Substance use among teens often increases during school breaks. Research shows that substance abuse spikes during school vacations, especially in the summer and winter. This trend stands out compared to school months, where structure and daily routines create natural barriers. In contrast, vacation periods remove those boundaries, leaving more time for risky choices. Many young …
Read More “Why Substance Use Spikes During School Vacations”
Helena Summer Activities Database 13JUN If summer has surprised you and left you looking for what to do with your kids, then we just might be able to help out. Listed below are links to youth-serving organizations and their camps/activities/events. If you or your student need transportation to one of these opportunities, we may be able …
Dangerous Viral Trend Threatens Teens: ‘Smoking’ Alcohol 25JUN Today News reported today that a trend of smoking alcohol has been gaining momentum among teens. This practice is very harmful and extremely dangerous. The story is as follows: It’s the dangerous new way teens are getting drunk — and it’s going viral. Now doctors say it could …
Youth Connections would like to welcome our new director, Coleen Smith. Coleen was born and raised in Western Montana. She attended Gonzaga University and Montana State University – Bozeman, majoring in marketing. After leaving Montana for 15 years she returned to Helena in 1999. She most recently worked for the Montana Chamber of Commerce and …
Logan McNeil is a junior at Helena High and a community volunteer. He is active in 4-H as a Lewis and Clark County Ambassador, Junior Overall Superintendent and Teen Leader. Over the past several years, his teen leader projects have included writing grants to acquire and plant the trees for the Lewis & Clark County …
Dana Toole is an advocate for some of Montana’s most vulnerable population, children. Through her work with the Montana Department of Justice, Dana works to oversee many programs that give voice to children who have been victims of crimes. Her caring and compassionate manner coupled with her strong leadership qualities has lead Children’s Advocacy Centers …
The first month of the year was an exciting one for the Find Your Spot campaign. We partnered with the City Parks and Recreation to highlight their high school broomball activities, which will be going on every Friday night at Memorial Park. We also partnered with Narrate Church to provide a free night of skiing …
“Above the Fight” campaign aims to reduce fighting between youth in the schools as well as community. The good news is most kids don’t fight. We are reaching out to the kids who do and also letting the kids that don’t know they are in the majority. Above the Fight will be featured in the …
The July-Sept. 2012 Quarterly Indicator Report shows the following trends: Alcohol• Arrests of youths age 14-17 have been steadily declining, from 249 in 2007 to 81 for in 2012.• There was only one DUI arrest of a youth age 14-17 in 2012. This is a dramatic decrease from 19 in 2005. Tobacco• Twenty middle-school students …
I am pleased to be a part of the Youth Connections Board. The past eighteen months have afforded me the opportunity to meet so many people from the Helena community who truly are committed to improve the lives of our youth. All share a belief that our children and grandchildren deserve to grow and mature …
