When it’s Time to Exhale: Thoughts and Reflections on Coming Out in the 21st Century

Written By:  Ryan Fouts, LCSW, Outlet Program Director, ACS’ Outlet Program In honor of National Coming Out Day, celebrated annually on October 11th since 1988, here are some thoughts, reflections, and reminders about coming out in the 21st Century. 1. Coming out is a gift. It’s easy to see coming out as a scary, hard thing (because […]

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Domestic Violence Among Teens

Written By Evan Sahn, ACS Clinical Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse & Community Counseling Programs Domestic violence has recently become a more visible crime as survivors of assault are frequently more willing to report their perpetrators to the police.  Even with this increased visibility, stories of domestic violence in the media have been centered almost entirely […]

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Salinas High Crowns its first Transgender Prom Queen

Image: Crowns for the Cause, Effie Horning Interview by: Roberto M. Robledo    In an interview with The Salinas Californian, the 18-year-old related her story of transition. It is a story of hardship, violence, hatred, love, joy, tears, laughter, pride and acceptance. •The Salinas Californian: When did you become Angie? Angie Esteban:“I kind of already […]

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Audrie’s Law – Stricter Laws for Cyberbulling

After the devastating suicide of Audrie Pott in September 2012, a week after she drank too much vodka-laced Gatorade at a house party, passed out and woke up to find crude messages scribbled on her half naked body. Facebook messages she sent out looking for answers the next week suggested she knew photos had been taken […]

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Cyberbulling: What Parents Need to Know

by Katie Luce, LMFT Site Director at Redwood High School & Jordan Middle School This article is intended to educate parents and families about a serious issue affecting adolescents known as cyberbullying. My hope is to provide information, highlight some of the emotional issues that arise from cyberbullying, and offer suggestions regarding what families can […]

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“Bully”-New Documentary That Addresses Serious Problem For Adolescents

Making the rounds of the festival circuit and personal preview events is a new movie that addresses the prevalence of bullying. The documentary, “Bully”, is 92 minute character driven film that takes a look at the lives of kids who get bullied. Filmed over the 2009/2010 academic school year, the film shows that bullying transcends […]

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Your Kids May Be Tweeting

In the United States alone Facebook.com has over 155 million users, with the largest percentage represented by the 25-34 age group.  This may be why more and more teens are also beginning to use Twitter.com. According to a survey conducted in July 2011 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 12- to 17-year olds […]

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New Study: Blogging Can Help Teens with Social Anxiety

We have all heard the phrase “Get it off your chest,” encouraging one to talk about what is troubling or concerning them. With the advent of the computer age and all of the social media that has followed, this phrase has become much easier to follow, on a regular basis.  Sites like Facebook and Twitter […]

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Teen Anonymity of Online Environment Leads to Perverse Discourse

Even wonder how your teen could possibly spend so much time online? Maybe your teen’s witty nature comes alive on Facebook, maybe your teen feels more comfortable discussing personal issues when its not in person,  whatever it may be, it may also be likely that your child is engaging in in discourse that you may find […]

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California Law Updated to Include Cyberbullying by Students Through Social Networking Sites

Bullying in school has been an issue for as long as anyone can remember. Each and every parent had their own method of teaching their child how to deal with this inevitable right of passage. “ignore them” or “be a man and stand up to them” was often advised by parents. Whatever technique was preferred, you could rest assured that […]

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