Many young people are searching for their identity, feeling pressured by a label, or just trying to belong. How does this journey put some young people at risk for substance use or other behavioral disorders?
How can family members best support youth by nurturing their identity?
To answers questions like these, a panel of behavioral health professionals and individuals in recovery will join us to explore the risks, discuss the warning signs, and provide families and educators with the tools needed to empower young people and foster a healthy identity.

Below you will find information about our past presenters, along with supportive information and resources related to the topic.

Resources

Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck

>> https://youtu.be/hiiEeMN7vbQ?si=XusjpUB1X5r0PTw4

How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset  – Huberman Lab podcast

>> https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-enhance-performance-and-learning-by-applying-a-growth-mindset

How Adolescents Search for Identity

>>https://www.imom.com/how-adolescents-search-for-identity/

Developing Adolescent Identity

>> https://parentandteen.com/developing-adolescent-identity/

Longitudinal links between identity and substance use in adolescence

>> https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15298868.2020.1818615

Visit our web page dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ population:

>> https://conversation.zone/lgbt/

The Trevor Project – You deserve a welcoming, loving world. And so do the people you care about. Here you 
can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, 
find answers and information, and get the tools 
you need to help someone else.

>> https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens

>>  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Four-Stages-of-Coming-Out.aspx

Cyberbullying and LGBTQ Youth: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for Prevention and Intervention

>>  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7163911/

1 in 6 Gen Z adults are LGBT. And this number could continue to grow.

>> https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/24/gen-z-lgbt/

A teen health survey crucial to US public policy is finally asking kids about their sexual orientation

>> https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/24/gen-z-lgbt/

Big Rise in U.S. Teens Identifying As Gay, Bisexual

>>  https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-15/big-rise-in-us-teens-identifying-as-gay-bisexual

Gender: Beyond the Binary – Bigeye National Study 2021

>> https://lp.bigeyeagency.com/hubfs/Gender_BeyondtheBinary.pdf

How Common is Drug Abuse Among Athletes and Do They Seek Treatment?

>>  https://rehabs.com/addiction/among-athletes/

Research Report: Steroids and Other Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (APEDs) Research Report

>>  https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/steroids-other-appearance-performance-enhancing-drugs-apeds/introduction

Student-athlete substance use during COVID-19: Suppressed, silent, or poised to surge?

>>  https://covid19.ssri.psu.edu/articles/student-athlete-substance-use-during-covid-19

Concussions Spike Odds of Teens’ Drug Abuse

>>  https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/concussions-spike-odds-of-teens-drug-abuse

The Tenuous Relationship Between Instagram and Teen Self-Identity

>>  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324266708_The_Tenuous_Relationship_Between_Instagram_and_Teen_Self-Identity

Study: The negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents from the perspective of social work

>>  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021004321#sec3

Vloggers, Fitness Models, and Influencers: Careers and Teens in the 21st Century

>>  https://helpyourteennow.com/is-being-a-social-media-influencer-a-realistic-career-for-teens/

The state of influencer marketing in the Generation Z demographic

>>  https://everydayonlinemarketing.com/market-trends/the-state-of-influencer-marketing-in-the-generation-z-demographic/

TikTok may be spreading Tourettes-like tics among Gen Z, says new report

>>  https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/dyvqxm/tiktok-tourettes-tics-gen-z

Student Services & Special Education

>>  https://www.gvsd.org/Domain/20

Safe2Say Something

>>  https://www.gvsd.org/Page/16870

YouthTruth Data

>>  https://www.gvsd.org/Page/17158

Diversity & Inclusion

>>  https://www.gvsd.org/Domain/1210

Great Valley School District’s Policy addressing Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students (Section 103.3)

>>  https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/gvsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BGA44F09BAF8

From the CTC of Greater Downingtown

CTC of Greater Downingtown

>> https://www.dtownctc.org/

Recent Parent to Parent podcast episode: “Supporting Transgender Youth: A Journey to Our Truest Selves”

>> https://www.dtownctc.org/parent-to-parent-podcast/2022/02/14/supporting-transgender-youth

HYPE Club (Healthy Youth Positive Energy Club)

>> https://www.dtownctc.org/hype


From the Downingtown Area School District

Pupil Services

>> https://www.dasd.org/Page/57

District Mental Health & Wellness Resources

>> https://www.dasd.org/Page/8527

Parent Speaker Series

>> https://www.dasd.org/parentspeaker

A Path to Hope

Main page:   >> https://apathtohope.org/

March 19, 2022 Resource Fair:  >> https://apathtohope.org/resource-fair/

Kayte Roberts Psychotherapy

>> https://www.kayterobertspsychotherapy.com/

Elevate Wellness Recovery

>> https://www.elevatewellnessandrecovery.com

PFLAG

>> https://pflag.org/chapter/pflag-philadelphia

Mazzoni Center

>> https://www.mazzonicenter.org

William Way LGBT Community Center

>> https://www.waygay.org

Meet the Panelists

Below are the panelists who have share their expertise and experience at “The Search for Identity” programs. Their contact information may be found by clicking on the “Learn More…” buttons.

Be a Part of the Conversation programs do not provide behavioral health advice and are for informational purposes only. Our programs are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding substance use disorders or related family needs. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any Be a Part of the Conversation program or video.

Sarah Brooks, LPC

Student Assistance Specialist
Downingtown Area School District

Haydn Briggs, MSS, LSW, CET II

Private Practice Clinician  |  Therapist at Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy

Dr. Ley David Elliette Cray, Ph.D.
(she/they)

Director of LGBTQIA+ Programming
Charlie Health

Andrea Dinsmore, M.Ed.

Director of Student Services
Great Valley School District

Dr. Caroline Fenkel, LCSW

Co-founder & Chief Clinical Officer
Charlie Health

Damian Holbrook

Person in Recovery

Kim Porter, CFRS

Executive Director, Be a Part of the Conversation

Kayte Roberts, LMFT

Psychotherapist

Alandra J. Russ, M.S, NCC

Lead Adolescent Therapist, The Light Program PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program)