Guest Column: "Your Albany Teen" Offers Insight Into Parenting

Raising a teenager can be a challenge, to say the least.

To help parents in this effort, the Albany Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Council partnered with the Albany Police Department, the Albany Community Foundation and the Albany Lions Club to produce "Your Albany Teen: A Resource Guide for Parents."

More than just a listing of resources and services in the area, this guide, which was published in 2006, offers information about current issues facing teens and their families. It can be used to understand risky behaviors and challenges facing teens today. It covers topics such as healthy parenting, teen anger, violence, substance abuse and many other pertinent subjects.

Upon publication, Your Albany Teen was sent to the families of every middle and high school student in the Albany schools courtesy of the Albany Unified School District. For the past several years, the family of each incoming sixth grader at Albany Middle School received a copy.  

It is also available online through the Albany Police Department, the Albany Police Activities League and the Albany Library. (Clicking either of the first two links will download the file; please note that the first two pages are blank. The third link takes you to the library page; the PDF appears at the bottom of the list.)

The Albany Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Council began in 1987 when the Albany Unified School District received a federal grant for "Drug Free Schools."  The Prevention Council is a community coalition that aims to broaden awareness of alcohol and other drug abuse related issues.

Collaborating with schools, the Albany Police Department and other local groups, we sponsor projects that encourage healthy lifestyles for all citizens. It is our goal to be proactive in city-wide efforts to keep our schools and community safe and healthy.     

The cover design and book layout was done by by Mark van Bronkhorst.

If you would like a paperback copy of this guide, please e-mail apal@albanypal.net.

Have an idea for an opinion piece? Send it on in.