Crucial Insider Knowledge for Connecting and Communicating with Teens With their incomprehensible lingo, often-bizarre fashion fixations, technological plug-ins, and ever-changing moods, teenagers can seem like an entirely different species. Connecting with them on meaningful levels–let alone actually influencing them–seems beyond the realm of possibility. What do advertisers and entertainers who grab the attention of teenagers know that you don’t? And how can you counteract their influence in your child’s life? Danny Holland, an expert on youth culture, peers into the world of America’s kids–and offers proven advice on how parents can adopt the tools of the experts. You’ll discover… ·how today’s teenagers think, including their values, priorities, and primary influences ·the communication pattern that speaks most persuasively to teens ·the most effective way to improve your relationship with your teen ·how to determine which battles absolutely must be won ·and many other eye-opening insights With “insider knowledge,” you’ll be equipped and empowered with real-world techniques to successfully connect and communicate with your teenager, bridging the gap to build a relationship of lasting influence.

Completely revised and updated, Reaching Teens provides communications strategies to effectively engage with today's teenagers. This groundbreaking multimedia resource combines video and text to show how recognizing, reinforcing, and building on inherent strengths supports positive youth development. Key Features New edition expands guidance on trauma, by reframing the approach to show that working with youth can be trauma sensitive and also incorporates positive youth development and resilience. Twenty-nine new chapters--93 total New website companion, which includes Full book content, plus references Expanded version of select chapters In-chapter access to videos and group learning and discussion Tailored learning resources for different audiences created in conjunction with subject matter experts: Youth development programs Education settings Health care settings Juvenile justice settings Foster care settings Substance use programs and recovery settings Includes 400 video clips. Earn CME credits/CEUs

This volume reviews a range of empirically supported approaches to prevention and treatment of adolescent substance use problems. The focus is on motivationally based brief interventions that can be delivered in a variety of contexts, that address key developmental considerations, and that draw on cutting-edge knowledge on addictive behavior change. From expert contributors, coverage encompasses alcohol skills training; integrative behavioral and family therapy; motivational interviewing; interventions for dually diagnosed youth; Internet-based education, prevention, and treatment; and applications to HIV prevention. The volume is extensively referenced and includes numerous clinical illustrations and vignettes.

"This book is designed to help teachers of middle and secondary students understand the neurobiology behind the behaviors of those students." --pref.

A biblically-sound handbook for raising teens who can successfully survive adolescence in the 90s, Reaching the Heart of Your Teen effectively reminds moms and dads how to parent from the heart and build solid relationships that are rewarding. Holding fast to the conviction that relationships between parents and children aren't limited to eighteen years-but can last a lifetime-Ezzo teaches how to build quality relationships that endure. Reaching the Heart of Your Teen is filled with practical examples to help moms and dads build bridges that will help them reach and establish lasting relationships with their teens.

Engaging a New Generation critically examines our commonly held assumptions as well as our often-used models and methodologies initially developed to reach late Baby Boomer and Generation X teens. It then introduces you to the core characteristics of the Millennial Generation teens and the pastoral implications, where the operational and ministerial borders are expanding far beyond traditional youth ministry. "This text fills a great need." -- Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson "If you want to help young people develop a vibrant, life-transforming faith, read this book!" -- John Roberto, LifelongFaith Associates "Engaging a New Generation is as much about vibrant parish faith as it is about our young people." -- Bishop Timothy Doherty, Lafayette, Indiana "A modern manifesto for reaching young people today." -- Jim Beckman, Director of Youth Evangelization and Leadership, Augustine Institute "Frank Mercadante's passion for the young Church and his commitment to a comprehensive approach to pastoral ministry is evident on every page." -- Bob McCarty, D.Min., Executive Director, National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry "This book comes from deep inside the field of youth ministry. It is theological, sociological, practical, pastoral, and scriptural." -- Dr. Mike Carotta, author, national consultant "This book is the most significant resource I have read, not only for youth ministry but for parish ministry, in the last ten years." --Peter Denio, Standards for Excellence Coordinator, The National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management "Frank Mercadante is in it to win it for today's teens." -- Randy Raus, Life Teen President/CEO "Masterfully and succinctly outlines some of the big shifts that have taken place within culture and the Church." -- Mike Patin, International Catholic Speaker and "Faith Horticulturist" "Whoever wants the next generation of Catholic youth the most will get them. Let Frank Mercadante show you how!" -- Matthew Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Rediscover Catholicism and founder of Dynamiccatholic.com "We as a Church often hope to reach today's young people with yesterday's approach - and then wonder why they don't respond. This book is a must read." -- Bob Rice, Speaker, Author, Musician, and Professor of Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville "Clearly identifies these cultural shifts and shares important current research on youth and families." -- Jeffrey Kaster, Ed.D, Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville

Youth Ministry in the Trenches is a series of practical, tactical resources to help those doing the dirty work of ministry in one of the grittiest battlefields of human existence—adolescence.

An expert on youth culture offers a unique approach to help parents successfully communicate and connect with teens, revealing tools used by MTV, drug dealers, gang leaders, and others who are successfully connecting with America's youth. Original.

The sports world coaches us to "practice the basics" over and over until we eventually achieve excellence and ultimate success. Al Baines understood the basics of effective ministry and applied these to a fledgling youth group in a small, rural church of two hundred adults. Within two years of implementing these basic principles, the church's youth program grew to over half the size of its adult congregation. This book will examine these principles and show the results that were obtained. They can bring genuine spiritual impact to any church leadership team looking to answer the question, "How can we build an effective youth program in our church?" The time frame has changed, but the principles remain trustworthy. Ed Kenerson attended Gordon College (B.A. Psychology) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (Masters of Religious Education) and has over 10 years experience in Christian Education and Youth Ministry. At present, he manages his own training and communications business called Steps To Success, delivering multi-media presentations to businesses in areas of career management, customer service, and time management. In addition, he reaches out to teenagers in high schools through Career Coach, USA, a strategic ministry designed to teach young people the principles of both personal and professional success. Ed is married to Kathy with two children and eight grandchildren.

"This book explains almost all of the ′headshaking′ frustrations educators express about teens. Educators will enjoy discovering that there is a biological reason for the behaviors and attitudes that teens demonstrate. They will also appreciate the practical and down-to-earth suggestions to help students find school more appealing." —Kathy Tritz-Rhodes, Principal Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Schools, IA Cutting-edge research meets brain-friendly strategies for teaching adolescents! Teenagers can be mystifying to educators and parents, exhibiting a daunting array of characteristics: emotional, forgetful, and fond of risk-taking. What are they thinking? What′s the best way to reach them? The revised and expanded edition of this hands-on guide helps unlock these secrets by explaining the biological and neurological changes happening in the teenage brain. Educators can use these insights from current research to help students achieve their full academic potential. Organized around specific areas of adolescent development, this resource is packed with fresh instructional strategies that can be modified and adapted to various content areas. In addition to presenting the latest facts and research findings, this guide offers: "Secrets Revealed" sections that present compelling stories and research about the growing adolescent brain Insights into the effects of technology on the brain Strategies for approaching such issues as ADHD, steroid use, and aggression An educator′s book club guide, with discussion questions Enjoy reading and talking with your colleagues about how to understand and tap the secrets of the teenage brain!