exploring their identity say, “It’s just a phase.”
The phase is learning, the phase is identity exploration, the phase is finding out what fits. It serves a purpose while youth grow up.
We hear about it all the time, but let’s take a second to get back to basics about self-care.
Being a young person in school can get extremely challenging when dealing with bullying and other aggressive behaviors from peers. As an adult ally, learn more about how you can recognize aggressive behaviors and how to support youth who are targets.
After 15 years of leadership and girl empowerment, Ophelia’s Place Executive Director Verna Wise Matthews is passing the leadership baton to OP’s vice president of programs and licensed professional counselor, Laura Sanchez. Sanchez will take over as executive director on Nov. 1.
Need additional resources?
Need additional support for the families and youth you’re serving? See our community youth resource list.