Category: Blog

Why Community Connection Is One of the Strongest Addiction Prevention Tools

In 1998, 42% of Icelandic 15- and 16-year-olds reported being drunk in the past month. By 2016, that figure had fallen to 5%, after Iceland invested in sports, music, curfews, and closer ties between parents and schools. The lesson reached far beyond Reykjavík: young people who feel connected to caring adults and meaningful activities are …

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Camp Bright Horizons

Supporting Teens as They Navigate Major Life Transitions

Adolescence is a time of growth, discovery, and change. Yet major life transitions—moving to a new school, entering high school or college, or family shifts—can feel overwhelming. Teens often struggle to adapt, and stress can affect their emotions, behavior, and confidence. Adults play a crucial role in helping teens navigate these periods with care. Small …

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Stress Management Strategies For Youth In Recovery Facing Peer Pressure

Stress often spikes in early recovery because your body and mind adjust to life without substances. School makes it harder, since friends may joke about drinking, offer rides to parties, or pressure you to “fit in.” Social events can feel tense, especially if people ask personal questions. Fear of rejection can trigger racing thoughts and …

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The Connection Between Unaddressed Trauma And Substance Use In Adolescents

Be honest – when you hear the word ”adolescence,” the first things that pop to your mind are hormones, drama, and boundary-pushing. To some extent, that’s true. After all, teens are figuring themselves out, testing limits, stumbling a little. Yet, what looks like typical teen behavior can sometimes be painful. Or rather, trauma that never …

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Peer Influence Versus Healthy Boundaries In Adolescence

Adolescence can be pretty tough. Anyone who’s been through it – or has also had a chance to witness someone go through it – knows exactly what’s up. The body changes while the social compass spins like a cheap weathervane. Friends become mirrors. Suddenly, everyone’s measuring themselves in reflections. You think you know yourself, then …

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Identifying Early Warning Signs of Teen Relapse

Relapse in teens means returning to harmful habits after progress in recovery. It often shows up as small but noticeable changes before a complete return to old patterns. Parents and caregivers need to stay alert because missed signs can lead to severe setbacks. Early warning signs of teen relapse often appear in emotional shifts, behavior …

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Understanding Substance Use Triggers in Teen Environments

Teen spaces are always alive. Sneakers hit linoleum, hallways echo with laughter, music leaks from cracked phone speakers, and the ever-present pressure to fit in never loses its ever-presentness. Within this landscape, some patterns point to substance use triggers in teen environments. To see them with clarity, and address them with empathy, we need to …

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Biggest Little Basketball Camp

Lynda Vande Sandt, Liberty County The 4th Annual Biggest Little Basketball Camp took place July 7–9, 2025, at CJI Schools, drawing approximately 100 students in grades 1–12. Sponsored by Alliance for Youth and several local businesses, the camp focused on developing basketball skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Founded by CJI graduate Jayla Ramberg, the Hi-Line camp …

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CADCA Mid Year Takeaways

Lucy Corbett, Ida Sisk, Sylvia Miller, Jody Hanisch, and Coleen Smith attended CADCA mid-year in Nashville. Here are their takeaway from their favorite sessions. About the above graphic: For the activity they provided a bag with construction paper, string, tape and a little car. We were to build a bridge out of the materials that would …

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