Alateen offers peer support for Yuma youths

Source: The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.迷你倉Aug. 26--Every Sunday a circle of teenage friends meets for a discussion of life that's open, understanding, supportive and rooted in the 12-step tradition.Adult sponsors say that Alateen offers young people the chance for healthy peer-to-peer conversation, something that can be too rare in today's life."The neat thing is they get to disconnect from cell phones -- which aren't welcome -- and disconnect from the outside world and connect with each other emotionally -- with real emotion," said Kari Tatar, a trained Alateen sponsor. "These kids get to have face-to-face communication, a chance to express themselves emotionally, which is important in anyone's life, let alone teenagers."Alateen meetings operate as an arm of Al-Anon, reaching out to young people with a support group based on the 12-step philosophy and traditions established by Alcoholics Anonymous. Al-Anon is described as a "fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems."Yuma's Alateen meetings are held at 2 p.m. every Sunday. The location is the Reach Youth Center, formerly known as the Generation Y 2000 Diversity Center (GY2KC). The address is 447 S. Main St.The meetings are free, last about an hour and are open to teens ages 11 to 19.Alateen meetings are open to teens interested in discussion a variety of topics, not just issues involving addiction. Members may want to talk about their own issues or problems in their lives created by a loved one's addiction or other trouble.Yuma's meetings are overseen by three sponsors who are trained by Ala-Non."It's a support group and it's their group. We are just there to guide and supervise the meeting. But it really is their meeting," Tatar said. "It's amazing because teens often will not talk to us adults as they might talk with each other."She added that sponsors might step in i自存倉 unhealthy advice is being given or if a young person is experiencing a crisis situation where their safety or general well-being is at risk."We want to give them something positive in life, help teens realize that it's not the advice that someone gives, that the change will come from them. The only thing we can do is realize we are powerless and we can not manage situations are that unmanageable," Tatar said. "There is a way out for these kids. There is hope for them. We can show them how to find it within themselves, which is even better."Tatar stressed that teens have always needed support and understanding, but that need is greater now than ever before."Can you imagine being a teen today? Their youth is so invigorating, but what they are up against is demoralizing," the Yuma mother said. "We have 11 and 12 year olds faced with the same moral dilemmas as adults. How are they handling it? Parents aren't there helping them out all the time. As a parent, the thought of what they face terrifies me. It pains me to think kids have to go through that alone."The meetings began in June last year, bringing Alateen back to Yuma after about a 10-year hiatus.Parents who have questions about the meetings are sometimes able to attend, if the teens present agree to the visit. Tatar said some parents actually want to keep attending because they feel so much benefit from the meetings."Health is contagious. Mental health is even more contagious," she said. "People want to be with healthy people. That's the neat thing about Ala-Non and Alateen, the mental clarity, the serenity. We show kids 'It's not about you that dad drinks. You're not the cause of it and you're not going to cure it."For more information about Alateen, call Tatar at 287-5854 or send email to Karitatar@gmail.com.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) Visit The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) at .yumasun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉新蒲崗