Learning Organization
Progress – We are a learning organization. We seek to continually expand our capacity, improve our skills, and reflect on our work to provide the best possible service to children and families in our community.
In light of this value, we provide knowledgeable speakers/presenters on all matters related to mental health. We also engage experts in various fields and partner with mission-aligned organizations to bring the best of the best to present. Whether a professional in search of CEUs, or parents wanting to be better informed on issues affecting their children, Outreach is ready to provide pertinent training and educational events throughout the year. Download our Program Guide here.
Parent Education
Parent Consultation
In response to the needs of the communities Outreach serves, Outreach has implemented a new FREE service called a Parent Consultation.
From time to time, every parent is confronted with issues in which they feel “stuck.” Maybe your child is going through a new phase or stage of development and your normal bag of tricks are just not as effective. Maybe the issue is totally new to you as a parent and you are unsure of how to even begin to approach the problem. During a parent consultation, you will meet with a counselor who will work to understand the current struggle and together you will develop a written parenting plan to implement at home. The counselor will provide you with additional resources and referrals when appropriate. You will also receive a follow-up phone call from the counselor in a week or two to see how the plan is working.
Parent Counseling
Did you know Outreach Teen & Family Services is not just for your kids?
If you are the parent or family member of a child who is struggling, Outreach has counselors who can meet with you regarding your concerns. Our counselors specialize in parenting issues as well as how to deal with a child who is defiant, feeling overwhelmed, refuses to talk to you, and many other stressors affecting kids today.
Parenting Workshop
Utilizing the curriculum from Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (S.T.E.P.) Teen, these workshops are being planned for spring 2022 in partnership with Mt. Lebanon Library.
Discover effective parenting skills that will benefit you and your family. The STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) Teen Program offers parents down-to-earth, practical ways to meet the challenges of raising today’s teenager. It enables parents to help their teens behave responsibly in the face of today’s social pressures. It also assist parents who want their relationship with teens to be more satisfying and enjoyable.
The program deals with a number of special challenges faced by parents of teenagers: their teen’s growing independence and increased social pressures; dating, curfews, and use of cars; part-time jobs, career plans, and the increase importance of school work; relating to other adults who have problems with their teen; lying, stealing, anger, violence; use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; sexual activity, and pregnancy.
Through systematic presentation of concepts and skills, this program seeks to help parents:
- Understand a practical theory of human behavior that can be applied to parent-teen relationships
- Understand emotions of both teens and parents
- Encourage teens more effectively
- Improve communications between parents and teens so that all feel they are being heard and understood
- Develop skills for listening, resolving conflicts, and exploring alternatives
- Learn to prevent discipline problems
- Learn to use natural and logical consequences as methods of corrective discipline
- Prevent and resolve challenging problems
- Become aware of how building their own self-esteem, developing the courage to be imperfect, and being responsible for their own actions can help parents improve relationships with teens
How much does it cost?
There is no cost for these workshops this spring thanks to the support from Mt. Lebanon Municipality.
Questions?
If you have questions about the program, please reach out to Maggie Zangara, mzangara@outreachteen.org.
Supporter Program
Parenting is hard work and a job in which you never stop learning and growing. We all experience life’s challenges and struggles in unique ways. These experiences shape us into the person we will eventually become.
As an established member of the community, Outreach Teen & Family Services has been providing counseling services and programs for more than four decades, focusing on empowerment, prevention, education, and early intervention. We believe in supporting parents and providing them with the education and tools necessary as they navigate the ages and stages of their children.
The Supporter Program is for people who value children and families and share our desire to help every child, teen and family we serve to thrive. Your financial investment, as well as your advocacy, helps neighbors to grow and achieve their dreams.
Find out more by clicking here! There is a QR code to make signing up easy!
Youth Education
Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
A 30 hour intervention program to help adolescents improve social skill competence and moral reasoning, better manage anger, and reduce aggressive behavior. The program specifically targets chronically aggressive youth who have been referred by the Allegheny County juvenile justice system. Two Master’s degree level counselors facilitate this group three times per year.
Participants’ Quotes:
I haven’t been angry for weeks, not even irritated.
At the start of one ART program, a student said, “I don’t care about ANYBODY.” During the seventh week of the program, the same student said, “Where is Michelle [another participant]? I was just wondering if she is okay.”
Choices – Drug & Alcohol Education Program for Teens
For any young person in need of education on how to deal with the pressures of alcohol/other drug use so they can make better decisions.
Outreach’s Choices program is designed as an opportunity to help families find answers. Our aim is to reduce substance abuse among adolescents by supporting families and educating teens.
The Choices program does not assume that every teen entering it has firmly set upon the road to addiction. The goals of this educational program are to help prevent re-occurrence of the previous behavior, helping teens make better decisions in the future.
If the teen was referred by a judge, Outreach will inform the magistrate of enrollment, successful completion and other relevant information.
Schedule for Teens
Teens sessions are the third Saturday of every month,
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Registration is mandatory – no walk-ins.
Schedule for Parents
A separate parent session is held on the same Saturday as the teen session,
Noon—1:00 p.m.
Attendance by one or both parents is highly recommended.
Fee
$175 is due before the first class.
Registration
You can also register in person at the Outreach office:
615 Washington Road, TL-6, Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Office hours: M-Th, 8:00 am– 3:00 pm and Friday, 8:00am – 12Noon
Class size is limited.
Participants’ Quotes:
I learned about what the long-term effects of drugs and alcohol, rather than the short-term, “in the moment” effects that’ll make me reconsider drinking/doing drugs.
I learned how dangerous and serious even small amounts of drugs/alcohol are. All of the consequences aren’t worth it.
We reviewed various types of harmful drugs. It has made me realize that I have to think twice before I decide to do something that can be potentially harmful to me. At first I was dreading the class but it was actually kind of fun.
Parents’ Quotes:
The facilitator was very conscientious and knowledgeable and was of great help in understanding the dangers of underage drinking.
I would love to see [this program] as a mandatory high school requirement.The instructor was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. The kids in this class are getting a good education!
Community Workshop Kits
The Community workshop program offers engaging virtual workshops to support mental wellness skills for children 5 to 12 years old and their families. Each workshop will provide a psychoeducational lesson by a master’s level clinician that will help increase your child’s social and emotional wellbeing. The mental wellness lesson will be paired with an activity from a member of the community that supports fostering protective skills to promote healthy and happy children. The activity kits will be provided as part of purchasing a community workshop.
Find out more about our most recent workshop by clicking here, or emailing Maggie Zangara, mzangara@outreachteen.org.
In-School Counselors/Programs
Outreach provides counselors on-site at schools to serve the students who are having behavioral or emotional problems which disrupt the educational process for themselves and others in the classroom. Currently, Outreach has counselors at Chartiers Houston School District and Bishop-Canevin High School.
“Teens Tap In”
Our newest innovative program is a teen-led podcast, “Teens Tap In.” This podcast gives a voice to our youth. Co-hosted by Outreach’s junior board members, Caroline and Syd, they find speakers of interest and tackle difficult subjects to alleviate the stigma surrounding mental health and wellness. The podcast episodes can be accessed through Podbean, or on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast or Spotify.
The disclaimer and notice for the podcast can be found by clicking here. Ideas for future episodes are most welcome! Please send any ideas to podcasts@outreachteen.org.
Youth Advisory Committee – Learn More Here!
Join this vibrant Committee consists of 7 teens interested in Mental Health and Wellness. We are accepting applications through the end of December 2022, with the goal of having 10-12 teens on the committee. Terms are for one year, and subcommittees include: Advocacy, Leadership and Marketing. Just click on the link to apply! Youth Advocacy Committee
Many thanks to the AEO Foundation for a generous Community Grant which will fund the work of the YAC for this year!
Trainings & Presentations
Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid is offered upon request.
Cost is $15/person or $25/couple.
Facilitated by Dr. Tracy Scanlon, LPC
QPR Gatekeeper Certification
Nothing is more tragic than the loss of a loved one to suicide, especially a child. Outreach has implemented this training for individuals working with youth, either in a school or community setting. Our certified counselor will train participants to teach the QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention so participants can gain competence and confidence to teach others how to save lives and help prevent suicidal behaviors.
Due to the generosity of a local family recently affected by such a tragic loss, the training for this program will be free for 2022.
If you’d like to learn more about QPR, check out this short video: https://players.brightcove.net/2621289355001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5099124341001
To schedule, contact Maggie Zangara, mzangara@outreachteen.org.
Speakers’ Bureau
Outreach Teen & Family Services offers a variety of informative talks about the challenges faced by today’s youth and their families.
We are available for conferences and workshops for mental health and education professionals, and can fashion presentations to accommodate the needs of the attendees.
Presentations are facilitated by master’s degree or doctoral level therapists.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Emotional Hygiene
- Integrating Mental Health – Schools as Systems of Care
- Mindful Parenting
- Anxiety – Adolescents and Teens
- Schools
- Compassion Fatigue
- Fostering Empathy in a “Selfie” World
- Risky Behaviors
- Relationship Violence
- Positive Attitude
- Depression & Anxiety in Teens
- Self-Mutilation (cutting)
- The Choking Game
- Underage Alcohol & Drug Use
- Stress Eating
- Time Management
- Survival Guide to the Middle Years
Community groups we have presented to in the past include: School Districts, PTA/PTOs, Hospitals, Religious Groups, Universities, Libraries, Recreation Centers, Health Fairs, Youth Groups & Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Boy & Girl Scouts.
Connect With Outreach!