Tools & Resources for Youths

The Youth Media Toolkit

You always wanted to take a really good photo, but didn’t know how to? This guide will help you learn how to producing different types of media (photos, blogs, audio, etc.) and display them on Voices of Youth to share with the world!

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Guide to Action

Gather your friends and/or other young people that want to make an impact and follow this guide that will prepare you to take action, raise awareness on an issue and make a difference in your community!

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Action Plan

Use this template to identify the issue in your community that you would like to explore. Then follow the necessary steps to address the identified problem. By planning your tasks and activities properly, you will be able to voice your opinion and make a difference in your community!

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Nominate Everyday Young Heroes Today!

Be a hero. Become a Reading Partner. Volunteer!

Volunteer in Colorado

Be a hero. Make a difference in the life of a child in as little as one hour a week.

You can make a difference in the life of a child in just one hour a week. Reading Partners connects passionate volunteers with struggling readers to help students build strong literacy skills, gain confidence, and discover a passion for reading. You can be a mentor, a leader, and a friend to student in need.

• No formal teaching experience is required.
• Commit just one hour a week.
• Reading Centers are open Monday-Thursday at local schools across Colorado.

Reading Partners provides you with:

• A highly effective, easy-to-follow curriculum.
• In-person training and on-site support from a full-time staff member.
• The opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.

Reading Partners is now accepting new volunteers for the 2013-14 school year. A Reading Partners staff member will contact you shortly to schedule your on-site training and get you started.

To volunteer visit: http://info.readingpartners.org/volunteer-in-colorado

Trade School Spotlight: Johnson and Wales University, Denver

This profile is part of BraveTracks’ series on Colorado trade schools and community colleges soon-to-be high school graduates might want to check out.

Name: Johnson and Wales University, Denver

Tuition: First year, in-state students can expect to pay $27,156 for the full course load and up to $11,157 for room and board, according to the JWU Denver website.

Popular associate degree programs include:

• Culinary Arts: ”Chef, food scientist, research and development chef, sports nutritionist, food service entrepreneur — the culinary field continues to expand to include career paths unimaginable two decades ago. Learn culinary fundamentals — essential building blocks for any chef — as well as the how’s and why’s of cooking, gaining the depth of knowledge to think creatively, and analytically, about your profession. Where is the industry headed? How do you keep a kitchen running at full speed? Learn to lead in your field by tackling culinary’s big questions, from sourcing and menu costs to sustainability, wellness and social responsibility.” –JWU Denver website

• Hospitality: JWU is Denver’s only university with a college devoted to hospitality management. It’s the perfect starting point to excel in Colorado’s destination resort empire, where tourism is one of the state’s largest industries. Dive into your career field at JWU, and take classes in your major your first term. Use industry tools/software and do real-world projects in our hands-on food/beverage labs, classrooms and events spaces. Then, apply your skills at Denver’s leading hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, convention centers and arenas. Take advantage of JWU’s relationship with leading employers. Work your way from the ground up, and build the experience to stand out before you graduate.”–JWU Denver website.

• Criminal Justice: “From heightened national security to concerns about corporate accountability, our changing world has created a high demand for well-trained law enforcement professionals. The criminal justice degree program at the Denver Campus can prepare you for a wide variety of police work at the local, national and federal levels. These include careers in court administration, private investigation, airport security and social services, or as a federal agent, police officer or border patrol agent, among others.”–JWU Denver website.

What youth should know about their health

Youth Responsibilities- Health Literacy

Before

1. 1. Be Able to Make Your Own Appointments

Know what number to call, whether or not they accept your insurance, how much you might have to pay, and where the office is located. Doctor’s Offices are used to answering these questions, so they will be glad to help you.

1. 2. Know What Kind of Insurance You Have and How to Use It.

Are you covered under your parents? What is your plan and policy number? Do you have an insurance card? If you don’t have insurance, will they see you anyway? Do they charge based on your ability to pay?–These are questions to ask your parent/guardian or the clinic.

1. 3. Know Where to Go, and for What Kind of Care.

Should you visit a Primary Care clinic, Urgent Care, the ER, or a Specialist?

Usually, a Primary Care Physician will refer you to a Specialist if needed. This website has very helpful info when deciding where to go:

http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/find-a-location/urgent-care-vs-emergency-care

4. Find Info About Free Clinics, Health Centers, and Workshops.

There are many resources offered in most communities including free classes/workshops, information sessions, and health care opportunities. Check with your local health department, high school, or college for some of these opportunities.

1. 5. Know Basic Medical Lingo.

It is extremely important to be able to understand what your Doctor is telling you. For this purpose, you must be able to understand basic medical lingo. The internet is a great source for looking up words you may not understand. For example http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/decoding-medical-lingo.html has a large list of medical terms put into everyday language. Also, do not be afraid to ask your Physician to explain what s/he is saying in plain language; s/he might also be able to give you a brochure that explains thing.

1. 6. Know Immunization Records and Time Frames.

It is important to stay up to date on your vaccinations. You can request this info from your family physician, or have your parent/guardian retrieve it for you. Most Doctors you visit will require this information. Also, you need to know when to go in for necessary shots.

1. 7. Know About Personal Checkups (male/female/specialist).

After graduation you will need to see Primary Care Physicians, Dermatologists, Dentists, Gynecologists, etc. It is good to understand how often you need to see each physician and schedule those appointments accordingly.

1. 8. Know How to Fill Out Medical/Dental Forms.

If you have never done so, the amount of information may seem overwhelming! Look up examples online and ask a parent/guardian’s help so that you understand how to fill out these essential forms, or ask your clinic staff to help.

1. 9. Know Medical History of Yourself and Your Family.

These are often questions on the forms mentioned in #6. They are also something that Doctor’s need to know in order to give you care that may be specific for your medical history. If you don’t know and can’t find out your history just be sure to let the clinic know that.

During

1. 1. Be Willing and Able to Ask Your Doctor Questions.

Doctors may seem intimidating, but they are in the profession of helping people! They want you to feel better and be healthy. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If necessary, write questions down on paper or keep a note in your phone, so that on appointment day, you have a list of questions for your Physician. Also, don’t forget to write down the answers as well!

1. 2. Use the “Teach-Back” Method.

Before you leave a Physician’s office, make sure you can repeat your diagnoses, treatment, and anything else you have learned back to your Physician to ensure that you fully understand.

After

1. 1. Know Who to Contact with Further Questions.

Do you have the number to the Physician’s office? Can you call with further questions? Do you

need a follow-up appointment? When?

1. 2. Know How to Prevent Illness.

Your doctor can help you maintain wellness, not just treat sickness. Make sure you talk to him/her about how to eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, and anything else you need to do take care of your body and mind!

1. 3. Know How to Navigate Media Literacy.

It is wise to trust “.org”, “.edu”, and “.gov” websites more than “.com” sites. Be aware of when the page was created- some information may be out of date. Check the sources that the author used for reliability or further research.

1. 4. Know How to Fill/Refill a Prescription.

Ask your physician about your options for prescriptions. Learn the amount you are supposed to take and how often from your physician before you leave the office. Also, be sure to discuss any questions you may have with the pharmacist- they are there to provide answers!

Many Health Literacy Tips!

Health Literacy

If patients cannot comprehend needed health information, attempts to improve the quality of care and reduce healthcare costs and disparities may fail.

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/article/1347-best-practices-for-youth-friendly-clinical-services

A Brief Overview

This paper provides research-based information on youth friendly clinical services – specifically for family planning clinicians and other professionals who provide health care for youth – and offers an overview of the recent medical and public health literature regarding key components of youth friendly clinical services. Confidentiality, respectful treatment, integrated services, culturally appropriate care, free or low cost services, and easy access: these are all widely recognized as important components of appropriate clinical services for adolescents and young adults. However, this section reviews and highlights aspects and nuances of these components that may be little known to clinicians and staff but that are essential to ensuring that services are youth friendly. As such, this information may challenge users to reflect on their personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as well as on the protocols and practices in use at their clinic.

This section also considers the key components of youth friendly clinical services that are especially important to specific groups, including younger or older youth; pregnant and parenting adolescents; ethnic minority youth; gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) adolescents; sexual assault survivors; and HIV-positive youth. In addition, one section specifically addresses reproductive and sexual health care. The final sections highlight recent research on: 1) providing services for young men; and 2) promoting parent-child communication on sexual health and other sensitive issues. Each of the nine sections concludes with recommendations derived directly from the research findings presented here.

Health Care Professionals’ Core Values Promote Youth Friendly Clinical Services

Health care professionals, whether physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, or allied health practitioners, all operate under certain core values:

• Beneficence means that the provider will: 1) act in the best interests of the patient and his/her welfare; and 2) fulfill the basic obligation to do no harm.
• Justice underlies the principle of nondiscrimination.
• Respect for autonomy is at the heart of the obligation to obtain informed consent and to respect the confidentiality of the client.¹

These three values are inherent in everything that contributes to youth friendly clinical services.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality means that the provider keeps an adolescent’s sensitive health care issues in strict confidence between the adolescent and the provider. The imperative need to guard the adolescent’s confidentiality extends, as well, to every member of the clinic’s staff, including receptionists and technicians.

Recommendations regarding Respectful Treatment

1. Make sure that every staff member – from clinicians to receptionists – receives training in adolescent development and in treating youth respectfully. Retrain anyone who treats adolescents and young adults with less dignity and respect than is shown to older clients.
2. Schedule slightly longer visits with adolescents than adults so youth have time to ask questions and to get answers to their questions. Remember that just because an issue is not clinically significant doesn’t mean it is not important to the youth who is asking about it.
3. Train all clinicians in how to raise sensitive issues, such as sexual health, condom and contraceptive use, substance use, interpersonal violence, and mental health.
4. Treat every youth as a whole person. Involve the adolescent in his/her own health management. Remember that adolescence is a time when independence is increasingly important. Youth will appreciate and respond positively to being treated with dignity.
5. Always ask the adolescent if she/he wants a chaperone present during an examination.
6. Explain the reason for a particular test and what is involved. Be gentle when performing the test, whether it is a Pap smear, a testicular exam, drawing blood, or any other procedure that may make teens feel uncomfortable, wary, or fearful.
7. Be aware that some populations of youth are particularly sensitive to disrespectful treatment:
8. Establish protocols to ensure that youth receive preventive counseling as recommended by GAPS (the American Medical Association’s Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services).** Set up protocols so clinicians will remember to ask about risk-taking behaviors, including unprotected sex, substance use, and violence as well as about issues like depression, suicidal thoughts, and violence victimization.
9. Make sure that staff understands that some teens, including teen parents and those in foster care, homeless shelters, juvenile detention centers, and substance abuse programs, have higher rates of risk-taking than other teens. Set up strong referral systems, co-locate services, and/or establish collaborative partnerships with agencies who serve these youth.
10. Develop links with school-based health clinics, which are especially effective in serving teens but are often unable to provide contraceptive and family planning services.
11. Many youth use the hospital emergency department as their usual source of care and, thus, may not receive comprehensive care. Connect with local emergency rooms so they can refer youth to the clinic for family planning and other care.
12. To the extent possible, ensure continuity of care by making every effort to have teens see the same counselor and/or clinicians at every appointment.
13. Widely advertise the breadth of the clinic’s services. If youth, males and females, know that the clinic offers primary care and general and sports physicals as well as care for more sensitive issues like reproductive and sexual health, STIs, substance abuse, and/or mental health, they can come in for care related to a sensitive issue without worrying that others will know why they are in the clinic.
14. Try ‘in-reach’ as well as outreach. Excellent ways to reach young men include their girlfriends and other males who have used the clinic and been satisfied.^30,48
15. Since adolescents often have difficulty negotiating complex medical systems, make referral appointments for them and ensure that they know exactly where and when to go. Give them clear directions, assurances of continuing confidentiality, and information about fees, if any. Knowledge can help lessen their anxiety so they will be more likely to keep the referral appointment.
16. Before an adolescent leaves the clinic, provide a slip of paper with his/her correctly spelled diagnosis and medications, if any. The same paper can include reliable, accurate Web sites that offer consumer health information. This is easy. Clinicians can have ready a sheet of paper with the Web addresses of organizations that offer consumer health information: two each on reproductive and sexual health, substance use, mental health, violence, and general health. All the clinician has to do is to add any diagnosis and medications, clearly printed, on the paper before handing it to the client.
17. Remember that integrated care is especially important to some populations of youth:

Recommendations on Integrated Services for Youth

• Young men may be particularly drawn to integrated services that allow them to seek care for sensitive issues without exposing their vulnerability.
• Young women need proactive health care. Sexually active young women need annual screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Nisseria gonorrhoeae, regardless of whether or not they are symptomatic.
• Pregnant teens need more than just prenatal care. They need to know that their clinician cares as much about them as about the fetus they carry. They often need assistance to get publicly funded health insurance and social services.
• Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth have the same physical and psychosocial needs as their heterosexual peers and need the same comprehensive services.
• HIV-positive youth need coordinated care that provides a range of services, including case management, comprehensive medical care, and social services to ensure that their fundamental needs, such as food and housing, are met.^20,21,49,50
• Sexual assault survivors need immediate prophylaxis for STIs. Women of reproductive age need immediate prophylaxis to prevent pregnancy. CDC recommends a variety of antibiotics for preventive therapy against gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis. CDC also recommends emergency contraception (EC) for sexual assault survivors at risk of pregnancy. Youth need clear, gentle explanations of why the medications are important. And they need to be treated gently and respectfully during the examination.^47,51

Don’t say “Do you Understand” – everyone will say YES

Abilities before disabilities - pushing for a world of inclusion

In the words of Stevie wonder, “just because a man lack the use of his eyes, doesn’t mean that he lacks vision.”

This year’s historic high level meeting on disabilities at the General Assembly is demanding international action to invest in children with disabilities and to include people with disabilities in the global development agenda. The UN meeting attracted diverse participants with including those with and without disabilities.

Stevie Wonder made a plea for technology to be made available to all people with disabilities. In the meeting with Phoung Anh, - or ‘Crystal’ as she calls herself due her brittle bone disease or Osteogenesis Imperfecta – he spoke about their common spirit and commitment to break down barriers for those with disabilities.

“I am really going to push everyone to join our world of inclusion,” said Mr. Wonder who is a UN Messenger of Peace focussing on Persons with Disabilities. “The more people who are doing things that make a difference and are part of this world of inclusion, the smaller the world gets of people who are not committed and ultimately we will end up with a world of inclusion.”

“What’s really important is for everyone with disabilities or others, is to be able to live in a society where miracles happen like Stevie Wonder – and he is a wonder,” said 16-year old Crystal, who travelled from Vietnam for the event. “I think with support some developing countries, like Vietnam, who have not yet ratified the Convention on the rights of the People with Disabilities, should really consider ratifying and make things happen. “

Wonder, who became a singing sensation when he was a child, and Crystal, the teenage singing sensation, hugged, exchanged telephone numbers and promised to keep in touch.

“No one should be excluded because they’re blind, or because of any disability or because of their status or their colour,” said Mr. Wonder. “We cannot allow our differences to let our fear put dreams to sleep. This young lady – Crystal – did not. ”

For those living with disabilities, Monday’s meeting is a milestone on the road to Sustainable Development Goals, the new post-2015 U.N. goals to fight poverty, promote equality and inclusion.

Among its key recommendations to the high level meeting, UNICEF has urged countries that have not yet done so to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Currently 127 countries and the European Union have ratified the CRPD. In the 2013 State of the World’s Children report, launched in Vietnam in May with Crystal, UNICEF highlighted that while children with disabilities face widespread poverty, discrimination, violence, and exclusion, including from education, all society benefits when it focuses on what children with disabilities can do, rather than what they cannot do.

In May 2013, UNICEF issued the first ever global report on children with disabilities. The State of the World’s Children 2013 – Children with Disabilities and Executive Summary are available in EPUB, DAISY, Easy Read, HTML and Braille formats. “There is a version for everyone whether they read with their eyes, ears or fingers.” Read more at http://www.unicef.org/sowc2013

Get The My Denver Card Today!

If you’re a Denver Public Schools student, you don’t have to pay to keep your brain and body fit because the new My Denver Card program allows you free access to all of Denver’s parks and recreation centers.

For All Denver Kids Ages 5-18

The MY Denver Card allows all school-age children living in the City and County of Denver to have free access to all Denver Recreation Centers. The card also can be used as their Denver Public Library card! The program applies to all students in grades K-12 regardless of where they go to school as long as they are residents of Denver.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and the City and County of Denver are committed to increasing youth access to city recreation, education and health programs and services. Parents must fill out an application in order for their children to participate and submit the application at any Denver Parks and Recreation Centers.

The MY Denver Card can also serve as your child’s Denver Public Library card. To activate library privileges, present the MY Denver Card and picture ID at any Denver Public Library (parent in-person signature and ID required for children under the age of 13). Please note, once activated, your MY Denver Card replaces any previously-issued Denver Public Library card.

Download the registration form at: http://denverlibrary.org/files/MYDenverCardParentConsent_ENG.pdf

To find out more visit: http://www.denvergov.org/dpr/ParksandRecreation/RecreationCentersPools/FreeAccessforYouthMyDenverCard/tabid/443571/Default.aspx

Shout out to Steamboat Springs Teen Council

SSTC’s vision is a community where teens have a voice. Their mission is to demonstrate that teens are valuable assets and are caring members of the community who are committed to education, health/wellness, the environment and service. As a channel and resource for all teens, we strive to open lines of communication and provide common ground for teens and adults.

About to begin its 6^th consecutive year, SSTC is currently comprised of 18 high school students from the community and two coordinators, Kate Warnke, City of Steamboat Springs Teen Programs and Kate Elkins, Grand Futures Prevention Coalition. SSTC meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month (September – May) at a local community center. Meetings are open to the public and many outside organizations attend and seek feedback, advice, support and service from the council. SSTC has grown and accomplished amazing things in the community over the past five years and the teens now truly feel that their voices are heard, valued and highly respected through this program.

SSTC is made up of 18 people between the ages of fourteen to eighteen. Students go through a competitive application process and then are elected by the existing council. Teens join the council because of their genuine interest in serving the City of Steamboat Springs and being representatives for the teens in our community. They act as the official advisory board to our elected government officials on all relevant youth policies.

SSTC serves to:

• Identify the unmet needs of youth in the City of Steamboat Springs
• Advocate for youth policies by making recommendations to City Council
• Comment and make recommendations to City Council or any other decision making group on any and all youth related matters
• Provide an avenue of expression and comment for teens

SSTC wants the teens of our community to feel valued and have a voice in the community. SSTC provides teen members and their peers with pro-social opportunities. SSTC gives the opportunity to gain life skills including leadership, public speaking, and job responsibility. Additionally, teens feel higher self-esteem and a sense of personal control and identity. Through this program youth and teen organizations have listened to what the teens on the council have to say and seek their advice to help create more safe, substance free opportunities, events and activities that the teens will want to participate in.

SSTC also hosts substance free recreational events throughout the school year for teens. Some examples of successful events include: Movie Nights, Pool Parties, Cosmic Bowling, Broomball, Volleyball, Dodgeball, and Basketball Tournaments.

Some of SSTC’s most recent accomplishments include: SSTC received $5,000 from Livewell Colorado and $5,000 for winning 1^st place for their video creation and participation in Ready! Set! ACTion! With this money SSTC will be building a slackline area at Howelsen Park and hosting recreational coed leagues for High School students including beach volleyball, kickball and more. They selected these projects to inspire healthy activities and lifestyle choices for their peers.

RSA winning project

Run government for a week

Posted by The bravetracks team

Here’s your chance to learn the legislative process by being a part of it.

Track what happens with this annual program on Facebook.

To register, or for more information, click here. Apply soon.

To get a sense of what the youth in government program is about, check out the video below