Asset Building for Youth:

How to Help Your Teen’s Physical and Mental Health

The Problem: Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic childhood events that negatively impact a child’s development. The more ACEs children experience, the more likely they are to have physical and mental health issues, even into adulthood.

ACEs can take place in the child’s home, in someone else’s home, at school, at church, or elsewhere in the community. Often, youth turn to substances to cope with unresolved trauma. They may not talk about their experiences out of fear or shame.

Children, youth, and adults who have a history ACEs may start developing symptoms such as weight gain or loss, increased isolation, panic attacks, lack of interest or motivation in activities, or angry outbursts. These are often indicators of toxic stress.

Families that fall into one or more of the categories below are more likely to experience ACEs:

The Solution: Asset Building

Asset building simply means to provide youth with the resources and relationships they need to succeed in life. These include:

• Strong bonds with healthy adults
• Strong bonds with healthy peers
• Access to medical and mental health care
• Positive ways to spend their time
• Developing self-love and personal identity
• Increased autonomy as they age

The more assets children have, the less likely they are to experience ACEs. For people with significant trauma history, building assets will help them heal and prevent risky coping behaviors.

It is never too early to start developing assets in your child’s life. Try to research asset building ideas, and have a conversation with your child or teen to discuss what options sound interesting to them.

The images above are provided by the CDC.

Ways to Get Involved with Asset Building

1. Encourage your teen to join Teen Institute (TI)

Several schools in Wayne County have a TI. These groups focus on building healthy relationships, developing leadership skills, staying substance free, and helping at events.

For more information, email coalitionscommunication@gmail.com.

Orrville’s Teen Institute: RAPA

2. Come to Turning Point Coalitions Tailgate Party

Friday, September 17

This event is a good reminder about the importance of spending quality time with your kids doing activities like reading aloud, making crafts, encouraging involvement in school activities, and cheering them on. Building positive assets like family connectedness helps prevent risky behaviors (for example, illegal activity, skipping school, or using substances).

For updates, follow facebook.com/turningpointcoalition or visit turningpointcoalition.com.

3. Have Your Teen Participate in Ohio Teen Institute’s Winter Weekend

December 10-12

“Ohio Teen Institute (OTI) is a…drug free leadership conference for high school students. Through the program, students develop the skills to become a positive leader within their schools and communities. Students are also equipped with the knowledge and abilities to not only make positive choices for themselves, but also to encourage their peers to make healthy decisions.”

–OTI

Our Coalition has often provided funding and transportation to send students to OTI. Contact coalitionscommunication@gmail.com for more information!

This image is provided by Ohio Teen Institute.

4. Take Free CDC Trainings

Learn more about preventing ACEs from your own home! The CDC has provided tools and trainings to help us be more trauma-informed in our care. Take a look:

This image is provided by the CDC.

5. Attend a Coalition Meeting

If you’re interested in getting more involved with your community, consider joining one of our Coalition meetings! Through our efforts, we are able to build assets on a community level.

Currently, we have Coalitions meeting in Wooster, Orrville, and Rittman, with additional options to join via Zoom. Email coalitionscommunication@gmail.com for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance misuse, get help now:

• OneEighty
• Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties (MHRB)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Wayne and Holmes Counties
• United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties

Thank you for being a vital part of our community!

Copyright © 2021 CIRCLE Coalition. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
CIRCLE Coalition
c/o 104 Spink St.
Wooster, OH 44691

coalitionscommunication@gmail.com