As a parent or guardian, you are a vital link to your community, engaging with friends, family members, neighbors and professionals on many levels. Our Raising Awareness Programs (RAPS) program gives you a valuable opportunity to host a gathering to talk about timely issues that impact teens, their families, and their communities.
Response Center professionals will join you and your guests at your home, place of worship, or business and share their knowledge and our organization’s expertise. We will work with you to create a meaningful, valuable experience that fosters connection, education and dialogue.
Host a Meeting
To host a Raising Awareness Program (RAPS) meeting, contact Lisa Ehrlich-Menard or contact us.
Raising Awareness Program (RAPS) FAQ
Q: Who are these meetings for?
A: We can provide programming for tween, teen, young adult or parent/guardian groups. We can also provide programming that includes parents and their children, presenting separately to both groups and then bringing the groups together for discussion and/or Q&A.
Q: How is a meeting usually structured?
A: Our staff will offer a presentation to your guests, followed by discussion and/or Q&A. Prior meetings have centered around a brunch, lunch, or a dessert sampling so guests can mingle before or after the presentation.
Q: When can meetings be held?
A: Meetings can be scheduled any time that is convenient for you and our staff. Many meetings are held during weekday evenings or on Sundays.
Q: How long do meetings last?
A: Meetings typically last about 1.5–2 hours.
Q: What are some good topics for meetings?
A: Timely tween- and teen-related topics that are of interest and/or concern include:
- Bullying: is it an epidemic, and what can we do?
- Eating disorders and body image issues
- Beyond “the birds and the bees”—how to talk with your teens about sex and other difficult topics
- Underage drinking: how prevalent is it?
- Depression and anxiety during adolescence
- Cutting and self-injury: why do children do it, and how can we help?
- Supporting major transitions (high school, college, and beyond)
- >Home to roost: when young adults return from college or the work force
- Social media: bullying and boundaries
- Gender identity and sexual orientation: knowing the definitions, the differences, and the challenges