Programs & Services For Youth & Families 2009 - 2010 School Year
View the latest Los Alamos JJAB brochure...
Los Alamos - Youth Leadership - Programs
Message to Leadership Los Alamos Graduates and Alumni...
Fostering leadership skills for high school and middle school students.
Youth Leadership 08-09...
LAYL 2007-2008...
LAYL 2006-2007...
LAYL Sour Patch Kids (SPK) Team 2009 Adopt a Family Project.
The LAYL Sour Patch Kids hosted a high school dance at the Central Avenue Grill on January 29, 2010. The most recent dance raised $351 and will be split with the Haiti Relief Fund through the American Red Cross.
The Double Stuff Taranadons (DST) LAYL Team.
The SPK (Sour Patch Kids) Team
The SHARKZ team
JUNTOS -- Building better relationships with our neighbor, Española
JUNTOS (Joining and Understanding Now, Teens Overcome Separation) is a youth leadership effort addressing issues that keep young people from Los Alamos, Espanola and Pojoaque separate. Teen and adult leaders from all communities meet regularly to promote authentic dialogue aimed at eliminating the divide that has persisted for decades between these geographically close communities. The young people provide the ideas for bridging the gaps with activities, education, history, art, music, dance, etc., while adults help locate funding sources and provide guidance and coaching. For more information, please call the Los Alamos Family YMCA at 662-3100.More Information...
Youth Mobilizers
The Youth Mobilizer program enables youth and adult leaders to collaborate in a process of research and reflection on youth-identified issues. Three to four youth, ages 14-19, who live in Los Alamos, receive an hourly wage based on their work and their own personal and professional development. The youth are responsible for connecting, collaborating, and communicating with other youth on issues, projects, and activities. The Youth Mobilizers build skills and capacities as decision makers, problem solvers, advocates and leaders. Please contact the The Family YMCA for more information.
Monitor article: January, 2009
At the end of 2008 the Youth Mobilizers conducted a survey and studied the buying habits of teens in Los Alamos.
See the Teen Spending Report...
Past and present Youth Mobilizers.
CAG Dances
Since March 2006, Min and Monica Park and the staff at Central Avenue Grill have been partnering with Los Alamos Youth Leadership (LAYL) students to host chaperoned high school dances. The revenue generated from the dances is split between community initiatives selected by the Los Alamos Youth Leadership students and the community projects the students are working on. Past community recipients of funds have been:
- United Way
- Self Help
- Mexico Mission
- Senior Appreciation Night
The upcoming dances for 2007-2008:
- Friday, October 26 - Halloween Theme
- Saturday, January 26 - JUNTOS (Los Alamos and Espanola youth night)
- Friday, March 14 - St. Patrick's
- Friday, May 9 - Senior Discount
Fifth Quarter
An after high school home game program for youth and families to socialize, listen to music, snack and participate in games and activities at the high school gym. Contact the YMCA at 662-3100 for information.
Monitor article: September 26, 2007
Keeping Homecoming & Prom Safe
Keeping Homecoming & Prom Safe is a student requested program. Immediately following the Homecoming and Prom dances, four movie screens at Reel Deal are made available beginning at 12:45 a.m. After the dances, students can get a breakfast burrito and play games at Craig Hall at the United Church until 4:00 a.m. All events are free and chaperoned.
More Information...
Keeping Homecoming & Prom Safe flyer...
Click here to send us your feedback about the program...
Girls Circle
This program empowers girls ages 14 - 19 by providing a supportive environment to focus on improving decision making skills, self-esteem and resilience. Girls talk about body image, friendship, media influence, exclusion, stereotypes, and other issues that affect the life of adolescent girls. The sessions foster trust, respect, and self-confidence. Girls Circle is held for six weeks for two hours each session and in order to successfully complete the program, participants must attend 4 our of the 6 sessions. For more information, please call Family Strengths Network at 662-4515.
Envision Your Future for Boys
How can teen boys make their dreams a reality? This program supports young men aged 14 - 19 who are on the path to being productive, successful adults, and helps youth on the wrong path make better decisions. More information... www.envisionyourfuture.org
Monitor article: May 30, 2007
LifeSkills Training
The LifeSkills Training High School program is a highly interactive, skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development for high school youth. This program helps adolescents navigate the challenges of the high school years, and prepares them for the independence and responsibilities that they will encounter as young adults. The program helps students achieve competency in the skills that have been found to reduce and prevent substance use and violence. The program is held in partnership with Los Alamos Family Council and is offered at no charge to participants. Each session is held for six weeks for one hour each week. Please contact Cheryl Pongratz at 662-3264 for further information and class schedule.
Parent to Parent
Are you concerned about teenage alcohol or drug use in Los Alamos? Are you worried about your teen's moodiness, and want to know what other families experience? Does your teen tell you "everybody else is allowed" but you aren't sure that is true? Parent-to-Parent is a forum for parents of teenagers to discuss issues they are facing and to share strategies for dealing with common problems. Each session features a speaker and discussions on topics such as alcohol and drug use, the role of police, the PRIDE survey, and other issues. This program has been requested by parents in the community needing assistance and is offered by the Family Strengths Network (662-4515). Program includes education, evaluation of the family, and strategies for dealing with difficult youth. More information...
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Issues
A program where participants must meet with a counselor and complete an assessment of mental health (stress, depression, etc.) and substance abuse. Participants and their parents must attend a half-day Saturday program. Participants must also complete community service. The program includes education on legal and medical aspects of alcohol and drug use and strategies for avoiding further involvement with drugs or alcohol. Families are provided with an assessment and a written recommendation addressing both the needs of the family and the youth as well as a post 90-day program follow-up. For information, please contact Los Alamos Family Council , 662-3264.
Juvenile Delinquency
Intervention services for youth and their parents on delinquency issues (theft, battery, etc.). Participants must meet with a counselor and complete an assessment of mental health (stress, depression, etc) and substance abuse. They must also attend with their parents a half-day Saturday program and complete community service. The program includes education on legal and medical aspects of alcohol and drug use, and strategies for avoiding further involvement with drugs or alcohol. Families will be provided with an assessment and a written recommendation addressing both the needs of the family and the youth as well as a post 90-day program follow-up. All information is kept confidential. Please contact Los Alamos Family Council , 662-3264 for more information.
Natural Helper Training
This prevention program trains high school students in suicide and substance abuse prevention and builds mentoring skills.
High school students nominate their peers for this program. Diane Toups, High School Counselor, manages. Contact: 663-2510, d.toups@laschools.net.
Underage Drinking
Since the Underage Drinking Town Hall held on March 30, 2006, the DWI Council and citizen committees have been working on many of the suggestions from the Town Hall. Much more work still needs to be accomplished.
- Current DWI Programs Targeted Towards Youth
- Underage Drinking Town Hall Photo Gallery
- Underage Drinking Town Hall Break-out Committee Reports
- Drug Testing Meeting Minutes (September 28)
- Drug Testing Meeting Minutes (November 9)
- Drug Testing Meeting Minutes (December 11)
- Town Hall Drinking Followup
- Underage Drinking and Substance Abuse Town Hall Meeting Videos
- Monitor article: July 18, 2007
For more information contact the DWI Chair, Katie Bridgewater 661-7345 or DWI Coordinator, Lieutenant Reggie Briggle at the Los Alamos Police Department at 662-8226.
Family Solutions
This program is for parents and teens to take together to deal with various issues from school failure, negative peer involvement, court involvement, feelings of hopelessness, and tips on handling teens' changing needs and challenges. The program addresses: ending chronic family conflicts, development of problem-solving skills, improvement of family communication, clarification of family values and discovery of family strengths, improvement of youth's decision making skills, and empowerment of youth to effect positive change. Program meets for 6 weeks for one and one-half hours and is provided by Family Strengths Network. Please call 662-4515 for information.
40 Developmental Assets (Assets in Action)
The 40 Developmental Assets are 40 common sense experiences and qualities which are highly important to raising children, especially adolescents. They include things such as family support, communication, and creative activities. More information...
The Assets in Action program of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce uses the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets approach in a project to educate and engage the community around the common goal of building, “Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth”.
The Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.
Click Here to register to receive free weekly emails containing tools and tips for developing Assets for all ages. Email Bernadette Lauritzen at Bernadette@losalamos.org if you have any difficulty signing up. www.assetsinaction.info
A Family A Fare Presentation
The next "A Family A Fare" is on October 20th. View details on this FLYER.
LAMS Get Togethers
Here are the results from our get togethers with the 7th and 8th graders:
- Survey...
- 7th grade Results... (October 23, 2007)
- 8th grade Results... (November 13, 2007)
Students completed the survey and were given a slice of pizza. They also had the opportunity to visit with community representatives.
Support Group for Divorced Parents
This group is for men and women who are coping with issues of parenting after divorce. It will start out as a support group but may evolve into a more educational program if attendees wish. This free group will be held usually from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on a weeknight at Family Strengths Network in the Pueblo Complex. Child care is available on-site but must be requested at least a week before class - no charge. Please call FSN to register: 662-4515. This program is funded by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board.
Intervention Programs
Teen Court
Teen Court is a nationally recognized program for alternative sentencing of juvenile first or second time offenders. This is a voluntary program, where teens who accept responsibility for their low-level infractions or misdemeanor crimes are sentenced by a jury of their peers. Teen Court accepts youth defendants that are 12 to 18 years old. More information...
Restorative Justice
An alternative to the traditional justice system. The program gives the victim and the community a voice in holding offenders accountable for their actions. The Community Health Council provides the program through Family Council. Referrals for the program are through the Juvenile Probation Officer. All information is kept confidential.
Chronic Tardy
Chronic Tardy. This program is for youth and their parents who are chronically tardy (coming late to school and/or leaving early). Family Council provides a program for youth and their parents to attend that involves the importance of education and need to be on time for school. Attendance is also reviewed in accordance to School Board policy 5110R. Referrals to the program are made by the schools.
Truancy
Participants must meet with a counselor and complete an assessment of mental health (stress, depression, etc.) and substance abuse. They must also attend with their parents a day Saturday program that highlights the importance of education and complete 10 hours of community service. Families shall be provided with an assessment and a written recommendation addressing both the needs of the family and the youth, as well as a post 90-day program follow-up. Referrals are made through the schools. Please contact Los Alamos Family Council at 662-3264 for more information.
Referral Process for First Time Offenders...
Referral Process for Second Time Offenders...
Girls Circle
Girls Circle empowers girls ages 14 - 19 by providing them with a supportive environment to focus on improving decision making skills, self-esteem, and resiliency. More information...