Community Conversations
APCYF hosts discussions on issues that affect all of us in Arlington several times each year.
2017 The World According to our Kids
An evening of conversation around the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Data that includes what our kids are saying about bullying, drug and alcohol use, mental health and more – for youth AND adults to engage in conversation: November 15, 2017 More Information: +1-703-228-1667
The conversation included:
- Presentation of the survey findings
- Table discussions on findings
- Full group discussion
- Parents, teachers and caregivers, Arlington middle and high school students
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2017
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2016
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2015
Contact us with thoughts or ideas for future conversations!
Periodically, APCYF hosts community events to help and engage our community in solutions to issues that our research shows need improvement. As we host these events, we invite YOU to get involved – attend, study, comment and most of all, talk with your own family, PTA and local groups about them! More are listed below.
Image created by Jennifer Droblyen from a Community Conversation on Teen Stress 11/18/15
2015 Community Engagement Process Notes
In April 2015, APCYF held a meeting with close to 100 participants to talk about the four items that our board and partners felt needed additional conversation. Based on the data and discussions we’ve had over the past year, we chose four priorities to focus on. They are:
- Bullying – in the community and at school
- Childhood Obesity – prevention from ages 0-5
- Mental Health – pre-teen and teen depressive symptoms and attempted suicide
- Positive Family Communications – parent/caregiver and child interactions
Work groups on each of these issues have been meeting to narrow the focus, discuss strategies and barriers, and how to reach the wider community.
Read the CEP Report to the Community – April – July 2015
Work Group Notes –
Bullying in our Community and at School
Childhood Obesity
Prevention from ages 0-5
Mental Health
Depressive Symptoms and Attempted Suicide
Positive Family Communications
Parent and Child Interactions
Community Forum April 13
Links and additional information
Face Bullying With Confidence, 8 Kidpower Skills We Can Use Right Away (Kidpower.org)
Parents, here’s what to do if you’re worried about your child’s weight (Washington Post, 6/15)
Article on a longitudinal study linking bullying to young adult depression (LA Times, 6/15)
Peer victimization during adolescence and its impact on depression in early adulthood
http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2469
Climbing Suicide Rate for African American Youth
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics finds that over the last two decades, suicide rates dropped for white children but climbed significantly for blacks, reports Education Week.
Poverty, family stress are thwarting student success, top teachers say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/poverty-family-stress-are-thwarting-student-success-top-teachers-say/
Bringing Teen Mental Illness Out of the Shadows
http://www.catholicherald.com/stories/Bringing-teen-mental-illness-out-of-the-shadows,28856
Creating a Culture of Health in Schools
http://thrivingschools.kaiserpermanente.org/
Study Shows Parents are Oblivious to Obesity in Children
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/05/12/95-percent-of-parents-think-their-overweight-children-look-just-right/
A declining tendency among parents to perceive overweight children appropriately.
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/chi.2015.113 –
Bullying by Peers has Effects Later in Life
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/08/health/bullying-mental-health-effects/index.html
Developmental Assets: A Profile of Our Youth, 2012
Executive summary and full report from the Search Institute of APCYF’s 2012 Assets Surveys: Developmental Assets Report
Arlington Families Website
This site has a lot of information for parents and families. It was started by Mary Ann Moran and Cheryl Fuentes in response to the need for positive family communications!