Press Releases

February 17, 2012: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

The Job Connection referral service is available for adults looking for help from area youth in the Forest Lake area. We have over 70 trained youth workers, ages 12-17 wanting to assist with home chores. Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, organizing and much more! All youth have attended an orientation/training session with a parent/guardian. Adults are asked to call to register & are given a referral list of youth to contact and set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come to your home, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are decided between adult & youth. Youth workers are responsible for finding transportation to homes. Adults assume all liability regarding the work youth do at their home and should be on site to provide direction and supervision at all times. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to gain some work experience! This service is sponsored by offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). For more information or to have an adult registration packet sent to you, please contact Lorelei Markson with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or lorelei.markson@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz with FLASCE at 651.982.8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

February 10, 2012: Free Field Trip to the MN State Capitol

Junior & Senior High Students! Don’t miss this no-cost opportunity to visit the State Capitol building in St. Paul on Wednesday, March 7 (Spring Break for Forest Lake & North Lakes Academy)! You’ll get to meet with your local senators and representatives to learn about the work they do as well as speak your mind about the importance of out-of-school time programming for teens. Also, go on a guided tour of the building from the Minnesota Historical Society. Meet at 9:15am in the Central Learning Center’s cafeteria (200 SW 4th St., Forest Lake, Door 1) and then we will be traveling to and from St. Paul by a Forest Lake Area Schools bus or van. Pick up will be at 3:00pm at the Central Learning Center. This field trip is co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) and Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). Photos of students will be taken and used for promotional purposes by FLASCE & LAYSB. Bring a bag lunch! There is no cost to attend this field trip, but pre-registration is required by Friday, March 2nd.
To sign up, please fill out the Field Trip to the MN State Capitol Flyer or sign up online at www.communityed4u.org, class #5572.

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz at FLASCE at 651-982-8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

February 3, 2012: “Fusion” Means Fun for Youth

FUSION, an afterschool program offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) is a “coming together” of youth to hang out, play games & do service projects with peers. Best of all, it is FREE and beverages and snacks are provided!

FUSION is offered to junior high school students in the Forest Lake School District and middle school students in the Chisago Lakes School District.

Forest Lake dates & times: FUSION is held on certain Mondays from 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm at the Central Learning Center (200 SW 4th St., Forest Lake). Just hop on the bus afterschool to the CLC. Until Fusion begins at 3:30PM in the cafeteria, students can access free Homework Help or enjoy supervised free time through Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). An activity bus is available to go home. LAYSB volunteer Heidi Peterson will be there with you. Come to one, two or all of these sessions on Mondays: February 13 and 27, March 12 and 26, April 9 and 23, May 7 and 21. To sign up, go to our website at www.ysblakesarea.org and print out a form or register online at www.communityed4u.org.

Chisago Lakes Middle School dates & times: FUSION is held on certain Mondays afterschool at the middle school in room 121 –science room from 2:30 -3:30pm. LAYSB volunteer Jackie Scheldorf will be there with you. Come to one, two or all of these sessions on Mondays: February 6 and 27, March 19 and April 2. To sign up, students can find a registration form at www.ysblakesarea.org or pick one up at school.

Contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

January 27, 2012: For Troubled Kids Ages Twelve and Under

When youth under the age of twelve begin stealing from stores or people, vandalizing, beating up other kids, or committing other law violations, services designed for them are hard to come by. At LAYSB, we developed our Twelve and Under Restorative Justice Program specifically to meet the needs of this population of youth.

The Twelve and Under Program focuses on giving youth and their families the help they need to get their lives back on track. Through the program, youth, along with their families, learn and understand the consequences of their actions, explore family dynamics, and begin to make amends for their actions.

The program includes a minimum of 5 sessions with a Masters Level Counselor. Homework for youth includes writing an apology letter and completing a cost analysis of the situation. Parents can refer directly to the program as can law enforcement officers, school districts and court system personnel.

The cost of the program is $100-$175. Fee varies based on whether or not you live in a funding community. For more information, contact Caleb Kaihoi at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or caleb.kaihoi@ysblakesarea.org.

January 20, 2012: LAYSB Seeks Nominations for Annual Awards

Do you know someone who is a great role model for youth? Someone who demonstrates a passion for the well-being of youth?

Do you know a youth who is making a difference in their community?

Do you know a law enforcement officer that has gone above and beyond his or her job duties to connect with and make a difference in the lives of youth?

If any of the above statements are true, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking candidates for the annual LAYSB service to youth awards. The winners will be honored at special presentations in front of family, friends and community members and also in local publications.

Awards are given for service during 2011 in the following categories:

“On Behalf of Youth Award” honors individuals who demonstrate a passion for the well-being of youth. This award will be given to one adult and one youth.
“James Trudeau Award” honors a licensed law enforcement officer for service or activities related to youth.

Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, March 16, 2012. Nominations may be made by any area resident (not family members), local business owner or any area civic or service group. A connection to LAYSB is preferred but not necessary.

Nomination Packets are available here.

Questions about the awards may be directed to Jackie Kottke, Development Coordinator, by calling 651-464-3685 or by email jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

January 13, 2012: January is National Mentoring Month – And You Can Make a Difference

President Obama has issued a proclamation declaring January as National Mentoring Month. In it, he says, “Every day, mentors help young Americans face the challenges of growing into adulthood. By setting a positive example and sharing their time, knowledge and experience, mentors play an essential role in preparing our Nation’s youth for a bright future.”

There is an opportunity to give back by mentoring right here in your community & Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau needs YOU. We are in need of adult male mentors now more than ever through our “Making Connections Mentoring Program.” It is designed to provide youth ages 10-17 with an opportunity to build a positive and encouraging relationship with a supportive adult in the community.

Characteristics of youth served are those seeking: additional adult support, improved self esteem, positive reinforcement, someone to look up to, improved academic performance, improved relationships overall and much more!

Mentors meet with their mentee two times per month for a minimum of six months according to a schedule determined by the mentor/mentee.

Good candidates to be mentors are adults who: can be a positive role model, want to connect with youth in the community, are patient and willing to listen & like to have fun!

All mentors receive general volunteer training and a detailed training session related to mentoring. Please consider sharing your gifts with a youth in your community.

For more information or to receive a volunteer application, please contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651.464.3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org.

January 6, 2012: LAYSB Takes Anger Head On

Until recently, we had been missing a place in our community where adolescents could face their struggles with anger. Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) has filled the gap by offering our R.E.A.C.H. (Recognizing and Exploring Anger, Conflict and Hope) program. R.E.A.C.H. is designed to help adolescents look at and address their anger. In this program, we will explore where anger comes from, how it impacts relationships and strategies for managing it. The program is offered to adolescents ages 13 – 18; meeting for a total of 6 sessions. Caleb Kaihoi, Youth and Family Therapist Intern, will lead and sessions will take place at LAYSB in Forest Lake, 244 North Lake Street. Youth participants and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are asked to attend an initial intake session. The cost ranges from $100 – $175, depending on county of residence, for the six-week program.

Please contact LAYSB at 651.464.3685 if you have questions or to sign up for R.E.A.C.H.

December 22, 2011: “Our Place” A Teen Sobriety Support Group

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) provides a place for teens struggling with any type of addiction to get support in their recovery.

Teenagers can come to the agency (244 N Lake St. in Forest Lake) every Tuesday at 6:00pm and find a support meeting. It’s called, “Our Place” and it’s just for teens.

Using a 12-step model, trained LAYSB staff and volunteers provide a safe and “teen friendly” atmosphere.

“So many teen support groups have started and stopped in our communities,” says Matt Howard, LAYSB’s Community Justice Program Manager.

“The time has come for a stable meeting place for teens that can be counted on year in and year out.”

Youth ages 13-19 can attend this group and participation is not limited to one specific type of addiction. The support meeting is set up in such a way that all addictions are welcomed and none are excluded. Even youth struggling with loved ones that have an addiction are welcome at this group.

If someone you know would benefit from this meeting, please pass this information on. If you know people that need to know this information to help the teenagers they work with, please pass on this information. If you are still reading this article, PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON. The whole community should know that there’s a place for the teens that want to stay sober.

Contact Matt at LAYSB at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

December 16, 2011: LAYSB Wins 2^nd Place in Giving Tree Contest

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) was one of four non-profit organizations invited by Grand Casino Hinckley to participate in their Giving Tree Contest. Each agency decorated a Christmas tree and the rest was up to voters! LAYSB received Facebook “likes” and in-person ballots earning the second place prize of $2000 which will be used to support programs and services ensuring the success of youth and families in our community. THANK YOU to everyone who voted for LAYSB’s tree!

For more information, contact Jackie Kottke at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Jackie.Kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

December 9, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

The Job Connection referral service is available for adults looking for help from area youth in the Forest Lake area. We have over 70 trained youth workers, ages 12-17 wanting to assist with home chores. Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, organizing and much more! All youth have attended an orientation/training session with a parent/guardian. Adults are asked to call to register & are given a referral list of youth to contact and set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come to your home, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are decided between adult & youth. Youth workers are responsible for finding transportation to homes. Adults assume all liability regarding the work youth do at their home and should be on site to provide direction and supervision at all times. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to gain some work experience! This service is sponsored by offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). For more information or to have an adult registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz with FLASCE at 651.982.8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

Please Note: The Job Connection service will not be accessible from December 24^th through January 2^nd, so contact us today if you would like to hire youth or, wait until after January 2^nd to call.

December 2, 2011: WUMC Continues to Share Its Blessings:

Wyoming United Methodist Church’s (WUMC) Pastor Lori Nielsen (left) and member Bea Zaruba (right) presented a check for $1478 to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s Executive Director Jeanne Walz, part of the proceeds from their annual Fall Supper held on Thursday, October 27. Free will offerings were given at the event and the WUMC congregation again chose to generously divide the proceeds between three local nonprofit organizations: LAYSB, The Refuge and New Pathways. Expressing her thanks, Jeanne Walz said, “We are sincerely appreciative of WUMC’s continued partnership and generosity in support of youth and families in our community!”

For more information, contact Jackie Kottke at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or email jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

December 2, 2011: Immediate Openings in DBT Group at LAYSB!

CoRE Skills Group: An Adolescent DBT Program

As a part of our ongoing service to adolescents in the area, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) offers CoRE Skills; Coping & Regulating Emotion, an adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. DBT is a program that offers training and skills in emotion regulation. Through distress tolerance, mindfulness and problem solving skills, adolescents can learn to live a more harmonious life for oneself and in relationship to those around them. DBT is perfect for adolescents who struggle with Depression, Anxiety, Anger issues, Bi-Polar Disorder, Relationship Issues or anything involving situations that make it difficult to regulate emotion.

CoRE Skills is for boys and girls in 10^th -12^th grade. Some 9th grade students will be admitted on a case by case basis. CoRE meets Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 for a period of 24 weeks, with varying start dates. The upcoming start dates for CoRE Skills are December 13, February 7 and March 20. In addition to the group, each client will also be participating in individual therapy with a counselor to help implement the skills that are being learned. There is a parent component that will be discussed at the intake session.

To find out if CoRE Skills is right for you visit www.ysblakesarea.org, click on “CoRE Skills (DBT)” under the counseling tab to take the quiz, “DBT: Is it for you?” If you would like more information about the program or if you would like to speak with a counselor, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT at 651.464.3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

November 23, 2011: Making the Most of Your Holiday Season

The holiday season is often viewed as a time of joy and sharing. For many, however, the season is also associated with stress, exhaustion, and expense in terms of time and money. Here is a collection of tips to help manage holiday stress:

Create a master “to-do” list. Write down everything that needs to be bought, made, baked, etc. This will give you a sense of control and an opportunity to review whether your plans are realistic. Can anything be cut out or scaled down?
Be realistic about your holiday expectations. Decide what holiday events are most enjoyable and what events can be missed. It’s okay to refuse invitations, particularly events you know will be stressful for you. Attend events that will bring the most to your celebration of the holidays.
Schedule your activities in advance. This will alleviate the stress of the last minute hustle and crowd fighting.
Maintain your health. Watch what you eat and drink, get enough sleep, and make time for your exercise program.
Shop within your budget. You can show love by giving something that is meaningful without spending a lot of money. Also, try shopping on the Web or from catalogs if crowded malls cause you stress.
Make time for yourself to relax and rejuvenate. Make sure you are doing the things that make you feel good during the holidays.
Play in the snow, stare at a crackling fire, share dinner with friends, drive around and look at lights, or sing carols. Find joy in the season’s little treasures as well as the big ones.
If you are separated from family and friends, or have suffered the loss of a loved one, acknowledge your feelings of grief and loss and allow yourself to express these normal feelings.

On behalf of the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, we wish you and yours a joyous and peaceful holiday season. If you are in need of additional services for stress or grief this season you can call us at 651.464.3685.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

November 18, 2011: For Troubled Kids Ages Twelve and Under

When youth under the age of twelve begin stealing from stores or people, vandalizing, beating up other kids, or committing other law violations, services designed for them are hard to come by. At LAYSB, we developed our Twelve and Under Restorative Justice Program specifically to meet the needs of this population of youth.

The cost of the program is $75-$125. Fee varies based on whether or not you live in a funding community. For more information or to schedule an intake appointment, please contact LAYSB at 651.464.3685.

November 11, 2011: Chemical Health & Restorative Justice Weeks: A Good Combination

Each year, our state observes Minnesota Chemical Health Week during the third week of November. It’s a time to remember the dangers of alcohol and drugs and to work on preventing their use especially among our youth.

Interestingly, the third week of November is also National Restorative Justice Week. This is a time to learn, as a community, how we can help offenders restore the damage done to their victims.

At Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, the chemical and restorative worlds collide in a good way for youth. In our community, any youth that has had a minor consumption of alcohol or possession of a small amount of marijuana or paraphernalia, and does not have any prior offenses, is eligible for diversion from the court to our Community Justice program.

When a chemical offense has occurred, the youth and parents both attend three components of our program: an intake with a case worker, a chemical awareness education class and a community panel.

The community panel is what makes our program restorative. It gives the youth a chance to understand how their chemical offense has affected their community. Trained volunteers from the area sit across a table from each youth and have a conversation about what happened. They review the youth’s homework which includes an apology letter, a cost analysis worksheet and a research paper or essay.

Most youth don’t initially think that getting into trouble for a minor chemical offense really affects anyone but themselves. However, by the time they have written an apology letter to their family, talked with the panel volunteers about hidden costs such as police time, parent time and class fees, they begin to see the bigger picture.

The adult volunteers on the panels put a real face to the community that is both caring for the youth and holding them accountable at the same time. These wonderful role models have an opportunity, at a very critical time in a youth’s life, to speak words of encouragement and correction on behalf of their community.

During this third week of November, consider taking action to help keep your community a restorative place that helps keep youth safe from drugs and alcohol. Consider becoming a Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau panel volunteer.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

November 4, 2011: Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) Participating in Third Annual Give to the Max Day on Nov. 16

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) is one of many nonprofit organizations throughout the state that will once again ask Minnesotans to display their record-breaking generosity by donating to their favorite charity (LAYSB of course) online at www.GiveMN.org during the third annual “Give to the Max Day” on Wednesday, November 16.

“This is a terrific opportunity for us to create community awareness about our many programs and services and gain needed resources,” said Jeanne Walz, Executive Director. “Over 55% of our budget must come from donations and Give to the Max Day is an important way to help us raise needed revenue.” Money donated to LAYSB will directly benefit its mission of providing at-risk youth who are struggling with life issues or making poor choices with healthy, meaningful and relevant alternatives which put them on the path to becoming successful adults.

“We set single-day records for philanthropic giving in both 2009 and 2010 and want to keep that streak going in 2011,” said Dana Nelson, executive director of GiveMN.org, which debuted in fall 2009 as the first-of-its-kind giving website and sponsors Give to the Max Day. “This is a day for us to come together as Minnesotans and show our support for the nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to improve our communities.”

2011 Give to the Max Day Incentives

In 2011, GiveMN will offer several incentives to encourage donor participation in Give to the Max Day, including:

$15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 prize grants will be awarded to the top three small nonprofit organizations – with budgets under $750,000 – which receive the most dollars on Give to the Max Day.
Throughout the 24 hours of the event, an individual donor will be randomly chosen every hour to win a “golden ticket” and have an additional $1,000 given to the charity that received that donor’s original donation.

GiveMN is powered by Razoo, a critical partner in making Give to the Max Day a success. Razoo offers a secure platform, streamlined donation process and a suite of free and easy-to-use fundraising tools that inspire individuals and nonprofits to give and fundraise online.

For more information, contact Jackie Kottke at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

October 28, 2011: LAYSB Welcomes New Youth and Family Therapist Intern

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) is pleased to announce the addition of a new Youth and Family Therapist Intern, Caleb Kaihoi, B.A. Caleb will be working alongside LAYSB’s long time therapist Kari Lyn Wampler, M.A., LMFT. In collaboration they provide individual and family therapy to adolescents and their families in order to solve immediate issues, stabilize individual or family crises, strengthen skill development and assist in building healthy relationships.

Caleb graduated from Bethel University, St. Paul, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He is in the final year of his Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Bethel Seminary. Caleb has over four years of experience working with youth by coaching and interning with the student services office at Mounds View High School. Caleb is excited to work with adolescents and their families and strives to offer skills and support to individuals and families that are necessary for a healthy life with healthy relationships.

For more information, contact Caleb Kaihoi at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or caleb.kaihoi@ysblakesarea.org.

October 28, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

The Job Connection, a referral service offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE) is available. We link adults looking for help in the Forest Lake area to over 70 trained youth workers, ages 12-17. Youth go to homes and assist with home chores. Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, organizing and much more! All youth have attended an orientation/training session with a parent/guardian. Adults contact LAYSB or FLASCE, register & are given a referral list of youth to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come to your home, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are decided between adult & youth. Youth workers are responsible for finding transportation to homes. Adults assume all liability regarding the work youth do at their home and should be on site to provide direction and supervision at all times. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to gain some work experience!

For more information or to have an adult registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz with FLASCE at 651.982.8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

October 21, 2011: Red Ribbon Week – A New Take On Alcohol And Drug Prevention

Have you ever wondered what all those red ribbons on car antennas were about? Why do people take the time to tie them on? What are they trying to accomplish?

Some people think they are a symbol against drunk driving. Others say they represent people that have died from alcohol related crashes. It turns out they actually symbolize the desire of communities to raise awareness of, and look for solutions to, all drug and alcohol issues.

During the last week each October when you start seeing red ribbons what might be some good things to start thinking about or taking action on? What kinds of things can you do to become part of the solution to the drug and alcohol problem as an individual, family or community? What can you do?

Research is now showing that trying to reduce youth alcohol and drug use through “shock” and “scare” tactics does not work in the long term. However, reducing risk factors for use and increasing protective factors does.

Here’s a list of the top risk factors that our youth face that increase the likelihood that they will use:

1. History of family chemical abuse or dependency

2. Availability of chemicals

3. Peers that use and/or approve of use

4. Persistent aggressive or anti-social behavior in grades K-3

5. Alienated or rebellious youth that don’t feel they are meaningfully connected to society.

Knowing that these are some of the main “culprits” influencing juvenile chemical use we can now begin to focus in on potential answers.

Below are some ideas from community professionals for increasing protective factors in the life of our youth:

1. “When families talk about chemical use regularly, kids are likely to listen and understand. Sharing observations about chemical use at ‘natural’ times (during commercials, when watching a movie, when hearing about parties, etc.) is more likely to have an impact on youth than when having a ‘sit-down talk’ about it”, stated Tom Koplitz, Community Partnership’s Executive Director. “Families that have clear nonuse expectations for teens, and adults that model responsible, occasional alcohol use are sending a great message to young people!”

2. Reducing the availability of chemicals can come on many levels. On a community wide level there are policies and procedures in place to help reduce juvenile access alcohol. Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter notes that, “State laws prohibit selling and furnishing alcohol to young people. A new Chisago County Ordinance prohibits people from hosting parties or events where young people will consume alcohol. Our law enforcement agencies aggressively enforce these laws. Legal consequences for these offenses can include fines, assessments, community service work, and for young adults, even jail time. However, our criminal justice system is only one piece to the prevention puzzle.” On a family level parents can lock up alcohol or choose to not have alcohol in the home at all.

3. Peers that use can be one of the toughest risk factors to turn around in the life of a youth. Since there is no way to predict in grade school which of your child’s group of friends will use chemicals, many parents are left to discover their teenager in a using peer group later on in life and find that they are quite attached to their using friends. Matt Howard of the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau speaks to this,

“Telling your youth they need to change their peer group completely to include only non-using friends is a tall order to fill for teenagers who get a majority of their identity from the people they surround themselves with. You’re likely to have more success in expecting smaller scale changes such as limiting when and where they can hang out with using friends and encouraging them to start spending some more time with non-using friends.”

4. Aggressive and Anti-social behavior in grade school is a surprising risk factor to make the top five list. Strategies to overcome this risk factor are primarily school and family based. “It is best for schools and families to approach aggressive and anti-social behavior in grade school in similar ways”, said Melissa Vrudny, Prevention Specialist with Community Partnership and chair of the Underage Drinking Task Force. “Clear expectations about appropriate behavior need to be communicated; opportunities for positive/pro-social involvement should be provided to children, and appropriate interaction should be acknowledged and perhaps rewarded.”

5. All children and youth need caring adult role models in their lives. In fact research consistently points to the impact a positive, sustained relationship with an adult can have on young person. By providing support, guidance and assistance adults can ensure a successful transition to adulthood. Disengaged or disconnected youth can feel they don’t have a meaningful connection to society, and this lack of connection can translate into destructive behaviors such as drug or alcohol use. Adults in our communities have a great opportunity to make a difference through mentoring. School counselors, youth workers and community organizations are able to identify the youth that desperately need to connect positively with an adult, but it’s not so easy to find mentors for them. “We have children and youth on waiting lists at all thirteen sites, says Kathy Bystrom, Friends Make A Difference Mentoring Program coordinator for Fairview Lakes. To be a mentor, you don’t need special skills; just the ability to listen and offer friendship, guidance and support to a young person.”

There are no easy answers for reducing and eliminating alcohol and drug related problems in our community. If it were as easy as tying red ribbons on things I’m certain we could find armies of people to cover every community in red from top to bottom.

The truth of the matter is that it takes every person at every level of society working to address the real reasons why youth are using. We each need to be willing to do our part and being willing to work hard to create as many protective factors in the lives of our youth as we can.

This October when you see red ribbons think about doing something in the life of a child to protect them from using alcohol and other drugs. Together we can make a difference.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org

October 14, 2011: Save the Date – LAYSB Fall Open House

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 3:00-6:00pm

244 N. Lake St. in Forest Lake

Rake in all Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) has to share! We would like to invite you, your family, friends, and colleagues to our Fall Open House!

Please join us! Guests attending will meet staff, hear about new programs for youth and families, and learn about great opportunities to get involved.

Refreshments will be available. We can’t wait to see you there!

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

October 7, 2011: LAYSB’s “Fusion” is Available to Youth

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) has debuted a new enrichment program this fall! “Fusion” literally means “coming together” and is an opportunity for youth to hang out, play games & do mini service projects after school. Beverages and snacks are provided at each session. There is no charge to participate!

Sessions are scheduled for junior high students in Forest Lake & middle school students in Chisago Lakes.

Junior High students in the Forest Lake Area School District can attend Fusion with LAYSB volunteer Heidi Peterson from 3:30-4:30PM on select Mondays by taking a bus after school to the Central Learning Center (200 SW 4th St., Forest Lake). Until Fusion begins at 3:30PM in Room E12 – Art Room, students can access free Homework Help or enjoy supervised free time through Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). An activity bus is available to go home. Remaining 2011 dates: 10/17, 10/31, 11/21, 12/5 & 12/19. To sign up, students can find a registration form at www.ysblakesarea.org or register online at www.communityed4u.org.

Chisago Lakes Middle School students can stay after school to attend Fusion with LAYSB volunteer Jackie Scheldorf from 2:30-3:30PM on select Mondays in Room 121 – Science Room. Remaining 2011 dates: 10/10, 11/14, 11/28, 12/12. To sign up, students can find a registration form at www.ysblakesarea.org or at school.

Contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

September 30, 2011: LAYSB Takes Anger Head On

Please contact LAYSB at 651.464.3685 if you have questions or to sign up for R.E.A.C.H.

September 23, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

September 16, 2011: FREE Support for Parents of Teenagers

Every Thursday evening between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 244 N. Lake Street in Forest Lake is hosting a free, drop-in Parent Support Meeting.

Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator, will be on hand to discuss your parenting situation with you and give you ideas, resources and assistance to help you decide how to handle it. Just come in, sit down and place your concerns on the table for discussion. Other parents in attendance are also a good resource to draw upon. Issues that have been discussed include:

Addressing truancy issues
Setting reasonable consequences
Following through with expectations
Ways to effectively communicate with your teen
Recognizing your strengths as parents

Call Jackie Hays at 651.464.3685 for more information. Jackie is also available to talk with you by phone – or send her an email with your questions/concerns: jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org

September 9, 2011: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership is for ALL Youth

It all started when a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement officers and educators came together in 1976 to create the Youth Service Bureau, a diversion service to keep first time young offenders from re-offending. Over the past 35 years, the programs have evolved to include Youth Enrichment & Leadership and family support in addition to early intervention for youth, ages 9 to 18 years.

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) Youth Enrichment & Leadership Programs are open to ALL community youth! They provide opportunities for youth to develop social, leadership, and life skills, meet new friends, and engage in their community. If you are or know a youth in grades 7-12 who needs more healthy relationships, community involvement and relevant learning experiences; these programs are where to find them. There is no referral required to participate in our Enrichment & Leadership Programs & most are free of charge. What we offer is constantly being evaluated and modified according to youth needs. We are also working with Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education to develop further programming for teens.

Current Programs/Event:

Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
- A group of student volunteers (in collaboration with Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education) who are designing and implementing community service projects while building their leadership skills.
Fusion
- Fusion literally means “coming together” and is an opportunity for youth to hang out, play games & do mini service projects after school. Sessions are scheduled for junior high students in Forest Lake & middle school students in Chisago Lakes.
Hidden Heroes
- Mystery match pen pal program between adult volunteers & youth throughout the school year. Adult’s identity is kept a secret until the reveal party in May. Matches are being set now!
Mentoring
- 1:1 goal-oriented adult volunteer to youth matches.
Youth Fishing Day – Saturday, September 24
- The Sunrise Bassmasters sponsor this annual Youth Fishing Day from 8:00 a.m. to Noon for youth ages 10-17. Both boys and girls are welcome to participate. Youth Fishing Day takes place on Forest Lake and leaves from Timm’s Marina. This is a free event but pre-registration is required as spaces are limited to the first 10 youth to call LAYSB, 651-464-3685. Rods, tackle and snacks are provided. Prizes are awarded!

For more information, click on the program names above or contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

September 9, 2011: Counseling Services Available at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

Looking for better communication between family members? Are you troubled by your child’s behavior? Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) can help. Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT, the Youth and Family Counselor at LAYSB, provides individual and family counseling to adolescents and their families. Together we will work to solve immediate issues, stabilize family relationships or individual crises, strengthen skill development and assist in building healthy relationships.

Kari Lyn S. Wampler, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, earned her M.A. from Luther Seminary in 1994 and completed emphasis work in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary in 2005. She has been working with youth and their families for over 20 years. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that specializes in Adolescence and Family relationships. Along with individual and family counseling, LAYSB also offers DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) groups for youth participation to work around the issues of emotion regulation.

LAYSB works with many insurance companies as well as on a sliding-fee scale and based upon ability to pay. Call to set up an intake appointment with one of our counselors at 651.464.3685.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

September 2, 2011: Sponsors Needed

Have you ever struggled with chemical abuse or dependency? Have you been in recovery for more than two years? If so, you may be just the person we’re looking for! We currently have four teenagers attending our 12-step recovery meeting that need an adult sponsor. Sponsors become mentors to their youth and agree to meet twice a month to help them meet their goals.

Please contact Matt Howard by e-mail – matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org or by phone at 651-464-3685 for more information on becoming a sponsor for an “Our Place” youth.

September 2, 2011: LAYSB Fundraising Event

“When you help a child today, you write the history of tomorrow.” (Father Flanagan, Boy’s Town)

Please join us to celebrate Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) 35 years of service to the community at Black Tie to Blue Jeans Night which will be held on Friday, September 30 at Vannelli’s by the Lake in Forest Lake. The evening includes a social hour sponsored by Olson’s Sewer Service/Olson’s Excavating Service followed by a fabulous dinner including entertainment by local youth and with a surprise celebrity guest entertainer from the 70s! The event features a Barley and Vine Draw, a silent auction and a LIVE auction. Go to our website to check out the LIVE Auction items up for bid: www.ysblakesarea.org. All event proceeds benefit LAYSB Teen Leadership and Enrichment programs.

The dress code is up to you! Wear jeans, black tie or your personal combination. Be comfortable and enjoy the evening! Tickets are $60.00 each or $50.00 for 2 or more and are available at LAYSB or online at www.ysblakesarea.org. Table sponsorships are available. Call Jackie Kottke at 651-464-3685 or email Jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

August 26, 2011: Tips to Make the School Year a Successful One

September marks the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year and is National School Success Month. After a much needed summer break, it is time to prepare for school. You have probably done the shopping and registered for classes, but have you done the mental preparation needed to help your child have a successful school year? If the answer is no, then you are not alone. There are thousand s of parents across the country that don’t find the time to help their children prepare for school. If you are a parent who wants to help ensure your child’s success this year, here are some helpful tips:

Sit down with your youth and set goals for the school year. Help your child set attainable goals that are within their reach. Also discuss expectations with your child. Let them know what is expected of them when it comes to school, homework, and grades. This will clear up any confusion and make it possible for consequences, both good and bad.
Get involved with your students school work. If possible, set a time to help your child and go over their assignments. Make yourself available to help your child with their questions and concerns. Monitor homework and don’t just assume it is done. Have your child present completed work and have them teach you what they are learning.
Have open communication with your child. Youth have many issues that impact their lives and often school work can seem like the smallest. Create an environment where the youth can come to you with problems, concerns, or issues. Help them as much as possible and seek resources when you don’t have the answer. Be proactive with issues, so they can be resolved before they become major problems.
Track success and monitor results. Stay on top of grades and track progress throughout the school year. Communicate weekly with teachers and administration and play a role in your child’s success. Remember to reinforce good behavior and reward your child when goals are met. Help your student take ownership of their progress and responsibility of their mistakes.

These are only a few tips that can greatly impact the success of your child’s school year. If you act proactively to deal with the difficulties in school and life, you and your child will be better prepared for what lies ahead. If you are a parent or youth, and have questions concerning the coming school year, contact Aaron Lynch at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Aaron.Lynch@ysblakesarea.org.

August 19, 2011: Sponsors Needed

Please contact Matt Howard by e-mail – matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org or by phone at 651-464-3685 for more information on becoming a sponsor for an “Our Place” youth.

August 19, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

August 12, 2011: The Power Of Positive Messaging
Whenever the newest “Buckle Up” television ads come on, I cringe. They depict people crashing into their windshields and dying in a blunt and graphic way. Not only do I think this it’s bad form to broadcast brutal death scenes to a mass audience that could include young children, but there may be some unintended consequences of communicating using negative messaging. Namely by highlighting a negative thing, it can become the only thing that is remembered. There has to be another way to encourage people to change behavior.

Another ad I saw on the internet illustrates the same, “buckle up” message, but with a positive spin.

Picture a dad eating popcorn in a chair. He and his chair start moving forward in slow motion. From behind him you see his wife’s arms slowly wrap around his torso and his daughter’s arms go around his waist. The popcorn floats out of his hands and he lunges forward held into his chair by his wife and daughter’s arms.

You’re left feeling relieved that he was wearing his seatbelt. You understand that he has a lot to live for and is very connected to his family. Buckling up becomes a way to keep this connection going. The same action is encouraged, but in an entirely different way.

This same positive mode of communication can also be applied to raising children.

When correcting and instructing your children, the words you use are powerful. They do guide and shape the culture of your children’s lives, much like television ads and other marketing can do for adults.

For instance, I have a two year old boy who gets himself into quite a bit of trouble by being rough with his younger sister. He’s still learning to reign in his energy and aggression when he gets excited and wants to play.

In one scenario I could say,

“Son, stop squeezing your sister’s hand. Quit being rough.”

What is he going to hear over and over if that’s all I ever say to him? He’s going to hear and remember,

“Being Rough.”

If I tell you over and over to not think of a pink elephant, what will you think about? A pink elephant, of course.

However, if I say,

“Son, stop squeezing your sister’s hand. Be kind and gentle.” He’s going to hear and remember,

“Be kind and gentle.”

I would much rather have my son constantly thinking about the positive thing that I want him to do rather than the negative thing that I don’t want him to do.

If I fast forward thirteen years, I can still apply this type of communication to my teenagers.

If I find my daughter talking with her friends in her new 3d hologram machine instead of cleaning her room I might say,

“Honey, please stop talking to your friends right now and be responsible and hard working by cleaning your room.”

If I wanted to set a negative tone, I might say,

“Honey please stop talking to your friends right now and quit being lazy and clean your room.”

What message do I want to continually send to my teenage daughter? That she’s lazy or that she can be responsible and hard working?

If I’m constantly speaking my positive expectations and hopes and dreams to them in my corrective communication, there’s a good chance they are going to believe those things about themselves. However, if I’m constantly telling them what I don’t want to see from them, they very well might believe those too and that scares me.

What they hear over and over is what they’ll think about and likely what they’ll choose to act on in some fashion.

Words are a powerful tool for shaping and encouraging behavior. Let’s use them wisely.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org

August 5, 2011: To the Editor

THANK YOU Community!

Our 5^th annual TASTE! event held July 21^st netted over $9,000 to support our Youth Enrichment and Leadership Programs. All made possible because of our corporate and community sponsors, our 16 participating area restaurants/vendors and the over 300 people in attendance! Special thanks go to Dave Purdy, Wealth Management LLC, our Corporate Community Sponsor, and to Stars & Strikes Entertainment Center for hosting our event.

To our wonderful TASTE Restaurants/Vendors, Thank you!

Autumnwood Farm
Big Apple Bagels
Country Home Bakery & Deli
Daniela’s
Eichten’s Market & Café
Famous Dave’s
Friar Tuck’s Pub
Johnson Brothers Liquor Company
MN Bread Company
Pochay’s
Roman Anthony’s/ Grecco’s on the Saint Croix
Spectacular Events
Stars & Strikes Entertainment Center
Taco John’s
Vannelli’s by the Lake
Vincenzo Catering

To our Community Partners: Barb Goerss Home Selling Team, Bridges & Pathways Counseling Services, Central Bank- Forest Lake, Polaris Industries, Inc. and Anderson Koch Ford, Inc., thank you for your generous support.

To our Raffle Basket Sponsors and multitude of Basket Contributors, thank you. The baskets were phenomenal!

To our 300 plus attendees, we are glad that you were able to join us and hope that you enjoyed the great food choices, socializing and the entire event. See you all next year!

Jeanne Walz
Executive Director
Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

July 29, 2011: Teenagers and Lying…..Honestly Speaking

Most teens will lie to their parents if telling the truth will mean consequences. What can a parent do?

The first thing to remember is that it is normal for teens to lie to their parents. This is not to say that it is acceptable behavior, but a teen is not a bad person if they lie. A 2008 study published by Darling, Cumsille, Caldwell and Dowdy states that, “As kids get older their reasons for deception change. Experts say when children are younger, lying is about avoiding punishment, while at an older age, it becomes about adapting socially with their peers or parents. 98% of teens say they have lied to their parents.”

For many teens there is a difference between lying to their parents and lying to their friends. Lying to a friend would not be honest and may be considered wrong. But, lying to a parent is a way of getting what you want and therefore may not violate the teen’s ethics.

One of the things I see parents stumbling over is that we have a tendency to take the lying behavior as a personal attack. When we realize that lying is a typical adolescent life stage process and can externalize their behavior instead of take it personally, we are able to simply address the behavior and move on. Appropriate and consistent consequences will help you accomplish that.

Here are some tips to help when dealing with deceitful teenage behavior. First, it is helpful to avoid questions that may lead to lying. If a parent knows that their teen was at a party that they were not to attend, it is best for the parent to state; “I know you were at this party and your consequences are as follows.” The teen may argue with the parent, but the parent can then choose not to join in the argument. If a parent asks “Did you go to the party?” The teen will often choose to lie in hopes that they stay out of trouble. Some teens will lie even if all the evidence shows that they are lying. Even a small chance of getting away with something is better than the trouble they may get into.

Another way to keep lying from interfering with your relationship with your teen is to check with other parents. If a teen tells you their plans and you can check with the other parents, it greatly reduces the chances of lying. Most teens will be angry with parents for checking up on them, but checking up on teens can prevent poor choices.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with lying and discipline, help is available. You can call LAYSB to find ways to move towards a loving, caring and honest relationship with your child. Day and evening counseling appointments are available. We accept insurance and offer a sliding scale fee. Call Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT for more information at 651-464-3685.

July 29, 2011: Safety Camp Check Presentation to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

Forest Lake Police Department’s Director of Public Safety, Rick Peterson and Drs. Richard & Leann Ottomeyer, representing Forest Lake Safety Camp, present a $3,800 check to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Tovah Marek. For the past 17 years, Forest Lake Safety Camp has been a unique 2-day experience designed with children’s safety in mind. LAYSB is represented on the Forest Lake Safety Camp committee by recruiting and training over 30 Junior Counselors for the campers and managing registrations. Over 100 children entering grades 2-6 attend each year. Camp activities include safety lessons and activities in the areas of first aid, biking, fire, electrical safety and much more.

July 22, 2011: Parents! July 26^th is Your Day!

How many times has someone congratulated you for doing a good job handling a difficult situation with your child? It is rare, so give yourself credit on this 2011 Parent’s Day! If you know another parent who handles situations well with their children give them a pat on the back. Very few parents are perfect but we do the best we know how in handling difficult situations. When we are young many people look forward to being parents and expect that it will be a rewarding time in their life. We think we will just know how to parent naturally. It doesn’t look too hard until we are in the role of parent and dealing with a stubborn two year old or a 16 year old who knows more than we do.

Where do “perfect parents” get the patience and knowledge to face all the issues and demands in parenting kids? I do know that after a bad scene with my kids when I was trying to recover and assess the damage, I will often think to myself, “I blew it….the ‘perfect parent’ would have stayed calm, would not have slammed the kitchen cabinet doors, not yelled, and everyone involved would have tried to resolve the issue peacefully. Do you often think that after those tense and sometimes angry episodes?

Parenting is one of the most demanding challenges a person may face in life. So on this Parent’s Day, think about the times you have done a good job and put aside the times that you weren’t the “perfect parent”. If you would like to have more support as a parent of a teenager, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 and ask to talk to a staff member about a parenting issue. They will listen, not judge, and offer support and ideas for solving the situation. This is a free service and if you want more time, they will schedule a one-hour session to develop a more detailed plan to resolve your parenting concerns. As a parent of a teenager, you deserve the support!

For more information on LAYSB’s Parenting Services, contact Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator at 651-464-3685.

July 15, 2011: Car Wash by Youth Advisory Board!

Please get your car washed by Youth Advisory Board (YAB) members on Wednesday, July 27 from 11am-1pm in Mattson Funeral Home’s Parking Lot (343 North Shore Dr, Forest Lake)!

Free will donations will be taken for car washes– all proceeds will be used to support future community service projects of the group’s choice! As an example: last year, the students used the donations to purchase school supplies for Forest Lake children in need. We need your generosity and donations to make this project a success!

Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education and is made up of 7th-12th grade students who wish to make a positive impact on the community. We address the issues members think are important and brainstorm ways to make a difference. We always welcome additional students to get involved! Help plan service projects/events, participate in fun programming and know you are an important part of your community!

For more information, call Tovah at 651.464.3685 or Andria at 651.982.8328 or visit the YAB Webpage.

July 15, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

July 8, 2011: It’s Parenting with Purpose Month!

When you became a parent, did you take time to develop goals and to identify behaviors that you would never use with your children as they grew up? Possibly you did but most of us just assumed that good parenting skills would come somewhat naturally. Some parents-to-be read the current resources on parenting for tips and methods for taking care of newborn infants….but as the years pass most of us just operate as parents by instinct and what we occasionally read in the Family Circle magazine. It is a big help to us if we grew up with parents who modeled good parenting skills. If not, we can easily slip into unhealthy behavioral patterns and one day wake up feeling our situation is slowly spinning out of control.

If this seems to fit your family, you’re encouraged to call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 and use the Phone and Walk-in Consultation Service. One of the counseling staff will take your call or if one is unavailable, you will receive a call back shortly. You may be surprised how much it can help to talk to someone who is more detached, a good listener and only gives feedback if you want it. This is a free service and includes a one-time face to face session if needed with a qualified staff person. Sometimes all a parent needs is a little support and help to develop a plan to deal with the situation. If you feel that your family situation needs more attention, LAYSB offers Youth and Family Counseling services.

Every Thursday evening from 6:30-7:30pm, parents of teens are welcome to come to the LAYSB to meet with other parents and Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator, to discuss issues important to you. This is free and prior registration is not required.

For more information, contact Jackie Hays at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

July 1, 2011: Heidi Peterson – Volunteer Highlight

Heidi Peterson is an exceptional volunteer for Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) and a wonderful person to be around. She is soft spoken, caring and has a big heart for kids.

Since January she has already put in close to forty hours of volunteer time in four different service areas:

She facilitates a relationship building program for girls called, “Girl Talk.”
She sits on our Community Justice Panels where she helps young people take responsibility for bad decisions and stay on the right path.
She is a member of our “Taste” event committee.
She most recently started volunteering in LAYSB’s “Our Place” program as a mentor for a young girl that is trying to stay clean and sober. At Our Place, teens who have a desire to remain free from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors share their experiences, strengths and hopes in an atmosphere of acceptance and belonging. The group meets every Tuesday from 6:00-8:00pm at LAYSB.

Heidi’s passion for volunteering and working with kids is inspiring and reminds us all that there is so much to be gained from investing time in the life of youth.

Thanks for all you do Heidi!

For more information about volunteering for LAYSB, contact Tovah at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

July 1, 2011: Don’t Miss TASTE! – Purchase your tickets NOW

Appetizers! Entrees! Desserts! and More! will be served at the 5^th Annual TASTE! Event on Thursday evening, July 21 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. This event is hosted by Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center in Wyoming. Enjoy socializing while sampling favorite menu items from area restaurants including everything from cheeses, artisan breads, wild rice soup, parmesan, apple & apricot salad, ravioli, stuffed mushroom bruschetta to gelato, cake, cookies and milk. You will not leave hungry!

TASTE! tickets are $25.00 if purchased prior to the event and $30.00 at the door. Tickets may be purchased here or stop by the following convenient locations to purchase now:

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

Big Apple Bagel

Castlewood “The Rock” Golf Course

Country Home Bakery

Daniella’s Ciocolatto

Famous Dave’s Forest Lake

First State Bank of Wyoming

First State Bank of Stacy

Friar Tucks Pub

Minnesota Bread Co.

Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center

Vannelli’s by the Lake

Thank You to Wealth Management Midwest, Dave Purdy, for co-sponsoring this event with Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB). We also want to thank our community partners Polaris Industries, Central Bank, BG Sold Inc., Bridges and Pathways Counseling and Anderson and Koch Ford for their support of the 5^th Annual TASTE! Event. All proceeds support LAYSB’s Youth Enrichment and Leadership Programs in our community. For information, contact Jackie Kottke at 651-464-3685 or jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

June 24, 2011: Informational Meeting for Relative Caregivers

If you are a relative caregiver, or thinking of becoming one, come to a FREE meeting to learn more about the emotional, financial and legal resources that are available for you in the community. This meeting will be led by Janet Salo, Kinship Navigator Project Coordinator, from the Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association. The meeting will be held on Monday, July 25, from 7:00 to 8:30pm at LAYSB.

The number of children being cared for by a relative other than a parent has risen substantially in the past few years. Raising a grandchild or other relative’s child has unique challenges and rewards that often require outside assistance and support from the community. For more information and registration contact Jackie Hays, LAYSB Parent Education Coordinator, at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

June 10, 2011: Free Youth Horseshoe League Starts July 5

On Tuesday nights, starting July 5^thand running through Aug 23^rd, a unique youth activity will be taking place behind the Forest Lake VFW. Youth will be able to participate in a free horseshoe league made just for them, co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Minnesota Gopher State Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association (MGSHPA).

“We have some of the nicest horseshoe pits in the state,” says Rick Wright, LAYSB volunteer & president of MGSHPA.

“We want to introduce young people to this sport. We think once they get started they’ll be hooked.”

The league will start on Tuesday, July 5^th with a night of initial instruction and practice in order to get youth familiar with the sport and be placed into age and skill categories.

The remaining seven weeks will run very much like an adult league with competition, scoring and trophies at the end.

Youth can bring their own throwing shoes, but need not have their own set as the local MGSHPA chapter will be able to provide to those who need them.

Registration forms can be found at LAYSB’s office at 244 North Lake Street Forest Lake, MN or here. Forms should be turned in to LAYSB no later than Friday, July 1^st.

For more information, contact Matt Howard or Tovah Marek at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org & tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

June 10, 2011: The Job Connection Referral Service Available

The Job Connection, a referral service offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE) is available. We link adults looking for help in the Forest Lake area to over 60 trained youth workers, ages 12-17. Youth go to homes and assist with home chores. Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, organizing and much more! All youth have attended an orientation/training session with a parent/guardian. Adults contact LAYSB or FLASCE, register & are given a referral list of youth to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come to your home, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are decided between adult & youth. Youth workers are responsible for finding transportation to homes. Adults should be on site and provide direction at all times to help and supervise youth during tasks. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to gain some work experience.

June 3, 2011: Dan Charpentier to Receive the 2010 On Behalf of Youth Award

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is pleased to announce that Forest Lake resident Dan Charpentier has been selected to receive the 2010 On Behalf of Youth Award. This award is given annually to one area adult in recognition of outstanding dedication and service to youth in our community.

Dan will receive the Award on Monday, June 20th, 2011 at the Youth Center at Lakes Free Church, 29620 Olinda Trail in Lindstrom. The brief presentation will begin at approximately 7:00 pm and the public is encouraged to attend and show their appreciation for Dan’s contributions.

Dan was nominated by Bob Fugleberg of Osceola, WI. Fugleberg states that “Dan’s commitment permeates almost everything he does. I can think of no one in this community more deserving of this award.”

Dan Charpentier has been supporting local area youth since 1994 through his leadership at Young Life (in both Forest Lake and the Chisago Lakes area) and Young Life’s “Wyldlife Clubs” for middle schoolers. He spent his Mondays at lunch in the middle school cafeteria, connecting with students, and often spent Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons chaperoning open gym time at Lakes Free Church. Currently, he spends Wednesday nights at the Church with the youth group.

Dan rises early on Tuesdays and Fridays to lead a small-group high school Bible Study at Northwoods Roasterie & Coffee Shop in Lindstrom. He also leads mission trips to Kenya, often including Young Life students, where they help to support a school and orphanage. Many of Dan’s Young Life students have gone on to become leaders in both Young Life and in the community. Through Young Life, Dan participates in a youth exchange program and finds homes for the youth. They are expecting five youth this school year from countries including Germany and China.

When asked why he does so much for youth, Dan replied, “I just love kids and it’s incredible to see someone go from being a hardnosed kid to becoming involved with youth and a mentor to other kids. They grow so much over the three to six year period I interact with them. It’s critical to give kids a glimpse of hope, especially the six, seventh and eighth graders. Those are crucial years.”

Dan is a member of Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia and lives in Scandia with his wife, Martha. Together they raised three children, Rachel (25), Amy (24), and Paul (21). Dan is a self-employed carpet installer, and has a former student now working with him in his business.

We congratulate Dan and thank him for his commitment to youth in our community.

For more information please contact Jeanne Walz @ 651-464-3685 or Jeanne.Walz@ysblakesareaorg.

June 3, 2011: Tip for Parents of Teens

School for this year will be over soon! Often parents would like school to continue until September which would solve some of the issues they have to deal with this month:

When is a pre-teen or teenager old enough to stay alone at home?
What chores are they expected to do?
Should they have different curfews in the summer?
Are there any learning opportunities available to them?

These could be some of the questions that need to be addressed but there could be many more depending on your family’s situation. It might be helpful if parents took some time and made a list of their concerns before bringing the children into the discussion. If they do not agree with your decisions: ask for their ideas, listen carefully, reflect their thoughts back to them, and try to work out an acceptable solution. Progress may be made more quickly if the children feel they are a part of the family team!

If you need more support, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 and speak to a staff person who would be able to give you encouragement and ideas. Ask for Jackie Hays, Matt Howard, Kari Lyn Wampler or Aaron Lynch. We can be a neutral voice.

For more information, contact Jackie Hays at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Jackie.Hays@ysblakesarea.org.

June 3, 2011: Be a mentor, impact the life of a teen

I have always wanted to work with people and help others in any way I could. My work as Community Justice Case Manager at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) gives me joy and satisfaction, knowing that I am able to make a difference in people’s lives. It also makes my bad days seem not so bad. Some of my best moments are spent working with teens and their families.

I want to share with you a volunteer opportunity to serve, make a difference and share your experiences and life lessons with a teen. Be a mentor. There is such a need in our culture and communities for older generations to impact young lives. Show a youth you care by investing your time in their development.

LAYSB is in need of adult (especially male) and female mentors for youth ages 10 to 17. The Making Connections Mentoring Program at LAYSB is goal oriented and works around your schedule, usually meeting twice a month for one hour with your youth match. The program is based on relationship building and is a simple way to make a difference in the life of a youth. When asked why she wanted a mentor, a current teen in the mentoring program said, “I just wanted someone to talk to who doesn’t live in my house!”

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor at LAYSB, contact Tovah Marek at 651-464-3685 or print out a volunteer application.

For more information, contact Aaron Lynch at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Aaron.Lynch@ysblakesarea.org.

May 26, 2011: Forest Lake Officer Maryrose Warke

Forest Lake Officer Maryrose Warke was presented with Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s 2010 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award for exemplary service to local youth at the Forest Lake City Council meeting held on May 23^rd. Chief Clark Quiring was also presented a plaque recognizing Warke’s contributions on behalf of local youth and it will be displayed at the Forest Lake Police Department.

PHOTO (left to right) James Trudeau, Officer Warke and Chief Clark Quiring

May 26, 2011: Shredding Event a Success!

Jerry and Connie Hendrickson presented Jackie Kottke of Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (right), with a check in the amount of $1,516.00 raised at the Security Victor Insurance Agency Shredding Event on April 16th. Over 90 people brought in items resulting in over 6,000 pounds of paper being shredded. $10 was donated by Security Victor Insurance for every bag or box of paper shredded (up to $500) and free-will donations were also accepted. Thank you to all who participated. This event is held annually on the Saturday following April 15^th. Plan to attend next year!

May 26, 2011: LAYSB Recognizes Annual Youth Award Winner

Each year, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) honors a teen with the On Behalf of Youth Award for demonstrating a passion for the well-being of youth and service to the community.

Our 2010 youth recipient is Shylo Stevens. Shylo is a 10th grader at North Lakes Academy and a member of LAYSB’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) in Forest Lake for over four years. She is a self starter and has helped plan many activities and events, including multiple car washes which raised funds for Locks of Love and local causes like fleece blankets & school supplies for families who needed them.

“Shylo is a very passionate and dedicated youth volunteer. I have worked with her for three years on YAB’s service project efforts to create tobacco-free outdoor policies in Forest Lake and for the Washington County Fair,” said Derek Larsen, Program Coordinator for Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation and one of three who nominated Shylo. “She is a consistent contributor to discussions and her determination has never wavered in the face of adversity.”

Shylo says, “LAYSB has helped me realize who I am, and what I can do to help in my community. Being a part of LAYSB, I know I can talk to people. LAYSB has helped me gain confidence and see who I really am, for that, I thank everybody there, especially Tovah for the opportunities she has given me. I encourage teens that are in the Forest Lake area to join the programs at LAYSB. It’s a place where anyone can go and know they’re part of something.”

Other LAYSB activities Shylo has been involved in include: being a Forest Lake Safety Camp Junior Counselor, providing childcare, reading to children, packing food with YAB for Feed My Starving Children, participating on the Girls Lock In planning committee, Sunrise Bassmasters’ Youth Fishing Day and representing LAYSB at community events. In 2010, Shylo was one of two youth who raised pledges and plunged into frozen Forest Lake for LAYSB at Rotary Club of Forest Lake’s first Winter Plunge event. At the 2011 Winter Plunge, Shylo showed true leadership as Captain of her North Lakes Academy basketball team’s plunge group who raised funds for their team. She is also active in her church and plays softball & volleyball.

“Shylo is an absolute joy to work with,” stated co-nominator Tovah Marek, “She has an upbeat attitude, great ideas and always follows through on commitments. I’m grateful for her participation in LAYSB’s Youth Enrichment & Leadership programming.”

Please join us for a Dessert Reception honoring Shylo Stevens at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (244 N. Lake St.) on Wednesday, June 8th. Reception starts at 7:00 p.m. followed by a short program at 7:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and show their appreciation for Shylo’s contributions.

For more information contact Tovah Marek at 651.464.3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

May 20, 2011: JOBS WANTED FOR YOUTH!

Businesses are encouraged to join the Facebook Group “World of Work – Job Postings for Forest Lake, Chisago Lakes & North Branch.” High School students who have been through a three hour training session on job seeking and retention are members and will be checking for job postings there. The group is easiest to find by typing “Job Postings for Forest Lake” into Facebook’s search bar.

Questions? Contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Andria Sterbentz at Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education at 651-982-8328.

May 13, 2011: 17^th Annual Forest Lake Safety Camp Now Accepting Registrations

This unique 2-day camp is designed with children’s safety in mind. Enhance your child’s knowledge of safety while they have fun! Many Forest Lake area businesses, community agencies, and service clubs have joined with the Forest Lake Police Department to make this exciting program possible for children entering grades 2-6. Camp will be held on June 14 – June 15, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Century Jr. High School each day. Camp activities include safety lessons and activities in the areas of first aid, biking, fire, electrical safety and much more. The $20 camp fee includes a free bike helmet, a T-shirt, leadership, supplies, lunch, snacks and camp certification. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to the first 100 kids! You can pick up a registration form at the following locations or call for more information: Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685, Forest Lake Police Department at 651-464-5877 or Ottomeyer Clinic at 651-464-1113.

Safety Camp Junior Counselors are needed! Students finishing grades 7-12 are given the opportunity to be a leader and play with the safety campers from 8-4:30 p.m. each day. Help: during their free times, keep them in small groups, make sure they move together between activities, eat lunch with them, see lots of cool presentations and be with other teens! Free snacks, lunches and instructor t-shirt provided! New & returning Junior Counselors need to pre-register by filling out a Sign Up form and will need to attend the training session on Monday, June 13 from 4:00-5:00pm at LAYSB in Forest Lake. This is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills and show younger kids that you care about them! Download the Junior Counselor Sign Up 2011, pick up a copy or contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

May 13, 2011: Officer Maryrose Warke to Receive the 2010 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award.

Forest Lake Police Officer, Maryrose Warke, continually goes above and beyond her job duties in order to connect with and make a difference in the lives of youth in our community. Sergeant Greg Weiss and Chief of Police Clark Quiring both nominated Warke to receive the 2010 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award. This award has been given out annually by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau since 2000.

Warke will receive the 2010 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award on May 23^rd, 2011 at the Forest Lake City Council meeting. The presentation will begin at approximately 7:00 pm and the public is encouraged to attend and show their appreciation for Warke’s contributions.

“Without Officer Warke’s excitement and commitment to youth, our agency and the entire city of Forest Lake would suffer.” states Quiring.

Warke joined the Forest Lake Police Department in February of 2005 after working in White Bear Lake as a 911 dispatcher. She volunteered as advisor in the Police Explorer Post and, most recently, as a presenter in the drug education efforts in the Forest Lake Area School District.

Warke voluntarily researched and redesigned the drug education program. “This program is not an officer standing at the front of the class telling 5^th grade kids not to do drugs. Through multi-media, kids hear from other kids and young adults who have had to live with the consequences of drug use. Kids interact with each other and with the police officer through role-playing and brainstorming exercises. These kids have questions and they deserve honest answers. They want to know what will happen to them if they use. We can empower them to make better choices.”

The drug education program developed by Officer Warke affects approximately 150-175 5^th graders annually in each of the elementary schools across the City of Forest Lake. Weiss states that “Thanks to her outstanding leadership and care for the youth of Forest Lake, we have another tool to assist us in keeping kids safe and away from drugs.”Warke lives in Blaine with her husband and three-year old son, and is expecting another child in October.

May 6, 2011: FREE Support for Parents of Teenagers

Every Thursday evening between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 244 N. Lake Street in Forest Lake is hosting a free, drop-in Parent Support Meeting.

· Setting reasonable consequences

· Following through with expectations

· Ways to effectively communicate with your teen

· Recognizing your strengths as parents

Call Jackie Hays at 651.464.3685 for more information. Jackie is also available to talk with you by phone – or send her an email with your questions/concerns: jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org

April 29, 2011: LAYSB: Punitive or Wimpy?

When youth get referred to the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB), after having broken the law, there are generally three responses that can be expected from parents during the intake meeting:

“Wow, this is way too much of a punishment for such a minor crime. We’ve already given them consequences at home, isn’t that enough? Why do we even have to be here?”
“Yes, they did wrong. They did the crime and are ready to do whatever they need to do. We’re just glad things haven’t progressed further.”

And finally,

3. “What? This is it?! I really think that they should be forced to do more painful stuff to make them think twice before doing this again!”

You might be saying to yourself,

“I’d like to judge for myself whether LAYSB is too hard or too soft on kids. What exactly are youth expected to do if referred to LAYSB after breaking a law?”

Youth can be referred for individual parts of LAYSB’s Community Justice Program, but if they are referred for the whole program they will:

Attend a group educational class with their parent/guardian

-either a one night, three hour class related to their offense, or a two night, six hour class for chemical offenses

Participate in a one night, one hour Community Panel where they:

- meet with trained community volunteers to discuss the impact their decision had on others

-present an apology letter

-review a cost analysis worksheet

- hand in a one page research paper

Choose one of the following to complete:

-12 hours of community service

-5 hours of counseling

-6 hours of educational peer groups

-6 hours of leadership development or prevention activities, such as mentoring

“ LAYSB’s program is not about being hard on youth to try and make them think twice before doing it again,” Community Justice Program Manager Matt Howard points out, “Rather than just imposing a harsh sentence, the kids are educated, given a chance to hear from real people and then have a chance to turn around and do something that will better their own or someone else’s life. We do our best to hold youth accountable and help them learn to be better citizens as they work through the offense that brought them in. The restorative model that we follow seeks to involve the family and the victims of crime. This gives the youth a chance to see the bigger picture of who was affected and how. With an 82% success rate of youth not coming back, it seems we may be on to something with our balanced approach of consequences mixed with education and positive experiences.”

A LAYSB caseworker added, “It’s always great to talk with parents who have already held their kids accountable at home. We aren’t trying to replace or compete with what they’ve done, we want to add to it. We think that giving kids face to face experiences with other adults and authorities helps them build important social skills outside of the home. We also want parents to feel welcomed and needed in our program. It’s often their input and sharing that helps other kids in the classes see things in different ways. They are the experts on their child and, who knows, maybe they’ll pick up some helpful parenting skills or information along the way. This can be a very positive learning experience, even for families that have gone above and beyond at home.”

LAYSB fills a much needed niche in the justice system and our community. It has been going strong for thirty five years, and thousands of youth, now well into adulthood, can look back and be grateful for the opportunity they were given to learn and grow during such a tough and awkward time of life.

Is LAYSB punitive or wimpy? That’s probably not the right question to be asking. Is LAYSB helping kids be successful? If that’s the question, then the answer is most definitely yes!

For more information, contact Matt Howard at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

April 22, 2011: The Job Connection is Gearing Up

The Job Connection, a referral service offered by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE) is gearing up. We are looking for youth who need a job and adults who need jobs done! Can all of your home chores sometimes feel overwhelming? Assistance from local youth is available in the Forest Lake area! We link adults 55+ and/or disabled looking for help to trained youth workers, ages 12-17 (newly expanded ages). Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, organizing and much more! All youth are required to attend an annual orientation session with a parent/guardian. Youth go to homes and assist with almost anything needed. Adults contact LAYSB or FLASCE, register & are given a few youth’s names, ages, and phone numbers to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come to your home, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are discussed between adult & youth. Youth are responsible for finding transportation to jobs. Adults should be on site and provide direction at all times to help and supervise youth during tasks. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to get some work experience.

We are now taking applications from youth ages 12-17 who wish to work within this program this summer. The training session will take place on Tuesday, May 10^th at 5:30-6:30PM at LAYSB in Forest Lake.

For more information or to have a youth application or adult registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz with FLASCE at 651.982.8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

April 15, 2011: Graduation and Prom Are Near; Celebrate Wisely

Graduation and Prom are fast approaching and teens are anxious to celebrate. While these events are important rites of passage into adulthood, it is important to celebrate wisely.

It is becoming increasingly common for parents’ or other adults to supply alcohol to minors who are celebrating Graduation or Prom night. When adults are not adhering to local laws they are putting themselves, the youth involved, and the entire community at risk. When minors celebrate success with alcohol, they lose their ability to make decisions and control of their motor skills. These underage drinkers can find themselves in a variety of bad situations including driving under the influence, being taken advantage of, and getting involved with law enforcement.

It is unlawful to serve or sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. Adults who distribute alcohol to a minor face a $3,000 fine and a year in jail. In Minnesota, a third party who becomes injured as a result of a crime is oftentimes allowed to sue the adult who provided the alcohol to the minor involved. If the violation causes serious injury, the adult provider could face up to 10 years in prison.

Here are some tips and alternatives to help everyone celebrate and stay safe:

Transportation: Youth celebrating on Prom night or after Graduation need to have a safe and available means of transportation. Parents should make every effort to provide this for their youth and the friends of their children. This also includes contacting the parents of the other youth involved and coordinating efforts with them as well.
Independence: Ensure that your celebrating youth has time with his or her friends without family involvement. Respect and openness are always the best option. Work to set aside time for the youth to celebrate without you. This can build trust in the relationship and make the youth more likely to be honest with their parent.
Communication: Communication is very important between parents and youth. Parents should always provide contact information for their youth, so the youth can contact them in an emergency. Likewise, youth need to provide information to parents including destinations, people involved, and estimated times of arrival and departure. Cell phones should be used when available so youth can always get help if they need it.
Open and Honest: Parents and youth alike should strive for an open and honest relationship. Honesty builds trust, which in turn leads to responsibility and independence. No parent, youth, or family is perfect; but there is always room for improvement when it comes to being open and honest with each other.

To discuss celebrating wisely more in depth or any other issue, parents are encouraged to attend Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s Parent Support Meeting every Thursday from 6:30-7:30. Let’s celebrate Graduation and Prom and keep everyone involved safe.

For more information, contact Aaron Lynch at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Aaron.Lynch@ysblakesarea.org.

April 8, 2011: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April has been proclaimed as Minnesota Child Abuse Prevention month. Why? Because abuse happens far too often right here in our own communities and across our country! In 2006 there were 905,000 children who were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect. Of these, 64.1% were neglected, 16% were physically abused, 8.8% were sexually abused, and 6.6% were emotional maltreated.

What is classified as abuse and neglect? The following Federal standards are used to define abuse:

Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs
Physical Abuse is a result of hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or otherwise harming a child
Sexual Abuse is any situation where a child is used for sexual gratification. This may include indecent exposure, fondling, rape, or commercial exploitation through prostitution or production of pornographic materials
Emotional abuse is any pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth, including constant criticism, threats, and rejection

When children are nurtured, they can grow up to be happy and healthy adults and they will make positive contributions to our communities. But when they lack an attachment to a caring adult, receive inconsistent nurturing or experience harsh discipline, the long-lasting consequences can affect their health, well-being, and relationships with others.

Parents who are under severe stress and without resources and support may unload their frustrations on their kids when they act out. Here are some survival tips for parents in order to keep families strong:

When parents need to talk to someone who will listen and understand, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685, and a staff member will listen, discuss your situation and, if needed, offer one free face-to-face session.
Check out ECFE services through your School District
Visit a local library and get a book on parenting
Talk to, listen and try to understand your child before you act
Reach out to other parents , call 1-800-244-5373 to join a local Circle of Parents group
1-800-CHILDREN or 1-800-244-5373/Parent support & referrals
211 or 651-291-0211/First Call for Help
612-379-6363/24 Hour Crisis Connection Hotline
1-866-223-1111/MN Domestic Violence Crisis Line

Local residents can make anonymous reports of suspected abuse or neglect. In Washington County, call Child Protection Services at 651-430-6457 or if the child is in immediate danger, call 911 or local police. In Chisago County, contact Human Services at 651-213-5600. For holidays, after hours, or weekends, or if you need an immediate response or have a life threatening emergency, call 911.

For more information, contact Jackie Hays, Parent Education and Support Coordinator at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

April 8, 2011: LAYSB Recognizes National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is April 10-16, 2011 and is a great time to recognize volunteers and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. We all know a volunteer. Many of us are volunteers ourselves and know first-hand the selfless nature of people who give with no expectation of being paid for their time.

Volunteers may work for free, but they will tell you that they are well paid. They say that the reward for their work is the satisfaction of helping others, active involvement in the community and the friendships that form through volunteer work. That is just what Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau volunteers do. Without our outstanding, dedicated volunteers, LAYSB simply could not complete its mission to ensure the success of youth. We are so thankful for each and every one of our dedicated volunteers!

At Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, more than 100 volunteers help the youth and families we serve in a variety of ways. Some of the volunteers help in our office, plan youth-focused programs, mentor, plan fundraising events, teach life skills or share a hobby. Other volunteers listen to the youth who are first-time, low-level offenders in need of positive adult role models and the opportunity to make amends with their victims.

Take a moment this week to thank the volunteers within your agency, school or faith community. To volunteer your time and talent for LAYSB, contact Tovah Marek at LAYSB 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

April 1, 2011: A Free Shredding Event for the Community

On Saturday, April 16 from 9:00-11:30AM, you are invited to bring documents for shredding to Security-Victor’s parking lot, located between Casey’s and Bruce’s Foods on County Road 22 just off Highway 61 in Wyoming, MN! Document Destruction will shred your unwanted materials right in front of you for free as you enjoy a free cup of coffee and roll. This is a great opportunity for you to get rid of old tax records and empty file cabinets of sensitive documents. No need to remove staples. Bring your friends with you and they will shred their items also. $10.00 will be donated to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau for each bag or box shredded (up to $500). Your contributions to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau will be gladly accepted also. Questions? Please call Security-Victor at 651-462-3724.

March 25, 2011: Free Workshop on Raising Daughters: Challenges & Strategies

Parents of teenage girls! Are you concerned about the many changes you see happening that make it difficult for you to provide guidance and support? Are emotional scenes becoming the norm? Would your daughter rather be anywhere else than with you? Is advice from you the last thing she wants? If so, consider attending the Raising Daughters: Challenges & Strategies Workshop on Tuesday, April 12 from 7:00-8:30pm at the Forest Lake High School Media Center.

The workshop will be presented by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s Kari Lyn Wampler, Youth & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT. Kari Lyn is an experienced national speaker and well known in the local area. The challenges teenage girls face growing up in today’s world and how parents can support them during their journey through adolescence will be addressed. Bring your questions and concerns for a lively discussion with Kari Lyn who has helped many adolescent girls and their parents get through this developmental time.

The workshop is FREE and is co-sponsored by LAYSB & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education. Register with Community Education by calling 651-982-8110. Call LAYSB’s Parent Education & Support Coordinator, Jackie Hays at 651-464-3685 for more information.

March 25, 2011: Risky Teen Behavior Resources for Parents and Teens

Earlier this month, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau submitted an article regarding teen pregnancy with staggering new findings and statistics. Some of these statistics include: the average age that a teens lose their virginity is age 15, 52% of teens that are sexually active are having unprotected sex, 1 in 3 sexually active teens have feared having an STD, and 27% of teens that have an STD still have unprotected sex, and about 25% of sexually active teens contract a sexually transmitted disease each year. In addition, a recent study of 10,000 teens found that 1 in 5 teenage girls want to be a teen mom.

With these staggering and eye-opening statistics, it is more important than ever for parents and teens to be informed about the risks and preventions to risky sexual behavior. One of the most important resources that parents have in the prevention or risky sexual behavior beginning in their child is to have healthy and open communication about sexual activity and the proper use and availability of contraceptives.

Often conversations about difficult topics are hard for teens as well as for parents. Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is happy to help with scenarios where parents or teens can use assistance in open communication and prevention of risky sexual behavior. We offer a Parent Support Meeting every Thursday night from 6:30-7:30pm at our office (244 North Lake Street in Forest Lake) and on-going family counseling services with our Licensed Youth and Family Therapist, Kari Lyn Wampler. These resources can be very beneficial in starting and maintaining open communication that is crucial between parents and teens as well as fostering and promoting healthy relationships which is an important factor for prevention of risky teenage behavior (such as risky sexual behavior).

For more information, contact Heidi Harder at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Heidi.Harder@ysblakesarea.org.

March 18, 2011: The @ Generation: Online Behavior of Youth Workshop

New research shows that teens who text 120 times a day or more, and apparently many do, are more likely to engage in risky behaviors which include sexual activity, drinking and drugs. The authors of a study done last year at 20 high schools in the Cleveland area and based on confidential paper surveys of more than 4,200 students found about 1 in 5 were hyper-texters and about 1 in 9 are hyper-networkers who spend 3 or more hours a day on Facebook and other social networking websites. Most youth have cell phones from an early age so what does this mean for their wellbeing and their safety?

A training for educators, police, youth workers, counselors, and social workers will be offered on Monday, April 4 at Wyoming United Methodist Church, 5459 E Viking Blvd. It will be focused on the online life of youth and an assessment process of the problems (Session 1) and strategies to engage youth in treatment and methods to use for effective prevention for working with youth in the future (Session 2).

Elizabeth Griffin, MA, LMFT is the presenter. She lectures and consults nationally on the assessment and the treatment of internet issues with youth. She is the owner of Internet Behavior Consulting and has co-authored a book entitled In the Shadows of the Net: Breaking Free of Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior. Additionally in Session 2, Karen Determan and Abe Abrahamson, probation officers from Wright County, will share information on the current laws and legal consequences for youth.

There will be CEUs from MN Board of Social Work and the MN Board of Psychology. To register, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685. Registration, bagels, coffee & juice begins at 8:00am. Session 1 is from 8:30am-12:00pm and Session 2 from 1:00pm-4:30pm, $35 each, or all day for $50. Lunch is on your own. Pay by credit card over the phone or call to put your name on the list and mail your payment. Call Jackie Hays at LAYSB for more information.

March 18, 2011: LAYSB Offers Free College 101 Workshop

Teens! If you would like detailed information about how to prepare for college, you can attend a free College 101 Workshop at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 from 4 to 5:30PM. You’ll learn about the different types of colleges, what the application process is like, methods of payment for college, and what to do once you’re accepted.

There are many steps in the process of preparing for college: deciding on the type of college, figuring out which college is the best fit for the student, how to apply for college, finding options for paying for college and more. Many people suggest starting to plan for college as early as Junior High, but it is never too late to get started. The many steps it takes to prepare for college can be made much easier with additional information, especially from someone who has recently gone through the process. The facilitator is an intern at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Jenna Jones. She will be graduating from a community college in May and is in the process of transferring to a university for the Fall.

For more information or to sign up for the workshop, contact Jenna Jones at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Intern3@ysblakesarea.org.

March 11, 2011: World of Work Event Will Prepare Students

Calling all 10th-12th graders who are interested in finding meaningful part-time work! Don’t miss the “World of Work” Event on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 5:30-8:30PM at the Central Learning Center, 200 SW 4th Street, Forest Lake. You’ll learn about the working world and what goes into job searching, interviewing for & keeping jobs from Marsha Wood of the Anoka County Job Training Center. What else is in it for you? Learn interviewing skills, find out where to look for job openings, understand dress codes & body language, and discover how to do company research. You will have the opportunity to be a part of an ongoing Facebook group where local businesses can post job openings as well!

There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required by March 31st. Download the World of Work Flyer for Youth to print the form & send it in for registration.

This event is co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education. Questions? Contact Tovah Marek with Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Andria Sterbentz with Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education at 651-982-8328.

March 4, 2011: A Fresh Way to Deal With an Old Problem

Are you worried your teen might be doing more than just experimenting with drugs or alcohol? Is your teen using heavily, but not aware of how the chemical use is affecting their life? Are you looking for a program that is not treatment, but might help them figure out if they need it?

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau runs a program to help address teen chemical use. It’s called Teen Intervene.

Teen intervene is a Hazelden created, best practice that is a non- confrontational program used to help teens take a look at their chemical use. Using a harm reduction model, the teens are guided through activities and questions that get them thinking and engaged in conversation about their use.

Rather than dictating to them what they need to do, this program allows counselors to listen to teens and then begin to create doubt in their thought process about the benefits vs. consequences of their use.

Teen Intervene fills the void that exists between prevention education and treatment. It’s a non-threatening way for teens to be challenged about their chemical use and learn to take ownership over how their decisions may be affecting their lives. The program includes up to six sessions with a counselor and includes goal setting for reducing and/or quitting chemical use as well as one family session.

Who can refer?

Police
Schools
Parents
Counselors
Judges
Probation
County Diversion

Referrals and Questions can be directed to: Matt Howard, Community Justice Program Manager at matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

February 25, 2011: CoRE Skills Group: An Adolescent DBT Program at LAYSB!

As a part of our ongoing service to adolescents in the area, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) offers CoRE Skills: Coping & Regulating Emotions, an Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. DBT is a program that offers training and skills in emotion regulation. Through distress tolerance, mindfulness and problem solving skills, adolescents can learn to live a more harmonious life for oneself and in relationship to those around them. DBT is perfect for adolescents who struggle with Depression, Anxiety, Anger Issues, Bi-Polar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Relationship Issues or anything involving situations that make it difficult to regulate emotion.

CoRE Skills is for boys and girls in 9^th-12^th grade. CoRE meets Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 for a period of 20 weeks, with varying start dates. In addition to the group, each client will also be participating in individual therapy with a counselor to help implement the skills that are being learned. There is a parent(s) component that will be discussed at the intake session.

To find out if CoRE Skills is right for you, take the quiz, “DBT: Is it for you?” If you would like more information about the program or if you would like to speak with a counselor, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT at 651.464.3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

February 18, 2011: Free Field Trip to the MN State Capitol

Junior & Senior High Students! Don’t miss this opportunity to visit the State Capitol building in St. Paul on Tuesday, March 8 (Spring Break for Forest Lake, Chisago Lakes & North Lakes Academy)! You’ll get to meet with your local senators and representatives to learn about the work they do as well as speak your mind about the importance of out-of-school time programming for teens. Also, go on a guided tour of the building from the Minnesota Historical Society. Meet at 9am in the Central Learning Center’s cafeteria (200 SW 4th St., Forest Lake, Door 9) and then we will be traveling to and from St. Paul by a Forest Lake Area Schools bus or van. Pick up will be at 3:45pm at the Central Learning Center. This field trip is co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) and Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education (FLASCE). Photos of students will be taken and used for promotional purposes by FLASCE & LAYSB. Bring a bag lunch! There is no cost to attend this field trip, but pre-registration is required by Friday, March 4th.

To sign up, please fill out the Field Trip to the MN State Capitol Flyer.

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz at FLASCE at 651-982-8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org.

February 11, 2011: LAYSB’s Girl Talk is Great for Teen Girls

Girls entering grades 7 through 9: Girl Talk is available just for you. Come for chatting, connecting, relating, sharing, growing, and learning with other girls your age! Girl Talk enlists the power of positive peer influence to help female participants as they transition through adolescence. In the hour long Girl Talk session, students will be able to discuss whatever is on their mind with their peers and a caring female adult facilitator. If the girls don’t have anything they wish to discuss, a variety of fun games are played to get them thinking and discussing different topics!

Sessions are held at the Central Learning Center (200 SW 4th St., Forest Lake) in Room E12. Remaining sessions this school year: 2/24, 3/17, 3/31, 4/14, 4/28, 5/12, 5/26. Girl Talk sessions are held from 3:00-4:00 PM. Transportation is available: Shuttle buses will transport students from Southwest and Century Junior Highs to the Central Learning Center. Students can ride the activity bus home. There is no cost for Girl Talk, but please register online at www.communityed4u.org.

This program is co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau & Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education.

Contact Tovah Marek with Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org or Andria Sterbentz with Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education at 651.982.8328 or asterbentz@flaschools.org for more information.

February 11, 2011: Despite Cold Temp, We Have Warm Forecast

As the Green Bay Packers concluded a 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, I sat in quiet reflection and personal clarity. I came to two conclusions at that moment. The first is that my hatred for the Green Bay Packers far out ways my love for the Vikings. The second is that it was ridiculously cold outside and I was moments away from having to start my car. These two conclusions plunged me into an emotional funk that I probably won’t recover from until the first 40 degree day of the year. As Minnesotans we are all too familiar with the weather abyss also known as January and February.

I have spent most of my life in Minnesota and have witnessed how the great people of this state combat the doldrums of a long winter. We face the weather head on by going outdoors to socialize, play hockey, go to the Holidazzle parade, ski, attend the Winter Carnival, and snowmobile. All of these activities are great, but the most common escape from the cold is to hunker down, stay warm, and isolate ourselves. Ironically we do this physically and emotionally.

Many people recognize this time of year as being very bleak, sad, and even depressing. We have experienced the excitement and stress of the Holidays and now come back to the reality of debt, unemployment, health issues, family problems, and hopelessness. So it is rather fitting that the coldest, bleakest part of the year coincides with our weakened post-holiday emotional state. We all have reasons to be down this time of year, including the cold weather. What we don’t always realize is that we have the ability to rise above our own unique situations and see the good in life.

One of the earliest lessons I learned is that I have very little control. But one of the areas of my life I have absolute control of is my perspective. No matter what happens to me, I am always in charge of my perspective and how I react. I can experience a bad situation and let it bring me down, or I can experience a bad situation and see the good. I have grown so much from seemingly negative situations in my life; there is no classroom or book that could have ever taught me those life lessons. All of that knowledge and growth is due to the positive perspective I learned to view life from.

Besides a fresh, positive outlook on life, there are other resources available to help you out of the emotional abyss. Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is a non-profit organization in Forest Lake whose mission it is to ensure the success of youth and their families. We have many resources and programs that not only benefit youth and families, but that help people change their perspective and see the positive aspects of life. The staff at LAYSB are committed to helping others and are willing to work with all people in all situations.

During my car ride home after the Super Bowl, I again realized how much the Packer’s win had affected me. I then reminded myself the benefit of a positive perspective. Even though I face a year filled with annoying, over-confident Packer fans, I took solace in the fact that whenever the Vikings next beat the Pack, it would be that much sweater of a victory. I also acknowledged the fact that there will likely only be a couple more really cold weeks and that spring is literally right around the corner. As we walked through the sub-zero air to get to our warm house and eventually to bed, I appreciated the nip of the cold, and concluded that this time of year really isn’t all that bad.

For more information, contact Aaron Lynch at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Aaron.Lynch@ysblakesarea.org.

February 4, 2011: LAYSB Welcomes Aaron Lynch

Lakes Area Youth Services Bureau (LAYSB) is pleased to announce the addition of their new Community Justice Case Manager, Aaron Lynch. Aaron is working alongside LAYSB’s long time Community Justice Program Manager, Matt Howard. Together they offer a community-based program that works with the offender, the victim and the community when a criminal offense occurs. The program revolves around the young person taking responsibility for his/her actions and understanding that their behavior affects more than themselves.

Aaron has a wide body of experience over the last 10 years working with youth, which includes serving as a Youth Director in several churches, the Western Wisconsin YMCAs Senior Youth Development Coordinator, a camp counselor at Pine Haven Christian Assembly, a Program Associate/ Staff with the Northwest Family YMCA of Shoreview, an assistant football coach at Northwestern College, and a variety of volunteer and mentorship positions.

Aaron was born in Germany, grew up in Burnsville and is currently living in Roseville with his wife of 4 years, Jessica, a former LAYSB counseling intern. He completed his undergraduate degree at Northwestern College with a BA in Bible & Youth Ministry. He is expecting to earn his Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary in 2012.

Aaron says, “I love working with youth and their families. I am passionate about serving, enriching, and developing the lives of youth.”

For more information, contact Aaron at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or aaron.lynch@ysblakesarea.org.

February 4, 2011: Special Valentines

February is the “Heart” month! Walk into any store during the month and hearts will be displayed everywhere you look. What is the message to us? For some of us it reminds us that it is a good time to buy family members or close friends a gift…and why not chocolates, or maybe a very pretty card? Stop a minute and think about it…do these things really convey the message that you want a loved one to get? How often do we tell the important people in our lives what we really appreciate about them?

I believe that often we assume that they instinctively know how much we care about them. This week a co-worker of mine was responsible for getting his two very young children dressed, fed breakfast and to the baby sitter so he could be to work by 8:00am. The children were not happy and in the confusion dad left the diaper bag with the day’s food in it at home! Later in the day he called his wife and told her how much he appreciated her management skill as a mother and her ability to make their days go smoothly.

I would guess that she appreciated his message more than getting a valentine card!

Many years ago I was doing a training on teamwork with a group of women who had all worked together for many years. I had each one put their name on a 3×5 note card and then pass them around with the instruction to write down two things that they appreciated about each person as their card came to them. Many of the women were totally surprised and emotional as they listened to the comments. This is another example of how we assume that people are aware of our internal feelings.

One method to use if you want to consider making your valentine feel very special this year is to use “validations” in expressing your caring, affection, and love! Start thinking of positive personal qualities that you could share with your children, siblings, spouses and/or friends. Try to start validations with “I” and be as specific as you can be. This won’t cost you a penny and conveys a personal message of appreciation and affection. Any adult and particularly children and youth will appreciate getting one of these “cheap valentines!”

If you as a parent want to talk more about how to use validations with your children, contact Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org or attend our weekly Parent Support Meeting on Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:30pm. This is a free service and there is no need to register.

January 28, 2011: LAYSB Seeks Nominations for Awards

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the annual LAYSB service to youth awards. The winners will be honored at special presentations in front of family, friends and community members and also in local publications. Awards are given for service during 2010 in the following categories:

“On Behalf of Youth Award” honors individuals who demonstrate a passion for the well-being of youth. This award will be given to one adult and one youth.
“James Trudeau Award” honors a licensed police officer for service or activities related to youth.

Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, March 11, 2011. Nominations may be made by any area resident (not family members), local business owner and area civic or service groups. A connection to LAYSB is preferred but not necessary.

Nomination forms may be requested from or picked up at LAYSB. They are also available here.

Questions about the awards may be directed to Jackie Kottke, Development Coordinator by calling 651-464-3685 or via e-mail Jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

January 28, 2011: Navigating the Grey

I work as a therapist to adolescents and their families at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau. In the 20+ years I have been working with teenagers, there are some things that have become very clear to me. One of those notions I call, “Navigating the Grey”. Typically the complaints come to me from parents: “Why don’t they just do what I ask them to?”, “When I say 10:00 curfew, that’s what I mean! Not 10:15!”, “Why do they have to push me on everything?” All these are examples of what I call “Navigating the Grey.”

In our younger childhood years we are all very concrete thinkers. There is a right way and wrong way for things to be done. Parameters around behavior are pretty clear and we understand that if we step over the line we can expect consequences. Sometime during adolescence we start to realize that not all things, in fact most things, are not black and white. For instance, if my curfew time is 10:00, I will likely not get into trouble if I get home at 10:01. However, I will definitely get into trouble if I come home at 11:00. Sometime after 10:00 but definitely before 11:00 is actually where the boundary is. Once I enter into that area, I am in the consequence zone. I can expect to get into trouble, ie. no going out the next night, no cell phone, angry parents, etc. This process of “Navigating the Grey” is a very normal process for adolescents to figure out and I would argue that it is healthy. They are testing waters to figure out where boundaries actually are.

This is a process that we have all gone through, as adults we have already figured this out. For instance: most people don’t go exactly the speed limit posted. Everyone has an idea of how much faster (and I suppose there are some who would say slower) than the speed limit you can actually go before you get in trouble. Some people say 3 miles an hour, some say 9, depends on the person. Here’s another example: in our early adulthood most of us figured out that the date on our bills didn’t actually mean that exact date. Often there is a grace period we have to pay our bills. (beware however, sometimes it actually does mean that date!). This is a process that we, as adults, have already navigated and figured out. This is what we begin to see in adolescence.

Although it may feel like it, the process of “Navigating the Grey” isn’t a personal attack on parents; it’s a normal adolescent life stage task. It is a process that helps them to figure out life and how far they can push boundaries. As parents or guardians then, our only course of action is to clearly state for them when they have entered into the consequence worthy zone. Deliver a consequence and follow through on it.

If you’d like to bounce ideas off of a Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau staff member about this or other parenting issues you may be facing, we encourage you to utilize our free Parent Support Meeting every Thursday from 6:30-7:30PM (244 N Lake St., Forest Lake) or call our office at 651.464.3685.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

January 21, 2011: Texting and The Teenage Brain

At the Minnesota State Fair last year, I saw a young girl riding her horse down a street packed with people while texting. Yesterday I saw a teenager texting while driving a car filled with other teens. To date I’ve simply lost track of all of the kids I’ve see riding bikes and walking while texting.

Texting is here to stay, that’s for sure. We live in a culture of immediate communication and our youth are at the forefront of this shift in technology. But is it good for them?

I’d like to propose that there are some inherent risks to texting for teenagers that should be considered before signing off on a large unlimited data plan for their cell phones.

The teenage brain is not done developing. It won’t be done until around ages 22-25 years old. The part of their brain that is still under construction during the teen years is the frontal lobe, the pre-frontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that helps you to think ahead, evaluate decisions and have empathy towards others. It is the logical part of your brain that helps to regulate your emotions and put the brakes on impulses when necessary.

Teens are impulsive and quick to have emotional responses. This is not new news. What is new is the combination of the immediacy of texting and the emotionally driven teenager. Add to that the ability that texting gives you to be emotionally removed from the person you are communicating with and you have a recipe for disaster.

In the last year at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau we have seen three different assault cases come to us that were directly tied to texting. These were fights that probably never would have happened if texting didn’t exist. The common denominator in all three cases is that the things that were said were very inflammatory in nature and none of the parties involved actually intended to be in a fight.

“I felt like I had to respond to the text right away,” said one youth.

“I couldn’t help myself and things just got out of hand.”

Another youth said,

“As soon as I read what she said, it made me so mad I was ready to fight. She also sent it to lots of people and so I knew kids were reading what she said and I felt trapped, like I had to do something.”

As parents you can look your teenager in the eyes, gently remind them about a chore they have to do and they will still think you are yelling at them. Their brains simply have trouble interpreting verbal and social cues sometimes. Now remove yourself from them completely and text them about the chore they have to do and it adds a whole other layer of difficulty for your teen to try and interpret your meaning and tone. They may not talk to you that day because they think you were really mad at them.

I’m not suggesting a total ban on teenage texting. They do need to learn how to operate in this new world of technology. What I would like to see however, are parents that put boundaries on their teen’s texting and schools that teach writing etiquette for this next generation.

Parents need to feel empowered to be able to tell their teens when and how often they can text. Teenage cell phone ownership is a privilege, not a right. I’d like to see that made into a bumper sticker as soon as possible.

If they aren’t already, school curriculums need to start teaching kids how to communicate their intent and meaning in this new world of shorthand communication. It’s a skill that needs to be developed in order to help them become responsible texters.

We are witnessing a revolution in communication. However, humans are still the same and teenagers are still teenagers. We must protect our youth and help them to use these new tools responsibly and with care for others.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

January 14, 2011: The @ Generation: Online Behavior of Youth Workshop

A training for educators, police, youth workers, counselors, and social workers will be offered on Tuesday, February 8 at Wyoming United Methodist Church, 5459 E Viking Blvd. It will be focused on the online life of youth and an assessment process of the problems (session 1) and strategies to engage youth in treatment and methods to use for effective prevention for working with youth in the future (session 2).

Elizabeth Griffin, MA, LMFT is the presenter. She lectures and consults nationally on the assessment and the treatment of internet issues with youth. She is the owner of Internet Behavior Consulting and has co-authored a book entitled In the Shadows of the Net: Breaking Free of Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior. Additionally in session 2, Karen Determan and Brian Abrahamson, probation officers from Wright County, will share information on the current laws and legal consequences for youth.

To register, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685. Session 1 is from 8:30am-12:00pm and Session 2 from 1:00pm-4:30pm, $35 each, or all day for $50. Lunch is on your own. Pay by credit card over the phone or call to put your name on the list and mail your payment. Call Jackie Hays at LAYSB for more information.

There will be CEUs from MN Board of Social Work and the MN Board of Psychology.

January 14, 2011: New Monday Programming for Teens in North Branch

Hey 7th-12th graders! Thanks for taking our survey this past fall. We listened to you! With the four day school week (Tuesday-Friday) in North Branch, we are excited about these new activity offerings on your non-school day! Please join us as we launch our “Marvelous Mondays” afternoon programs that you requested, in collaboration with North Branch Area Schools Community Education. Not only will you get time to be creative, problem solve local and global issues, visit with senior citizens, and become car-savvy, but, also have fun! All programs take place from 12noon-2pm (unless otherwise noted) and cost $5.

January 24: Youth Leadership Training (lunch included)

Location: Cool Beanz

January 31: Handmade Chocolate Truffles and Beaded Jewelry Class

Location: NBAHS B102

February 7: Car Care 101

Location: NBAHS B137

February 14: Valentine’s Crafts and Cookies at The Villages of North Branch

Location: The Villages

February 21: Budgeting, Banking, Credit Knowledge Grades 10-12

Location: NBAHS B151

February 28: Wii, DDR and Guitar Hero Grades 7-9

Location: NBAHS B100

March 7: Scrapbooking Fun

Location: Cool Beanz

March 14: Feed My Starving Children Service Project

Bus leaves NBAHS at 10:15am, returns at 3pm

Bus leaves Stacy Teen Center at 10:30am, returns at 2:45pm

Bring a bag lunch and beverage.

Location: Coon Rapids Packing Location

March 21: Bowling

Bus leaves NBAHS at 12:40pm, returns 2:45pm

Location: JJ’s Bowl

For description and details about these classes or to register, go online at www.nbaceonline.org. If you’d like more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

January 7, 2011: Big Apple Bagel Forest Lake Supports LAYSB

Big Apple Bagel’s new owners, Alex and Ashley Bulmer, recently hosted two mini boutique sale events with a portion of the participating vendor proceeds and Big Apple Bagel sales designated to support Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau programs and services for local youth and families. Jeanne Walz, Executive Director of LAYSB, gratefully accepts Big Apple Bagel of Forest Lake’s check from Alex Bulmer.

LAYSB also wants to thank Valerie Sowa, a Discovery Toys representative, Lisa Perlick, a creator of mittens, scarves and purses and Tim Lackas, member of CC Septet’s Christmas CD “We Three Kings and a Horn Section” for their participation in the boutique. Because of all their efforts, financial support in the amount of $546.00 was raised for LAYSB.

For more information, contact Jackie Kottke at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

January 7, 2011: January is National Mentoring Month – And You Can Make a Difference

President Obama has issued a proclamation declaring January as National Mentoring Month. In it, he says, “Across our Nation, mentors steer our youth through challenging times and support their journey into adulthood. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these important individuals who unlock the potential and nurture the talent of our country, and we encourage more Americans to reach out and mentor young people in their community.”

Mentors meet with their mentee one to two times a month for a minimum of six months according to a schedule determined by the mentor/mentee.

Good candidates to be mentors are adults who: can be a positive role model, want to connect with youth in the community, are patient and willing to listen & like to have fun!

All mentors receive general volunteer training and a detailed training session related to mentoring. Please consider sharing your gifts with a youth in your community.

For more information or to receive a volunteer application, please contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651.464.3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org.

December 23, 2010: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership is for ALL Youth

It all started when a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement officers and educators came together in 1976 to create the Youth Service Bureau, a diversion service to keep first time young offenders from re-offending. Over the past 34 years, the programs have evolved to include Youth Enrichment & Leadership and family support in addition to early intervention for youth, ages 9 to 18 years.

Current Programs:

Marvelous Mondays

o Something new & different offered when school is not in session on Mondays from noon-2pm in collaboration with North Branch Area Schools Community Education. January 24^th-March 21^st.

Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

o Groups of student volunteers in Forest Lake (in collaboration with Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education) & North Branch who are designing and implementing community service projects of their choosing.

Mentoring

o 1:1 goal-oriented adult volunteer to youth matches.

Hidden Heroes

o Mystery match pen pal program between adult volunteers & youth throughout the school year. Adult’s identity is kept a secret until the reveal party in May.

Mocha Mondays

o Opportunities for Chisago Lakes High School girls to gather after school with an adult facilitator to connect, grow, share their life experiences & have fun in a safe environment.

· Job Connection

o Referral service linking trained youth ages 12-15 looking for work to adults 55+ and/or disabled in the community in need of help with indoor & outdoor chores.

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

December 17, 2010: “Our Place” A New Teen Sobriety Support Group

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is providing a place for teens struggling with addiction to get support in their recovery.

Teenagers struggling with any type of addiction can come to the agency every Tuesday at 6:00pm and find a support meeting that’s just for them.

It’s called, “Our Place” and it’s just for teens.

Using a 12-step model and trained LAYSB adult volunteer facilitators, the agency will provide a safe and “teen friendly” atmosphere.

“So many teen support groups have started and stopped in our communities,” says Matt Howard, LAYSB’s Community Justice Program Manager.

“The time has come for a stable meeting place for teens that can be counted on year in and year out.”

Contact Matt at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org for more information. For more agency information visit: www.ysblakesarea.org.

December 10, 2010: LAYSB Year-End Campaign – The Challenge is On!!!

Two anonymous donors will match every dollar donated to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) during the last days of 2010 – up to a total of $4,000! Now is the perfect time to support youth and families through your donation to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau. Double your investment!!!

Donate online or send contribution to: LAYSB 244 N Lake Street, Forest Lake MN 55025.

LAYSB means developing healthy relationships, meaningful involvement and relevant learning experiences for struggling local youth and families!

December 10, 2010: Still Need a Holiday Gift to Give (or just for yourself)?

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) cookbooks are a great gift idea and are available now for purchase at only $20.00 each!!! People from all over our service area including volunteers, partnering agencies, family members, neighbors and community supporters have contributed 586 recipes included in the new “Lakes Area YSB Cooks” Cookbook.

You will find a variety of different and delicious recipes in this hard cover, 3 ring binder book. It is well organized, features cooking tips and highlights LAYSB Programs and Events on the divider pages. Find new recipes to try in eight different sections: Appetizers & Beverages, Main Dishes, Soups, Salads & Sides, Quick & Easy, Into the Wild, Kids Favorites, This & That and Sweet Endings.

SPECIAL DEAL: If you call LAYSB at 651-464-3685 to order a cookbook and pay by credit card, we will have your cookbook gift-wrapped and ready for pick up at your convenience!

And, the following locations have unwrapped cookbooks available for immediate pick up:

Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Plaza on the Lake, 56 E. Broadway, Forest Lake

North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, 6063 Main St., North Branch

Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 30525 Linden St., Lindstrom

Newbury House, Sharon LaCasse, 418 Bench St., Taylors Falls

Patriot Bank, 19810 Headwaters Blvd. N., Forest Lake

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, 244 N. Lake St., Forest Lake

All proceeds support intervention and enrichment programs for our local youth and families!

December 3, 2010: LAYSB Hidden Heroes Seek Youth Matches!

Caring adults in the community (Hidden Heroes) are seeking youth to be paired with for the remainder of the school year. Each month, Hidden Heroes send their youth match something uplifting in the mail (ex: a poem, inspirational quote, motivating story, etc). All Hidden Heroes will remain a mystery for youth until the end of the year. Our goal is for youth to feel valued, encouraged and supported throughout the school year. Matches will get to meet each other at an ice cream social reveal party in late May. We have several Hidden Heroes all set and ready to be matched with a youth! If you know a young person, age 10-18, who could benefit from extra adult support throughout the school year, Hidden Heroes could be the program for them!

For more information, or to sign up a youth for the program, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

November 19, 2010: Making the Most of Your Holiday Season

Create a master “to-do” list. Write down everything that needs to be bought, made, baked, etc. This will give you a sense of control and an opportunity to review whether your plans are realistic. Can anything be cut out or scaled down?
Be realistic about your holiday expectations. Decide what holiday events are most enjoyable and what events can be missed. It’s okay to refuse invitations, particularly events you know will be stressful for you. Attend events that will bring the most to your celebration of the holidays.
Schedule your activities in advance. This will alleviate the stress of the last minute hustle and crowd fighting.
Maintain your health. Watch what you eat and drink, get enough sleep, and make time for your exercise program.
Shop within your budget. You can show love by giving something that is meaningful without spending a lot of money. Also, try shopping on the Web or from catalogs if crowded malls cause you stress.
Make time for yourself to relax and rejuvenate. Make sure you are doing the things that make you feel good during the holidays.
Play in the snow, stare at a crackling fire, share dinner with friends, drive around and look at lights, or sing carols. Find joy in the season’s little treasures as well as the big ones.
If you are separated from family and friends, or have suffered the loss of a loved one, acknowledge your feelings of grief and loss and allow yourself to express these normal feelings.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

November 19, 2010: WUMC Shared Blessings

Wyoming United Methodist Church (WUMC) member Bea Zaruba presented a check to Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau Executive Director Jeanne Walz (left) for part of the proceeds from their annual Fall Supper which was held on Thursday, October 28. Free will offerings are given at the event and the WUMC congregation has generously divided the proceeds between LAYSB and The Refuge for the past three years. Jeanne Walz expressed her thanks, “We are happy to be partners with WUMC in support of youth and families in our community and sincerely appreciate their generosity!”

November 12, 2010: “I felt so proud of myself. I never thought that I would have the will power to quit, but I do!”

Restorative Justice Week: November 14-20, 2010

FOREST LAKE, Minn. (November 12, 2010) – Betty, a long time Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) volunteer, speaks to young people about smoking and the effects of using tobacco. She talks to the kids through a tube in her throat to bring her message about why they should quit today. Betty had a laryngectomy so she could breathe after years of smoking damaged her throat and voice box. She talks slowly and often has to pause to catch her breath. The kids listen without making a sound.

Betty hopes that she can reach them before it is too late. One youth was so struck by Betty that she made a decision to change her life and wrote the following letter:

“Dear Betty, school is going great and so are my goals. Since the morning after the program I have been smoke-free! I want to give a huge thanks to you. Because of you I look at smoking in an entirely different way. I got caught smoking and was sent to LAYSB, but I am thankful now that I was sent because if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have met you.”

The letter continues on about the daily discussions she and her mother have about not smoking and how hard it was at first to say no to offers of cigarettes. But as each day passed, it got easier as the young girl thought of Betty and her struggles with smoking.

“I felt so proud of myself. I never thought that I would have the will power to quit, but I do. Every day gets easier and easier every time I say no. It helps me turn down a cigarette when I think to myself, just picture Betty and that helps me a lot.”

The Community Justice Program at LAYSB is based on the restorative justice values of involving the victim, offender and community in helping each youth offender understand what happened, make amends, and realize that they are an important part of the community. Young people are referred to LAYSB for an array of offenses that range from theft, chemical abuse, disorderly conduct, vandalism, etc.

The third week in November each year is observed in many countries as Restorative Justice Week. This tradition began in 1975 in England. It started out as a day of remembrance for prisoners. As time and rehabilitation programs evolved, this week is now a time set aside to reflect growing concern for victims and communities, as well as offenders.

Restorative justice in general is based on active offender-victim involvement where both parties agree to meet and discuss their differences in order to find a solution that meets the needs of the victim and helps the offender to mend any hurt caused by the offense. As a result, both parties gain a sense of closure and the offender is given a chance to help make things right. The goal of restorative justice is to prevent repeat offenses and strengthen community involvement when an offense takes place.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

November 5, 2010: Hot Topic Meeting on Coping with Anger in Children and Adolescents

Every young person will express anger occasionally, but why do some become more easily frustrated and angered than expected? On Tuesday, November 30th, Bob Downs, MS, LMFT, a well-known local therapist and speaker, will answer this question and others. He will give information and tips useful to parents, teachers, and other adults on how to help children and adolescents express their anger in healthy ways, including:

Reasons for anger and defiance in children and teens
Dynamics between parents, parenting styles, and family situations that produce anger
How anger escalates and steps for de-escalating it
Strategies to reduce the need for anger in children and teens

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Where: Wolf Creek Online High School
10363 Liberty Lane, Chisago City

Registration is free. Please call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 to sign up. If you have questions ask to speak to Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator.

October 29, 2010: Hot Topic Meeting on Raising Daughters: Challenges & Strategies

Parents of teenage girls! Are you concerned about the different changes you see happening in your daughters that make it difficult to provide guidance and support? Does she not want your advice anymore? Are there emotional scenes and times when she would rather be any place than with you? On Tuesday, November 16^th, 7:00-8:30pm, at the Central Learning Center, 200 SW 4^th Street in Forest Lake (Door 1, Room C8), a “Raising Daughters: Challenges & Strategies” Hot Topic Meeting will be presented by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s Kari Lyn Wampler, Youth & Family Therapist, LMFT. Kari Lyn is an experienced national speaker and well known in the local area. Discussion will focus on the challenges our daughters face in growing up in today’s world and ways we can support them on their journey through adolescence. The workshop is FREE. Register with Community Education at 651-982-8110.

Co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau and Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education. Call Jackie Hays, LAYSB’s Parent Education & Support Coordinator, for more information at 651-464-3685.

October 22, 2010:Black Tie to Blue Jeans Event Thank You

FLAHS Jazz Ensemble (caption photo) was welcomed by Renee Wagner, Emcee at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) “Black Tie to Blue Jeans Night” held October 9^th. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the awesome entertainment provided throughout the evening by the Forest Lake Area High School Jazz Ensemble and String Quartet, Norm Barnhart (Magician), Samantha Bushendorf (Soloist/ Guitarist), Jolena Axberg (Violinist), Miriam Genheimer (Youth Violinist), and Isaac Theobald (Youth Card Trick Magician). We also want to thank the guests who attended, our committee members and all of the businesses and individuals who contributed items to the Barley and Vine Draw, and the silent and live auctions. Special thanks to our corporate sponsors: Xcel Energy, Running Aces Harness Park, Alternate Billing Corporation, Johnson & Turner PA, Connexus Energy and Forest Lake Floral. Over $10,000 was raised to support LAYSB’s Teen Enrichment and Leadership Programs. THANK YOU!

For more information, contact Jackie Kottke at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

October 22, 2010: Everyone Welcome to LAYSB Fall Open House

Meet our staff! Tour our facility! Enjoy delicious food!

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) invites the community to our annual Fall Open House on Thursday, November 11 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Guests attending will have an opportunity to learn about expanded and new programs for youth and families & hear about many volunteer opportunities to get involved.

Appetizers & desserts will be provided- all made from recipes in our LAYSB cookbook. Shop for people on your Christmas list too! Cookbooks make GREAT holiday gifts and will be available at the open house! For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

October 15, 2010: LAYSB Takes Anger Head On

For the past few years, in our community, we have been missing a place where adolescents can face their struggles with anger. Now, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) is filling the gap by reintroducing their R.E.A.C.H. program. R.E.A.C.H. is a program designed to help adolescents in their struggles with anger issues. The program is offered to adolescents ages 13 – 18; meeting for a total of 6 sessions. The goal of R.E.A.C.H. is to help young people learn ways to control their anger. The program will teach: violence prevention, good decision making skills, anger management, non-violent conflict resolution, communication skills, appreciation of people’s differences, and an understanding of the concepts of respect and cooperation. Heidi Harder, the Youth and Family Counselor Intern, will lead the sessions which take place at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau in Forest Lake. We request that parent(s)/guardian(s) attend the initial intake interview with youth. Pre-payment for the program is required. Please contact Heidi Harder at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651.464.3685 or Heidi.Harder@ysblakesarea.org if you have questions or to sign up for an intake.

October 15, 2010: 20^th Annual Make a Difference Day

The fourth Saturday of October is the nationally recognized Make a Difference Day – a day devoted to helping the community flourish. On October 23rd, community members are encouraged to lend a helping hand to neighbors and local organizations in need of service. Members of the community can engage in a small project, helping a neighbor beautify their yard, or can devote the day to a project that could potentially change a life, like volunteering at a homeless shelter.

The question shouldn’t be “what can I do?” The question should be “what will I do?” on Make a Difference Day.

No person is too young or too old to give back to their community. Millions of people continue to contribute to the success of their community by giving back through monetary donations and valuable service. Do you have children? Encourage them to make cookies for a neighbor. Do you have teens? Encourage them to befriend the neighbors and offer a helping hand. Remember, no project is too small!

Below are some project ideas for you and your family:

Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods. Making a difference can be helpful and A LOT OF FUN. Tell your kids to put on their Halloween costumes because trick-or-treating is happening twice this year! Bring the kids and grab a wagon to trick-or-treat for canned/boxed food items that can be donated to the local food shelf. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the neighbors and help those in need.

Roadside Cleanup. Everybody knows that the sides of our roadways are always in need of cleanup. Grab some gloves, put on the reflective vests, and help beautify our community with friends and family!

Carve Pumpkins. You heard correctly – carving pumpkins! Create a pumpkin-carving event for youths in your neighborhood. You can use this opportunity to connect with the kids and be a mentor for a day. After the pumpkins are carved, you can teach the youths how to bake the seeds for a healthy treat.

Neighborhood BBQ. Making a Difference can be as easy as hosting a neighborhood BBQ where neighbors can get together to become better acquainted with one another. During this event, you can talk about developing a neighborhood watch program to keep the neighborhood safe.

To learn more about Make a Difference Day, or to share your event, email Tovah Marek at tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

October 8, 2010: Thank You Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe!

Jackie Hays, Parent Education and Support Coordinator for Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB), holds three of the parenting packets made possible with the support of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Their $1000 grant makes it possible for LAYSB to provide FREE packets of information for parents of teens on a variety of subjects such as Drug Awareness, Parenting, Tips for Dads, Bullying, Tobacco, and several more. Pick up your parenting packet by stopping in at LAYSB offices at 244 North Lake Street in Forest Lake or call 651-464-3685.

October 1, 2010: FREE Support for Parents of Teenagers

Every Thursday evening between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 244 N. Lake Street in Forest Lake is hosting a free, drop-in Parent Support Meeting.

· Setting reasonable consequences

· Following through with expectations

· Ways to effectively communicate with your teen

· Recognizing your strengths as parents

Call Jackie Hays at 651.464.3685 for more information. Jackie is also available to talk with you by phone – or send her an email with your questions/concerns: jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org

September 24, 2010: Teen Lock In!

Students in grades 7-9 are invited to the Teen Lock In from 9:00PM on Thursday, October 21 until 6:00AM on Friday, October 22! This all night activity begins with a PG or PG-13 rated movie and snacks at Lake 5 Theatre. Then, enjoy music, dancing, open gym and swimming at Southwest Junior High. Finally, unlimited cosmic bowling, arcade games with four complimentary tokens and pizza at Stars and Strikes! Transportation, supervision, activities and snacks listed above are included in the registration fee. (Bring a great attitude, awesome behavior, swimming suit, towel, extra money for arcade games, lazer tag and concessions.) This event is only for students in the Forest Lake area.

Pre-registration required: Online – www.communityed4u.org or by phone – call (651) 982-8110. Cost is $35 until October 8 (no refunds after this date) or $45 after October 8 (space permitting).

Sponsored by Forest Lake Area Schools Community Education & Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau. Special thanks to: Lake 5 Theatre and Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center.

For more information, please contact:

Nancy DeMarais at Community Education (651) 982-8110 or Ndemarais@flaschools.org or

Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at (651) 464-3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org

September 17, 2010

HandsOn Twin Cities (HOTC), a volunteering organization, has chosen LAYSB & Forest Lake Community Education’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) to receive a mini-grant for a service project collecting food pantry donations for Family Pathways. Donations are being collected at LAYSB. Pictured presenting the check to a portion of the YAB group are Tom Basquill, HOTC’s Youth Engagement Manager, and Mae Hanzlik, a HOTC Youth Advisory Board Member.

September 17, 2010

“Teen Dating Violence: What every parent should know” is the subject of a Hot Topic workshop being co-sponsored by Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau and North Branch Community Education on October 12^th, 7:00-8:30pm, at North Branch High School, Room B151. Research shows that before your daughter graduates from high school she has 1 out of 3 chances of being verbally, emotionally, or physical abused by someone who says they love her. It usually starts with behaviors that seem to flatter her, i.e., jealousy, wanting to be in constant communication, know where she is and whom she is with. It gradually changes into a form of control. It can set the stage for future unhealthy relationships and result in serious mental health issues for both the victim and perpetrator.

Are you worried about a teen or young adult who you suspect may be involved in an abusive relationship? Come to this workshop and learn about the early signs of problems and what can be done to stop it or to intervene.

Presenter: Mike McGrane, MSW, L.I.C.S.W., has had over 37 years of experience working with adults, teens, children who have been victims or perpetrators of abuse. Mike feels the answer to ending abusive relationships is to reach young people early.

For more information, contact Jackie Hays at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or Jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org .

September 10, 2010: Sunrise Bassmasters’ Sept 26 Tourney Will Benefit LAYSB; Kids: Youth Fishing Day is Sept 25!

Tournament

The 22nd Annual Sunrise Bassmasters’ Bass Tournament benefiting Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau will take place on Big Marine Lake in Marine on St. Croix on Sunday, September 26 from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Rules: Two person teams. Five fish limit with 12 inch minimum size. Payout: $80 Entry ($50 Donation, $30 Payout and Plaques). Entrants will be limited to the first 60 boats in (register early). Registration, sign-in, take off and weigh in will be at the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp, 11300 180th St N, Marine on St Croix, MN. To register for the tournament, please call John Moore at 651-797-3637 or Russ Cooper at 651-426-5328.

Youth Fishing Day

On Saturday, September 25, the Sunrise Bassmasters are sponsoring their annual Youth Fishing Day from 8:00 a.m. to Noon for youth aged 10-17. Both boys and girls are welcome to participate. Youth Fishing Day takes place on Forest Lake and leaves from Timm’s Marina. This is a free event but pre-registration is required as spaces are limited to the first 10 youth to call LAYSB, 651-464-3685. Rods, tackle and snacks are provided. Prizes will be awarded!

September 3, 2010: LAYSB Welcomes New Youth and Family Counseling Intern

Lakes Area Youth Services Bureau (LAYSB) is pleased to announce the addition of a new Youth and Family Counseling Intern, Heidi Harder, BA. Heidi will work alongside LAYSB’s long time therapist Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT. Together they provide individual and family counseling to adolescents and their families in order to solve immediate issues, stabilize family or individual crises, strengthen skill development and assist in building healthy relationships.

Heidi graduated from California State University, Fullerton with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She is in the second year of the Master’s of Science program at St. Cloud State University in the area of Marriage and Family Therapy. Heidi has years of experience working with children and adolescents by mentoring and leading a variety of youth groups. Heidi did her undergraduate internship working at the Crystal Cathedral in California as a Crisis Counselor for both youth and adults. Heidi has a passion for working with and counseling youth and adolescents, “I believe in the importance of counseling. I strive to provide the tools and support to adolescents and their families that are needed to enrich lives and relationships.”

To schedule a counseling appointment, call 651-464-3685.

August 27, 2010: Help Your Teen Make the School Year A Successful One.

September is National School Success Month and the first day back to school is just around the corner. You did the shopping, you registered for classes, and you discussed the importance of getting good grades. But did you and your teen develop a plan for a successful year at school? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of parents across the country do not find time to sit down with their teen to discuss personal goals and plans for success. The beginning of a new school year is a perfect opportunity to do just that.

Here are some tips for you and your teen to ensure that the 2010-2011 school year is a successful one.

Get involved in your teen’s schoolwork. Don’t just ask your teen if homework is done. Ask your teen to show you his or her homework, and offer to help him or her understand the material. This shows your teen that you are interested in being involved, and your teen is left with no choice but to accept your involvement.

Openly discuss issues that your teen may encounter in school or with friends. Talk about sensitive issues that include, but are not limited to, bullying, relationships, drugs, sex, and racism. If your teen is hesitant to talk, don’t give up. Offer a comfortable environment for an important open discussion.

Set ground rules and consequences before the school year begins. This will allow you to discuss expectations with your teen, and what the consequences will be if your teen does not abide by the rules. If you set up ground rules and consequences now, you won’t be seen as the bad guy if it comes time to do some grounding.

Schedule parent-teacher conferences at the beginning of every month to track your teen’s progress. This reoccurring conference allows the teachers to see that you and your teen are serious about success. These conferences can also be used to discuss struggles your teen may have with the schoolwork, or opportunities available for extra credit.

The aforementioned tips are only a few of the many things you can do with your teen to make the school year a successful one. If you act in advance to deal with the expected difficulties in school, you will be better prepared when those difficulties arise.

For more information, contact Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685.

August 20, 2010: LAYSB Seeks Participants for Hidden Heroes Program

Caring adults in the community (aka Hidden Heroes) are needed to be paired with youth for the 2010-2011 school year. At least once per month, Hidden Heroes send their youth match something uplifting in the mail (ex: a poem, inspirational quote, motivating story, etc). All Hidden Heroes will remain a mystery for youth. They will not know who their Good Samaritan is, only the excitement of opening up their messages each month. Our goal is for youth to feel valued, encouraged and supported throughout the school year. Matches will get to meet each other at an ice cream social reveal party in late May 2011. We are both looking for adult participants & youth who’d like to get involved. If you know a young person, age 10-17, who could benefit from a positive adult supporting them throughout the school year, Hidden Heroes could be the program for them!

To sign up to be a Hidden Hero or a youth in the program, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

August 13, 2010: Conflict Resolution for Kids

Elementary school age children seem to have a knack for getting into problematic situations and not being able to get themselves out. Many teachers and parents have had their shirts tugged and heard the whiny voice of a child say,

“Johnny hit me.” Or,

“Susie took my doll and won’t give it back.”

When things like this happen, the world seems to stop for these youngsters and all they can see is how big the problem is. Their world, in essence, does come to a halt. With stressed voices, they constantly nag you to do something to resolve the situation. So what’s the best way to go about handling these all too common occurrences?

One approach is to be authoritarian and direct. Handling it yourself can be the quickest and most effective way to quiet a situation that has gotten out of hand.

“Johnny, apologize to him and go to your room.”

“Susie, give the doll back right now.”

While immediately effective, this approach can also become burdensome over time. When the kids realize that you are the only way a problem can be solved each conflict will then require an act of adult authority in order to be resolved.

Another approach is to teach kids how to use conferences to resolve disputes. These are simply sit-down meetings with a mediator and the parties of a dispute.

Each person gets a chance to:

State their case or feelings in a non-threatening and respectful way
Respond to any concerns brought up by the other party
Propose solutions (approved by the mediator)
Agree on a solution (approved by the mediator)

While time consuming at first, this method can produce long lasting and time saving results. Children learn that they do indeed have the skills to be able to talk through and resolve their difficulties with others. Parents and teachers will be relied on less and less as children gain confidence in conferencing in more informal ways.

Perhaps one of the keys to the success of sit-down meetings, is that children have their voice heard and they feel respected. Often, the tug on the shirt and whiny voice are ways of begging for this kind of validation. What they really may be asking for is not for you to solve the problem for them, but to help them solve it for themselves.

For more information, contact Matt Howard at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org.

August 13, 2010: Black Tie to Blue Jeans Event

Save the Date for LAYSB’s Black Tie to Blue Jeans Night on Saturday, October 9! The event is being hosted by Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus. The evening includes a social hour, fabulous dinner, entertainment by local youth, Barley and Vine raffle, a silent auction and a live auction. Wear your blue jeans or finest attire, be yourself! To be included on the invitation list please contact Jackie Kottke at 651-464-3685 or e-mail Jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org. All event proceeds benefit LAYSB Youth Enrichment and Leadership Programs.

BTBJ Sponsorships are available! Gain exposure for your business and at the same time support Youth Enrichment and Leadership Programs in your community. Contact Jeanne Walz for detailed sponsorship information at 651-464-3685 or e-mail Jeanne.walz@ysblakesarea.org.

August 6, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

Don’t miss this great opportunity! If you know of a boy entering 4^th through 5^th grades that might benefit from learning outdoor skills in a safe and supervised environment, check out Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp.

The camp is being held at Camp Lakamaga on Big Marine Lake near Scandia. Many young people today miss out on outdoor opportunities and the rich life lessons that come from them. That’s why LAYSB is offering this two day camp August 19^th-20^thwhich includes an overnight stay. The cost for the camp is $85.00.

At camp, boys will learn how to:

Start proper fires
Cook a meal on a fire
Use compasses to find their way in the woods
Shoot bow and arrow
Canoe & Kayak
Fish
Tie knots
Do first aid

If you know a young man who could benefit from being in the outdoors and gaining self-confidence while learning these different skills, sign him up for this camp! A limited number of spots are available. Contact Matt at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org to reserve a spot or request a brochure. Brochures are also available in LAYSB’s lobby or by clicking here.

August 6, 2010: TASTE! Booth Award

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) awarded the first ever TASTE! Event “Booth Award” to Bella Café and Fudge, located in North Branch, at the 2010 TASTE! Event held on July 15 at Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center. The award was given to the participating restaurant that created the best overall representation of their restaurant and presentation of the food they were serving. Congratulations to Jaime Nelson and Bella Café and Fudge and thank you for making TASTE! both visually and gastronomically successful!

July 30, 2010: CoRE Skills Group: An Adolescent DBT Program at LAYSB!

As a part of our ongoing service to adolescents in the area, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) is now offering CoRE Skills; Coping & Regulating Emotions, an Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. DBT is a program that offers training and skills in emotion regulation. Through distress tolerance, mindfulness and problem solving skills, adolescents can learn to live a more harmonious life for oneself and in relationship to those around them. DBT is perfect for adolescents who struggle with Depression, Anxiety, Anger Issues, Bi-Polar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Relationship Issues or anything involving situations that make it difficult to regulate emotion.

CoRE Skills is for boys and girls in 9^th-12^th grade. CoRE meets Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 for a period of 20 weeks, with varying start dates. The upcoming start dates for CoRE Skills are September 9^th and October 14^th. In addition to the group, each client will also be participating in individual therapy with a counselor to help implement the skills that are being learned. There is a parent(s) component that will be discussed at the intake session.

To find out if CoRE Skills is right for you, click here & take the quiz, “DBT: Is it for you?” If you would like more information about the program or if you would like to speak with a counselor, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT at 651.464.3685.

July 23, 2010:

2008 campers having fun in the kayaks!

Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

When: Thursday-Friday, August 19th-20th, 2010

Who: Boys entering grades 4-5

Where: Camp Lakamaga (12303 Lakamaga Trail, Marine, MN 55047)

Cost: $85.00 per youth (some scholarships may be available)

Why & How: Building self-esteem and respect through learning outdoor skills and participating in team challenges.

Contact Matt at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org to reserve a spot and request a brochure. Brochures and registration are also available in LAYSB’s lobby or by clicking here.

July 23, 2010: LAYSB’s Life Talk is Great For Teen Girls

Girls entering grades 7 through 9: Life Talk is available just for you. Come for chatting, connecting, relating, sharing, growing, and learning with other girls your age! Life Talk enlists the power of positive peer influence to help female participants as they transition through adolescence. In the hour long Life Talk session girls will be able to discuss whatever is on their mind with their peers and an adult facilitator. If the girls don’t have anything they wish to discuss a variety of fun games are played to get them thinking and discussing different topics!

Sessions are held at the Forest Lake Teen Center (Northland Mall – 1432 S. Lake St., Forest Lake). Next session: Thursday, August 12. Life Talk sessions are held from 3:00-4:00 PM typically on the 2^nd & 4^th Thursdays of the month. In order to attend, students must have a Teen Center behavior code of conduct and registration form signed by a parent or guardian. There is no cost for Life Talk.

Contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

July 16, 2010: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership is for ALL Youth

It all started when a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement officers and educators came together in 1976 to create the Youth Service Bureau, a diversion service to keep first time young offenders from re-offending. Over the past 34 years, the programs have evolved to include Youth Enrichment & Leadership and family support in addition to early intervention for youth, ages 9 to 18 years.

Current Programs:

Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp
- August 19-20, 2010: For boys entering grades 4 & 5 to build self-esteem and respect through learning outdoor skills and participating in team challenges!
Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
- Groups of student volunteers in Forest Lake & North Branch who are designing and implementing community service projects of their choosing.
Mentoring
- 1:1 goal-oriented adult volunteer to youth matches.
Hidden Heroes
- Mystery match pen pal program between adult volunteers & youth throughout the school year. Adult’s identity is kept a secret until the reveal party in May.
Life Talk
- Enlists the power of positive peer influence to help to female Forest Lake Teen Center participants as they transition towards high school.
Job Connection
- Referral service linking trained youth ages 12-15 looking for work to adults 55+ and/or disabled in the community in need of help with indoor & outdoor chores.

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

July 9, 2010: LAYSB Recognizes Parenting with Purpose Month

July is Parenting with Purpose Month! Does that mean that some parents have identified new techniques that they will use in their parenting? Maybe so, but some of us assume that the skill will come naturally and that we will know how to handle parenting situations as they arise. New parents may not be aware that parenting skills we use when a child is a baby or a young child will not be appropriate when they are young adolescents or teenagers. It is a big help to us if we grew up with parents who modeled good skills. If not, we can easily slip into unhealthy behavioral patterns and one day wake up feeling the situation is spinning out of control!

If this seems to fit your parenting situation, find a minute or two and check out the following resources available at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau:

Phone and Walk-in Consultation Service: Parents may become overwhelmed and stressed because of a parenting issue or crisis and feel a need to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about child development and trained to deal with behavioral problems. Trained staff will respond to a phone call or walk-in consultation. There is no charge for this service.

Parent Support Meetings: Held every Thursday evening from 6:30 – 7:30 pm at the LAYSB office at 244 North Lake Street, Forest Lake and led by Jackie Hays, Parent Education & Support Coordinator. We will listen to your concerns and then discuss some possible responses. Parents are welcome to come every week if needed. There is no charge for this service.

Youth and Family Counseling is available with Kari Lyn S. Wampler, MA, LMFT if you feel your family issues need more attention. Some insurances are accepted for reimbursement of counseling services. A sliding fee is available.

If you need more support parenting a teenager or young adolescent, check out the above LAYSB parenting services by calling Jackie Hays, Parent Support Coordinator, or Kari Lyn S. Wampler, Youth and Family Counselor, at 651-464-3685.

July 2, 2010: LAYSB Offers FREE College Planning

For many students, the thought of transitioning from high school to college is nerve-wracking. Students are faced with questions such as: How do I choose a major? What college should I attend? How do I prepare for a career? How do I pay for tuition, room and board? When should I start planning?

Because the college admissions and enrollment process is so daunting, many high school students are postponing the planning process until their senior year. For some students, the fear of transitioning is so overwhelming that they avoid college planning altogether! With encouragement from parents and Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB), teens can feel more comfortable and confident in planning for their exciting college journey.

College counselors suggest planning for college as early as the freshman year in high school. It is highly recommended that in-depth college preparation should occur no later than the junior year. Parents are strongly encouraged to assist their teen by a) helping researching colleges online, b) visiting local college campuses, c) reviewing college-specific admission requirements, d) examining financial-aid opportunities and, e) discussing the college enrollment process with a high school counselor.

To help teens in the community who are in fear of planning for college, or those who are simply eager to learn the basics of college, LAYSB is offering a FREE College 101 Peer Group on Wednesday, July 21 from 3:00-4:30.

To learn more about the College 101 Peer Group, or to register, please contact Nate Kruckeberg, at (651) 464-3685 or nate.kruckeberg@ysblakesarea.org.

July 2, 2010:

District 52A Representative Bob Dettmer recently presented Liana Johnson with a Resolution from the House of Representatives to thank Liana for her work with youth and dedication to the community. Liana Johnson is Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s On Behalf of Youth Award winner for 2009. She received her award at a reception in May 2010. Liana has been active with LAYSB for three years. She is a great organizer and has helped plan many activities and events including a car wash last summer which raised funds to make fleece blankets for local families in need. Other LAYSB activities Liana has been involved in include: Sunrise Bassmasters’ Youth Fishing Day, Forest Lake Safety Camp, Girls Lock In Planning Committee, and representing LAYSB at community events.

June 25, 2010: 2009 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award presented to Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Majeski

Deputy Chris Majeski, of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, was presented with the James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award for exemplary service to local youth in 2009 from Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau Board Chair Jim Trudeau at the Scandia City Council meeting held June 15th. Sheriff Bill Hutton was also on hand to accept a second plaque for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department which recognizes Majeski’s contributions on behalf of local youth.

(left to right) Jim Trudeau & Deputy Chris Majeski.

June 25, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

This year the camp is being held at Camp Lakamaga on Big Marine Lake near Scandia. It is a primarily a day camp experience, with the exception of an overnight stay leading into the last day.

Many young people today miss out on outdoor opportunities and the rich life lessons that come from them. That’s why the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is offering this two day camp August 19^th-20^th for boys entering 4^th through 5^th grades. The cost for the camp is $85.00.

At camp boys will learn how to:

Start proper fires
Cook a meal on a fire
Use compasses to find their way in the woods
Shoot bow and arrow
Canoe & Kayak
Fish
Tie knots
Do first aid

If you know a young man who could benefit from being in the outdoors and gaining self-confidence while learning these different skills, sign him up for this camp! A limited number of spots are available. Contact Matt at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org to reserve a spot and request a brochure. Brochures and registration are also available in the Youth Service Bureau’s lobby or on our website at www.ysblakesarea.org.

A 2008 camper shows off his catch from Big Marine Lake.

June 25, 2010: FREE Support for Parents of Teenagers

Every Thursday evening between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 244 N. Lake Street in Forest Lake is hosting a Free, Drop-In Parent Support Meeting.

· Setting reasonable consequences

· Following through with expectations

· Ways to effectively communicate with your teen

· Recognizing your strengths as parents

Call Jackie Hays at 651.464.3685 for more information. Jackie is also available to talk with you by phone – or send her an email with your questions/concerns: jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org

June 18, 2010: “Our Place”, A New Teen Sobriety Support Group

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) will soon be providing a place for teens struggling with addiction to get support in their recovery.

Beginning Tuesday, July 6^th, a teenager struggling with any type of addiction can come to the agency every Tuesday at 6:00pm and find a support meeting that’s just for them.

It’s called, “Our Place”. It’s just for teens and it’s free of charge.

Using a 12-step model and trained LAYSB adult volunteer facilitators, the agency will provide a safe and “teen friendly” atmosphere.

“So many teen support groups have started and stopped in our communities. The time has come for a stable meeting place for teens that can be counted on year in and year out,” says Matt Howard, LAYSB’s Community Justice Program Manager.

Youth ages 13-19 can attend this group. Participation is not limited to one specific type of addiction. The support meeting is set up in such a way that all addictions are welcomed and none are excluded. Even youth struggling with loved ones that have an addiction are welcome at this group.

Contact Matt at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

June 18, 2010: LAYSB Twelve and Under Program

At Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB), we have a community justice program for children ages twelve and under. It is a program created for youth whom have had difficulties in various realms. For example: stealing, vandalism, and violence against peers. Instead of doing community service, or having some other form of punishment that doesn’t reflect the actions committed, this program’s goals are to help youth learn more about the consequences of their actions and deter further violations.

During the course of this counseling focused program, two pieces of homework are given to help the child learn more about the depth of the consequences of their behavior. The first is an apology letter to the person/people/location that was affected by their actions. It consists of three parts; why they are sorry, how they will make sure not to do it again, and what they have learned. After it has been reviewed, it is mailed to the appropriate party. The second piece of homework is a cost analysis. It examines the direct and indirect costs of their behavior. There are areas for their parent’s time, the law enforcement’s time, cost to victim, and multiple others. This can be especially valuable for helping the child understand the ripple effects that their choices have.

Typically, up to five sessions are spent with youth and their parent(s). For the first couple of sessions, the history of the child, their family, and presenting concern(s) are discussed to try to discern what has lead to the event. Once this has occurred, time is spent trying to help strengthen and work on areas that the child and family need. If the therapist believes it would be beneficial, more sessions are recommended. Out hope is to provide a supportive, caring environment in which youth can grow and learn.

Parents: if you have a child twelve or younger that could benefit from this program, contact Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685.

June 11, 2010: Don’t Miss TASTE! – Buy Your Tickets Now

Appetizers! Entrees! Desserts! and More! will be served at TASTE! on Thursday evening, July 15 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. This event is hosted by Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center in Wyoming. Twenty two area restaurants will bring samples of their favorite menu items for you to enjoy. TASTE! everything from Crepes Lorraine, Wild Rice Pheasant Soup, Rosemary Potato Salad, Prime Rib, Satay Chicken and Italian Sausage to, Lingonberry Chocolate Fudge, Gelato, Cake and Cookies with milk. You will not leave hungry!

TASTE! tickets are $25.00 prior to the event and $30.00 at the door. Tickets will only be available at the door if not sold out prior to the event. Stop by the following convenient locations to purchase now:

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Forest Lake Friar Tuck’s Pub, Forest Lake

ERA Muske Company, Forest Lake Office Joe’s on Main, North Branch

ERA Muske Company, Chisago City Office The Nesting Grounds, Wyoming

ERA Muske Company, North Branch Office Maranatha Church, Forest Lake

Castlewood Golf Course “The Rock”. Forest Lake Ottomeyer Clinics, Forest Lake

Country Home Bakery, Forest Lake Patriot Bank, Forest Lake

Daniela’s Cioccolato, Forest Lake Vannelli’s by the Lake, Forest Lake

First State Bank of Wyoming, Wyoming and Stacy

Thank You to ERA Muske Company Community Support Foundation for co-sponsoring this event with Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB), and to POLARIS for joining as a sponsor! All proceeds support LAYSB’s youth enrichment and leadership programs. For information, Contact Jackie Kottke at 651-464-3685 or jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org.

June 4, 2010: On Behalf of Youth Awards Presented

Judge Robert Rancourt (right) accepted Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award from Jim Trudeau, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LAYSB at a dessert reception held May 25 in his honor. Judge Rancourt was selected for his work in seeking ways for the judiciary to intervene in positive ways to curb the rising levels of juvenile substance abuse and for helping to change the way courts deal with troubled youth. “All of his efforts go far beyond his responsibilities as a District Court Judge,” said Jeanne Walz, LAYSB Executive Director. “We are grateful for Judge Rancourt’s strong interest and concern for youth and for his innovative spirit.”

Liana Johnson (middle) accepted Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award from nominators Derek Larsen, Program Coordinator of Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation and Tovah Marek, Youth Enrichment Manager for LAYSB at a dessert reception and awards ceremony held May 24 in her honor. Liana is finishing 9th grade at Century Junior High School and a member of LAYSB’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) in Forest Lake. She was selected for the award because of “her organizing ability and involvement in numerous community service activities over the three years she has been involved in YAB. Liana’s leadership and involvement has made a difference, and her commitment is inspiring,” said Jeanne Walz, Executive Director of LAYSB.

June 4, 2010: Counseling Services Available at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

Looking for better communication between family members? Are you troubled by your child’s behavior? Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) can help. Kari Lyn S. Wampler, Youth and Family Therapist at LAYSB, provides individual and family counseling to adolescents and their families. Together we will work to solve immediate issues, stabilize family relationships or individual crises, strengthen skill development and assist in building healthy relationships.

Kari Lyn S. Wampler, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, earned her M.A. from Luther Seminary in 1994 and completed emphasis work in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary in 2005. She has been working with youth and their families for over 20 years. Along with individual and family counseling, LAYSB also offers groups for youth participation to work around the issues of anger and emotion regulation.

LAYSB works with many insurance companies as well as on a sliding-fee scale and based upon ability to pay. Call to set up an intake appointment at 651.464.3685.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

May 28, 2010: Teen Driving Safety Recognized June 7-13

Each June is recognized as National Safety Month, with each week carrying a theme that brings attention to safety issues that affect both youth and adults alike. June 7-13 is Teen Driving Safety Week. The theme of the second week in June deserves special attention, because collisions are the number one cause of teen death*.

With the end of the school year fast approaching, young drivers will be on the road in full force. Many young drivers spend much of their time on the road during the summer months, therefore it is critical that parents help their teen drive smart and safely. Though driver education and driver training courses are important, they alone do not adequately prepare teenagers for the deadly driving distractions that can easily be avoided. It is up to you to instill good driving behaviors in your teen.

With over half of all teenagers owning their own cell phone, it should be of no surprise that there is a staggering increase in the number of teens who use cell phones while driving. Do you know if your teen is using his or her cell phone while driving? If not, you’re not alone! Many parents dangerously assume that their young driver knows the rules of the road when being issued a driver’s license.

There are things you can do to better equip your young driver. For example, put a ban on eating or using cell phones while driving (be sure to set consequences if your young driver violates your rules). Set a limit on how many teens can be in the vehicle at one time. Regularly take time to ride with your young driver to give your own driving tests. Finally, communicate! If you consistently communicate to your teen the importance of safe driving, you can help prevent an unnecessary and untimely accident fatality. To ensure long-lasting results, you need to consistently be the parent, educator, and friend.

For more information, please contact Nate Kruckeberg, Community Justice Case Manager -Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau: Nate.Kruckeberg@ysblakesarea.org.

*National Safety Council Injury Facts, 2010 Edition.

May 28, 2010: LAYSB’s Job Connection Available to Adults 55+

Can all of your indoor and outdoor chores sometimes feel overwhelming? Assistance from local youth is available for adults ages 55 and older and disabled adults in the Forest Lake area! Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Job Connection is a referral service that links adults in the Forest Lake area looking for help to trained youth ages 12-15. Popular tasks performed are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, moping, organizing, and much more! All youth have attended an orientation session with a parent. Youth go to homes and assist with almost anything needed. Adults contact LAYSB, register & are given youth’s names, ages, and phone numbers to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are discussed between adult & youth. We suggest paying youth workers $5-$6 per hour, or at a set wage for larger jobs such as mowing a lawn. Youth are responsible for finding transportation to get to homes. Adults should be on site and provide direction at all times to help and supervise youth during tasks. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to get some job experience at a young age.

For more information or to have an adult registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org.

May 21, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

At camp, boys will learn how to:

Start proper fires
Cook a meal on a fire
Use compasses to find their way in the woods
Shoot bow and arrow
Canoe & Kayak
Fish
Tie knots
Do first aid

May 21, 2010: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership Program Brainstorming Sessions

The public is invited and encouraged to attend one of two brainstorming sessions for Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s (LAYSB) Youth Enrichment & Leadership programs. We want feedback and ideas from community members (of all ages and genders!) about what types of leadership based programming we should be offering teens. What is valuable? Who can we partner with? What isn’t being fulfilled elsewhere? We are also looking for strategies on how to increase involvement in order to maximize current programs. Two sessions are available to choose from: Wednesday, June 2 from 5:30-6:30PM OR Tuesday, June 8 from 6:30-7:30PM. Both will take place at LAYSB (244 N Lake St. in Forest Lake). Dinner will be provided! For more information or to RSVP, contact Tovah Marek at LAYSB at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

May 14, 2010: A Mindful Slowdown

By Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT

At Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, we have a weekly group for Sr. High students called CoRE Skills. CoRE Skills is a small group therapy experience that teaches Emotion Regulation and is great for youth who struggle with Depression, Anxiety, Anger issues and general life stress. One of the skills that we emphasize in that group is called “Mindfulness”. Mindfulness is the ability to be in the moment. It is the masterful art of learning to appreciate and pay attention to what is happening right now; to revel in the here and now and release all anxieties about a future time and depressive thoughts of the difficulties of life. It will not eliminate life’s pressures, but it can help us respond to them in a calmer manner that has incredible benefits for our heart, head, and body.

The statistics for mindfulness practice and its effectiveness are astounding. Studies show a decrease in depression symptoms by up to 77% in Depression and 74% in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And for those who aren’t suffering from acute Mental Health symptoms, there are overall health benefits as well, indicating an impact in all areas of wellness including high blood pressure, heart disease, physical body pain, headaches and more.

Mindfulness helps us recognize and step away from habitual, often unconscious emotional and physiological reactions to everyday events. Those who subscribe to a regular practice of mindfulness experiences lead more fulfilled and peaceful lives.

For more information on Mindfulness, or if you would like to figure out how to incorporate mindfulness into your own life, visit www.mindfulnet.org or contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, MA, LMFT (LAYSB’s Youth & Family Therapist) at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

May 7, 2010: LAYSB Recognizes Annual Youth Award Winner

Each year, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) honors a teen with the On Behalf of Youth Award for demonstrating a passion for the well-being of youth and service to the community.

Our 2009 youth recipient is Liana Johnson. Liana is a 9th grader at Century Junior High School and a member of LAYSB’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) in Forest Lake. Liana has been active with LAYSB for three years. She is a great organizer and has helped plan many activities and events including a car wash last summer which raised funds to make fleece blankets for local families in need. The blankets were given out at the Living on Less Resource Fair, another activity for which Liana also volunteered. “Liana has been an extremely dedicated and reliable youth volunteer. She has been instrumental in YAB’s service project efforts to create tobacco-free outdoor policies,” said Derek Larsen, Program Coordinator for Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation and one of two who nominated Liana. “She is currently working on a presentation she plans to give to the Washington County Fair Board.” Liana says, “Through [YAB], I have learned to be a good leader, a good friend, a good sister, a good daughter, and finally a good community member…I am grateful we have a group like this.”

Other LAYSB activities Liana has been involved in include: Sunrise Bassmasters’ Youth Fishing Day, Forest Lake Safety Camp, Girls Lock In Planning Committee, and representing LAYSB at community events. When she is not busy with school, volunteering at LAYSB, or playing softball, Liana also volunteers for Birchwood Senior Living. “Liana is a wonderful ambassador for LAYSB and its youth enrichment & leadership programs,” stated co-nominator Tovah Marek, “She has a great future ahead of her.”

Please join in honoring Liana Johnson at a Dessert Reception at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (244 N. Lake St.) on Monday, May 24, 2010. Reception starts at 7:00 p.m. and short program at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome and expected!

For more information contact Tovah Marek at 651.464.3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

May 7, 2010:

Jerry and Connie Hendrickson presented Executive Director Jeanne Walz, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (middle), with a check in the amount of $1,073 from The Security Victor Insurance Agency Shredding Event. The event was held on April 17^th. Over 100 people brought in items that resulted in 6,500 pounds of paper being shredded – an increase of 1,500 pounds from the previous year. $10 was donated by Security Victor Insurance for every bag or box of paper shredded (up to $500) and free-will donations were also accepted. Thank you to all that participated. This event is held annually on the Saturday following April 15^th. Everyone is encouraged to put it on their calendar for next year.

For more information, contact Jeanne Walz at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jeanne.walz@ysblakesarea.org.

April 30: Honorable Judge Robert Rancourt to Receive the 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is pleased to announce that the Honorable Judge Robert Rancourt has been selected to receive the 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award. This award is given annually to one area adult in recognition of outstanding dedication and service to youth in our community.

Judge Rancourt has been an active member of the Chisago County community since 1979. For many years, he was engaged with youth of the community. His keen interest in youth sports also led him to coach youth baseball. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Rancourt had a strong interest and concern for youth who were using/abusing drugs and alcohol. After his appointment, his interest and concern was put into action. He has worked tirelessly to seek ways the judiciary can intervene in a positive way to curb the rising levels of juvenile substance abuse. He served as Chair of the Tenth District Judicial Task Force on Innovative Judicial Interventions and through that effort, was able to establish a Juvenile Substance Abuse Court in Chisago County. “I was on the Chisago County Drug Court for about two years,” said David Larson with Fairview Recovery Services, “and his enthusiasm for helping the clients was inspirational. His care and intelligent concern for the success of each and every client was always a joy to watch.”

All of his efforts to address juvenile substance abuse go far beyond his responsibilities as a District Court Judge. He continues to promote the concept of Juvenile Drug Court in Minnesota and nationally by serving as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, which represents 19,000 Drug Court professionals nationwide. “His work in this area has led to positive changes in how courts deal with troubled youth,” said Steven Paquay, Director of Chisago County Court Services, “and more importantly, it has led to positive changes in the lives of the youth themselves.”

“I cannot think of a single individual who is more deserving of this recognition than Judge Rancourt,” said Judge John McBride, who nominated Judge Rancourt for this award. “His efforts reflect exceptional service to youth within the scope of his job duties and are far above and beyond his responsibilities as a District Court Judge. It is without reservation that I nominate him for this recognition.”

Honorable Judge Robert Rancourt will receive the 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at Noon. The presentation will be held at the Chisago County Court House, Courtroom C. A reception will follow the presentation. All are welcome and expected.

April 30: LAYSB’s Job Connection Available to Adults 55+

Can all of your indoor and outdoor chores sometimes feel overwhelming? Assistance from local youth is available for adults ages 55 and older and disabled adults in the Forest Lake area! Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Job Connection is a referral service that links adults in the Forest Lake area looking for help to youth ages 12-15 looking for work. Popular tasks performed by youth are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, moping, organizing, and much more! All youth are required to attend an orientation session with a parent before they are eligible to work. Youth go to homes and assist with almost anything needed. Adults contact LAYSB, register & are given youth’s names, ages, and phone numbers to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are discussed between adult & youth. We suggest paying youth workers $5-$6 per hour, or at a set wage for larger jobs such as mowing a lawn. Youth are responsible for finding transportation to get to homes. Adults should be on site and provide direction at all times to help and supervise youth during tasks. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to get some job experience at a young age.

For more information or to have a registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org.

April 30: Keeping Your Teen Safe On The Road

April has been a particularly deadly month for our Minnesota teenagers. With prom and graduation season here we need to stay aware of the real dangers facing our youth while driving.

According to the latest Minnesota Student Survey approximately 50% of high school seniors drink alcohol every month and 20% use marijuana. 10% of those youth report driving under the influence often. Another 10% report riding with impaired drivers often.

In plain English that means that 20% of the kids that are drinking and partying are putting themselves in danger on our roads every month.

Recently the Department of Public Safety said this:

“To ensure a safe night of celebration, the Department of Public Safety stresses that teens use seat belts, pay attention behind the wheel, speak up to stop unsafe driving behaviors — and not to drink and drive.”

Not only do we need to give our youth the message about the importance of sober driving, we need them to know about the other factors that can be dangerous for them on the road.

Listed below are current Minnesota laws that apply to keeping teen drivers safe:

Nighttime Driving Limitation

For the first six months of licensure: Driving is prohibited midnight – 5 a.m.

Exemptions: Driving when accompanied by a licensed driver age 25 or older; driving between home and place of employment; driving to/from home and a school event for which the school has not provided transportation; driving for employment purposes. The nighttime limitation is lifted after the first six months of licensure.

Passenger Limitations

For the first six months of licensure: Only one passenger under the age of 20 is permitted, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. For the second six months of licensure: No more than three passengers under the age of 20 are permitted, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Exemption: Passengers under age 20 who are members of the driver’s immediate family are permitted.

Seat Belt Use

Effective June 9, 2009, Minnesota’s seat belt law is a primary offense, meaning drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint. Law enforcement can stop motorists for seat belt violations. A seat belt ticket can cost between $25 to more than $100. A seat belt is a motorist’s best defense in case of a crash. It is recommended that motorists buckle up every ride.

Cell Phone and Texting

It is illegal for drivers under age 18 to use a cellular/wireless phone, whether hand-held or hands-free except to call 911 in an emergency. A new law has made it illegal for drivers of all ages to compose, read, or send text messages or access the Internet using a wireless device while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic.
The Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau would like to encourage parents of teens to sit down and have a serious conversation about safe driving behaviors. It could save your teen’s life and the lives of their friends.

For more information and ideas for parents around this topic go to www.dps.state.mn.us/ots/teens

For more information, contact Matt Howard at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org

April 22, 2010: LAYSB Law Enforcement Award Recipient Chosen

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is pleased to announce that Deputy Chris Majeski has been chosen to receive the James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award for 2009. This award is given annually to a law enforcement officer for exemplary service to local youth.

Deputy Chris Majeski

Deputy Chris Majeski is a member of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and, according to Sgt. Jerry Cusick who nominated Chris for this award, has “a gift and a passion to work with youth and cares considerably about their wellbeing.”

In his position as liaison officer at Scandia Elementary, Deputy Majeski helps students to understand that law enforcement officers serve and protect, and are not only around when kids do bad things. He teaches the DARE Program and continues mentoring students well after their completion. He makes positive connections with the students by informally engaging them in conversations both in the halls and on the playground. Deputy Majeski takes time to eat lunch with the sixth grade on a weekly basis and models his commitment to youth beyond the school day by attending the yearly sixth grade overnight trip to the Long Lake Environmental Education Center. While on patrol in the community, he intentionally seeks out opportunities to talk with local youth and get to know them on an individual basis.

Deputy Majeski is a Sunday school teacher at Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia, and active in community events which promote healthy family values.

Julie Greiman, Principal of Scandia Elementary believes that Deputy Majeski, exemplifies the high standards of the James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award. “I call upon Deputy Majeski to speak to students who may be going down the path of making poor choices, and his calm demeanor and knowledge helps them understand the importance of making better choices in the future. It is an honor to work with Chris.”

Deputy Chris Majeski will receive his award at the Council meeting of the City of Scandia on June 15^th, 2010 at 7:00pm. A reception will follow the presentation. All are welcome and expected.

Named after James Trudeau, this award is given to one law enforcement officer in LAYSB’s service area who has provided exemplary service to youth. To be eligible to receive the award, the licensed law enforcement officer must live or work in LAYSB’s primary service area which includes the Forest Lake School District #831 communities and all of Chisago County, be a positive role model for youth, break down barriers between youth and adults, and show enthusiasm, leadership, generosity and service to youth above and beyond job duties.

April 22, 2010: Graduation Safety

Graduation is fast approaching and graduating teens are anxious to celebrate. While celebrations are an important part of passing a milestone, it is important to celebrate smart and safely.

It is becoming increasingly common for parents and older adults to supply alcohol to graduates in celebration of their success. When adults are not adhering to local laws, they put their entire community at risk. When minors celebrate graduation success with alcohol, they begin losing decision making abilities and motor skills. These underage drinkers often find themselves driving home impaired, increasing the risk of hurting themselves and others.

It is unlawful to serve or sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. Adults who provide alcohol to a minor face a $3,000 fine and up to one year in jail. In Minnesota, third parties who become injured, as a result of a crime, are oftentimes allowed to sue the adult who furnished alcohol to the minor. If the violation causes serious injury, the adult provider could face up to 10 years imprisonment.

Tips to celebrate in style without alcohol!

1) Cater- Instead of the customary sloppy joes, make a small investment in non-traditional food. Consider catering party subs or food from your favorite local restaurant. If catering isn’t in your budget, get creative. Make fruit kabobs with brightly colored tropical fruits for a taste and style above the rest. Put a hand in making deli wraps. Include vegetables that contrast in color for an attention-grabbing sandwich.

2) Energy Drinks- Admittedly, the sugar and caffeine intake may not be healthy, but it is a good alternative to alcohol! Highly caffeinated beverages are popular among today’s teenagers. If stocking up on energy drinks, be sure to also stock up on healthier alternatives such as juice and water. Moreover, if energy drinks will be readily available at the party, be sure teens are consuming the energy drinks in moderation.

3) Independence! Ensure that your graduate has time with friends without the family. Offering this independence can go a long way. Sometimes, a teen can feel suffocated or embarrassed when relatives are around. It’s okay to pick and choose the moments to be with your graduate.

4) Invite The Overlooked! Many students have a teacher, coach, or other adult he or she closely connects with. It shouldn’t be a surprise as to who this adult is, as your teen will often talk about him or her in some conversations. Extend a warm invitation to this person, and tell them the impact they had on your teen’s life. Your teen will likely never forget the time when the coach joined in on the celebration.

For more information on graduation safety, contact: nate.kruckeberg@ysblakesarea.org.

April 16, 2010: Parent Support Meetings

Parents of teenagers! Do you wish you could sit down with someone who has been through similar parenting experiences and survived them? Your questions and concerns might focus on the following or others not listed:

setting clear expectations
following up, if needed, with appropriate consequences.
developing effective communication
dealing with your frustrations

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is offering parents an opportunity to come to the office at 244 North Lake Street on Thursday evenings between 6:30-7:30pm to discuss your concerns with Jackie Hays, Parent Education and Support Coordinator. These meetings are free and are open to any parent who wants to take a little time to discuss their concerns in a neutral environment. If you are interested in coming or have questions, please call Jackie at 651-464-3685.

No time to call? Just come between 6:30-7:30pm! For more information, contact Jackie Hays at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

April 16, 2010: Make an Impact – VOLUNTEER

Are you looking for satisfaction helping others, active involvement in the community and the friendships? If so, become a volunteer! Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to make an impact in the lives of at-risk youth and their families!

LAYSB volunteers touch the lives of youth in many ways: Some help plan youth-focused programs or fundraising events, become guest speakers and teach life skills or share a hobby. Other volunteers become mentors to youth and listen to youth who are getting in trouble or struggling in life. And, still other volunteers work with staff to prepare materials, answer phones, or complete follow up calls.

Training and support is provided! All you need to have is an interest in helping youth and families in your community! If you are interested in giving a little of your time to make a difference in the life of a child or would like more information, call LAYSB at 651-464-3685 and an application will be mailed to you.

April 9, 2010: April is MN Child Abuse Prevention Month

April has been proclaimed as Minnesota Child Abuse Prevention month. Why? Because abuse happens far too often right here in our own communities and across our country! In 2006, over 900,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect. Of these, 64.1% were neglected, 16% were physically abused , 8.8% were sexually abused, and 6.6% were emotional maltreated.

What is classified as abuse and neglect? The following Federal standards are used to define abuse:

Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs
Physical Abuse is the result of hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or otherwise harming a child
Sexual Abuse is any situation where a child is used for sexual gratification. This may include indecent exposure, fondling, rape, or commercial exploitation through prostitution or production of pornographic materials
Emotional Abuse is any pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth, including constant criticism, threats, and rejection

Here are some survival tips for parents in order to keep your family strong:

Check out Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) services through your School District
Visit local library and get a book on parenting
Talk to, listen and try to understand your child before you act
Reach out to other parents , call 1-800-244-5373 to join a local Circle of Parents group

Other resource numbers to call:

1-800-CHILDREN or 1-800-244-5373/Parent support & referrals
211 or 651-291-0211/First Call for Help
612-379-6363/24 hr Crisis Connection Hotline
1-866-223-1111/MN Domestic Violence Crisis Line

Local residents can make anonymous reports of suspected abuse or neglect. In Washington County call Child Protection Services at 651-430-6457 or if the child is in immediate danger, call 911 or local police.

Chisago County Human Services provides a 24 hour crisis response to all citizens. From 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday, call 651-213-5600. For holidays, after hours, or weekends, or if you need an immediate response or have a life threatening emergency, call 911. Remember that you can make an anonymous report!

When you need to talk to someone who will listen and understand, call Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685. A staff member will listen, discuss your situation and, if needed, offer one free face-to-face session. For more information, contact Jackie Hays at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

April 9, 2010: Mentoring through LAYSB

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) offers a unique opportunity to make an impact in the lives of youth in our community as a mentor through our Making Connections Mentoring Program! It is designed to provide youth ages 10-17 with an opportunity to build a positive and encouraging relationship with a supportive adult in the community. Characteristics of youth served are those seeking additional adult support, improved self esteem, positive reinforcement, someone to look up to, improved academic performance, improved relationships overall and much more! We are in need of mentors! Mentors meet with their mentee one to two times a month for a minimum of six months according to a schedule determined by the mentor/mentee. Good candidates to become mentors are adults who can be a positive role model, want to connect with youth in the community, are patient and willing to listen & like to have fun!

LAYSB believes that volunteers are a very important part of our programs. Because of this, a screening process has been developed for all potential volunteers. Human service education or experience is not necessary! We will provide you with all of the training and support that you will need to make a positive impact. All you need to bring is a concern for the youth and families in your community!

For more information or to request a volunteer application, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

April 2, 2010: LAYSB Youth Advisory Board Offers Volunteer Opportunities

Are you between the ages of 12-18? Do you love making a positive impact on those around you? Could you benefit from gaining leadership skills and boosting college and work applications? Are you looking for ways to earn service hours for National Honor Society or other requirements? If you answered yes to any these questions, then the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) could be for you!

YAB is run through Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) and is made up of 7^th-12^th grade students who wish to make a difference in the community. We address the issues youth think are important and brainstorm ways to make change for the better. As YAB members youth will help plan service projects, participate in fun programs, participate in meetings, celebrate their efforts, and know that they are important members of the community in which they live. We have Youth Advisory Boards in both Forest Lake and North Branch. Forest Lake YAB usually meets the fourth Monday of each month at LAYSB in Forest Lake from 6:00-8:00pm. North Branch YAB usually meets the second Tuesday of each month at the North Branch High School room B102 from 3:15-4:30pm. During the summer, meetings are held at North Branch Library.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Youth Advisory Board, please contact Tovah Marek at the Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

March 26, 2010: Drug & Alcohol Test kits at the LAYSB

In an effort to make home drug testing more accessible and affordable for individuals and families, the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau has stocked up on individual test kits.

Parents can now test their youth for $5.00 per test and choose between:

Marijuana
Cocaine
Ecstasy
Meth
Opiates (Prescription Pain Meds)
Alcohol

(Each test strip can be purchased separately or bundled with a reusable temperature reading specimen cup for an extra $5.00.)

Alcohol test kits are a relatively new addition to the home testing options for parents. These new test strips are saliva based and can accurately give a positive or negative reading on alcohol present in the system. Scientists have found that the amount of alcohol present in saliva is closely related to the amount of alcohol present in blood. This test will register a positive reading on any blood alcohol content of .02 and over. .08 is the legal limit for adults twenty-one and older that are driving.

For parents, these kits offer a way to hold their teens accountable.

For teens, these kits may offer the opportunity to build trust with parents.

To purchase a drug or alcohol test kit stop by the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau located at 244 North Lake Street in Forest Lake.

YSB walk-in hours are Monday 9am-8pm, Tuesday 9am-8pm, Wednesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 9am-8pm, & Friday 9am-4pm.

Contact Matt Howard at 651 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org with further questions.

March 26, 2010: LAYSB’s Coffee Talk is Great For High School Girls

High school girls – Coffee Talk is available just for you. Come for chatting, connecting, relating, sharing, growing, and learning with other high school girls! There are two area locations to choose from. Each girl will receive a free coffee talk travel mug during her first Coffee Talk session! Participants will also receive punches on their Coffee Talk Punch Card; 1 punch for attending or 2 punches for bringing a new friend. Ten punches earn you a $3 drink for free at that coffee shop, paid for by LAYSB!

Times and dates vary by location: Join us at Kodiak Coffee in Forest Lake every other Tuesday from 3:00-4:00pm starting April 6, or at Cool Beanz Coffee & Tan in North Branch every other Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm starting April 1. There is no cost for Coffee Talk.

Contact Tovah Marek at the Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

March 19, 2010: LAYSB’s Job Connection Available to Adults 55+

Can all of your indoor and outdoor chores sometimes feel overwhelming? Assistance from local youth is available for adults ages 55 and older and disabled adults in the Forest Lake area! Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Job Connection is a referral service that links adults in the Forest Lake area looking for help to youth ages 12-15 looking for work. Popular tasks performed by youth are: raking, shoveling, vacuuming, sweeping, moping, organizing, and much more! All youth are required to attend an orientation session with a parent before they are eligible to work. Youth go to homes and assist with almost anything needed. Adults contact LAYSB, register & are given youth’s names, ages, and phone numbers to set up jobs directly. Details like when youth will come, what kind of help is needed and negotiating pay are discussed between adult & youth. We suggest paying youth workers $5-$6 per hour, or at a set wage for larger jobs such as mowing a lawn. Youth are responsible for finding transportation to get to homes. Adults should be on site and provide direction at all times to help and supervise youth during tasks. This is a great way for adults to get affordable help and youth to get some job experience at a young age.

LAYSB is now taking applications from youth who wish to work within this program this summer. For more information or to have a registration packet sent to you, please contact Tovah Marek with LAYSB at 651.464.3685 or Tovah.Marek@ysblakesarea.org.

March 11, 2010: LAYSB Cooks!

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) cookbooks are on sale NOW! Our staff, board members, volunteers, referral and partnering agencies, family members, neighbors and community supporters have contributed 586 recipes included in the new “Lakes Area YSB Cooks” Cookbook. You will find a variety of different and delicious recipes in this hard cover, 3 ring binder book. It is well organized, features cooking tips and highlights LAYSB Programs and Events on the divider pages. Find new recipes to try in eight different sections: Appetizers & Beverages, Main Dishes, Soups, Salads & Sides, Quick & Easy, Into the Wild, Kids Favorites, This & That and Sweet Endings.

You may purchase a cookbook for $20 by calling 651-464-3685 (credit cards are accepted), by e-mailing jackie.kottke@ysblakesarea.org or by stopping by the following locations:

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, 244 N. Lake St., Forest Lake

Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Plaza on the Lake, 56 E. Broadway, Forest Lake

North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, 6063 Main St., North Branch

Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 30525 Linden St., Lindstrom

Kyoshin Ryu Karate Academy, Forest Lake, Chuck Phillips, 280 SW 12^th St., Forest Lake

Newbury House, Taylors Falls, Sharon LaCasse, 418 Bench St., Taylors Falls

All proceeds support intervention and enrichment programs for our local youth and families!

March 8, 2010: Parents, Kids & Sex

As a part of my routine intake assessment, I always ask families to tell me how they talk with each other about sex and sexuality. Responses to the question are varied. Some families are very open about sexuality and speak of it on a regular basis. A lot of families have “the talk” only once and don’t bring up the subject again. And, in my experience, a considerable number of families don’t have conversations at all; reporting that they leave this discussion up to their schools.

Sexuality for a young person is ominous. Before they have become sexually active it is dangled out there beyond them as one of the last unknown frontiers. They’ve figured out many of life’s mysteries, but sexuality continues to elude them. They, therefore, go in search of an understanding and framework for what sex and sexuality is. Some of that information, especially the mechanics or biology of sex, they can get from their sex education class at school; but much of the information about sexual intimacy, the effect sex has on a relationship, and the impact it can make on your personal life are all left up in the air. What occurs are gaps in their understanding of sexuality. These gaps will be filled one way or another. They will be filled in by the media with its exploitive nature of sexuality in music videos or television. They will be filled in by their peers, who usually know very little and whose information can be more damaging than helpful. They will be filled in by pop culture with fashion trends and definitions of self worth. Often the way these gaps are being filled in is contrary to a particular family’s values about sex. The reality is, if we aren’t talking to our kids about sex, someone else is. And our kids are going to pick up messages that we don’t want them to hear.

We cannot control our kids’ behavior and decisions about sexuality, especially after a certain point. Our best hope for influence over decisions involving sexuality is to be proactive in helping them understand and define sexuality. We need to be the ones filling the information gap for them.

Here are some suggestions to getting these conversations going with your adolescents:

1) There is no shame in our sexuality. Our sexuality is a significant part of our whole being. A holistically balanced person is someone who fulfills all the aspects of their being; physical, vocational, intellectual, spiritual, relational and sexual. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, there is no need to feel ashamed. Our sexuality is a part of our gift of life. By embracing that gift we are able to address it directly.

2) The earlier you start talking to your kids about sex, the easier it will be on both of you. Speak openly and encourage questions when they are 3, 4 and 5 years old when they become inquisitive about their own bodies or curious about others.

3) It is never too late to begin the conversation, no matter how old your kids are. Look for opportunities to talk about sex. You would probably be able to find them easily if you are looking for them. Opportunities present themselves in myriad ways, but you most definitely could find them in news stories and current events, during movies and television programming and in life events of people around you. For instance, if you hear a teenager from your neighborhood is pregnant, use that as a springboard to talk about your values surrounding teen pregnancy.

4) I often hear parents say, “My child knows they can come and talk to me if they have any questions.” The truth is most kids won’t come to you. Why? Because they have so many questions they don’t know where to start. Parents need to be proactive in their child’s understanding of sexuality. Be the initiator not a passive bystander in the conversation.

As we raise our children we offer guidance and parameters for living in all aspects of their lives. However, when it comes to matters of sex and sexuality we often fall short of providing the support they need. If we allow others, i.e., media, friends, pop culture, music, etc., to fill in the gaps, we never know what they will come up with. By filling in the blanks surrounding sexuality and helping your kids understand themselves as sexual beings, you will give your kids a solid foundation and better assure yourself that your child will behave according to your family’s values and act responsibly in matters of sexual activity.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, MA, LMFT at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

February 26, 2010: Mentoring through LAYSB

Remember the New Year’s resolution you made a couple months ago to get more involved in your community and do volunteer work? Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB) offers a unique opportunity to make an impact in the lives of youth in our community as a mentor through our Making Connections Mentoring Program! It is designed to provide youth ages 10-17 with an opportunity to build a positive and encouraging relationship with a supportive adult in the community. Characteristics of youth served are those seeking additional adult support, improved self esteem, positive reinforcement, someone to look up to, improved academic performance, improved relationships overall and much more! Mentors meet with their mentee one to two times a month for a minimum of six months according to a schedule determined by the mentor/mentee. Good candidates to become mentors are adults who can be a positive role model, want to connect with youth in the community, are patient and willing to listen & like to have fun!

For more information or to request a volunteer application, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

February 26, 2010: Drinking and the Teenage Brain

Teenager’s brains aren’t done developing and won’t be until around age twenty-five. Teens are still developing critical decision-making skills in the front of their brain. They typically lack the ability to plan for the future or see long-term consequences for their behavior. As a result teens lose the ability to reason and make good decisions, more so than adults, when drinking. They need caring adults around them to set clear expectations. They need help and support when making the tough decision to steer clear of alcohol during this time in their lives.

A popular sentiment, heard from parents that give their approval to underage drinking is,

“I don’t mind if my kid drinks every once in a while with friends. As long as they’re safe and don’t drive, I’m ok with it.”

The problem with this common misconception is that many parents today consider a teen to be safe as long as they don’t drink and drive or ride with someone who has been drinking.

Listening in on a brainstorming exercise at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau’s Chemical Awareness class may change the minds of some in this regard.

Facilitator Matt Howard asked teens and parents to make a list of everything that they have done themselves, seen someone do, or heard of someone doing under the influence of alcohol. Over the next fifteen minutes the whiteboard at the front of the room slowly filled with a list of bad decisions made at parties and hang-outs where people had been drinking.

Here’s a small sampling of what made it onto the list: jumping through fire, swimming in the river, shooting guns, using more and more chemicals, having sex, getting into fights, breaking and vandalizing property, climbing ladders and trees, urinating in public, running naked down the street among many other poor or dangerous decisions.

Howard then turned to the parents and asked,

“How many of you still believe that your teen is safe at parties as long as they don’t drink and drive?” The point was made. Not one hand went up.

According to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey approximately 50% of all high school seniors drink alcohol on a monthly basis. The survey also reports that approximately half of all of the seniors using alcohol are “binge drinking,” meaning five or more drinks within one to two hours. This means that at any given party, half of the teens in attendance will be drunk and making decisions that are not just impaired, but severely impaired.

Sex is one of those decisions that teens make more often when drinking. The Center for Disease Control reports that 28% of students said that they used alcohol or drugs preceding their last sexual intercourse, and that 30% of students who have used drugs or alcohol have had sexual intercourse with four or more partners and did not use a condom. Teens get pregnant and contract STD’s at much higher rates when they are drinking. It’s estimated that nearly 75% of all teen pregnancies happen under the influence of a chemical.
Suicide is a choice they make more often while drinking. The Institute also reports that alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink.

The teen brain is still growing. It’s impulsive and vulnerable. We as parents and caring community members need to help protect our teen’s brains and do everything in our power to keep alcohol away from them.

Our teens are making lots of choices. Let’s help them make a truly safe choice by sending a clear message.

It’s not ok for teenagers to drink.

Contact Matt Howard at 464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org for more information.

February 18, 2010: Reminder: Curfew Laws Strictly Enforced

Students are finding that winter is dwindling and the spring season is fast-approaching. With just over a month remaining before the warm weather becomes a part of daily conversation, students of all ages are exhibiting restlessness and excitement brought on by the coming of the changing season. Because students are becoming more aware of the fast-approaching season, they are more likely to stay out past curfew to prolong their fun with friends. As the weather warms, students often find themselves violating long-standing community curfew laws.

Police officers exercise discretion when encountering students over 12 years of age who are caught violating curfew laws. When caught violating curfew, students can find themselves transported home by the police, referred to a local Community Justice Program, or issued a curfew ticket which could require a court appearance by both the youth and the parent.

It is not uncommon for students to vocalize their opposition to curfew laws. Moreover, it is not uncommon for students to minimize the seriousness of the violation. It is important for students and the community to remember that community curfew laws have been enacted to keep students safe and to aid in crime prevention – not as a means to punish youth.

It is important for students to take the time to truly enjoy both the winter and spring season, but it is even more important to abide by the community curfew laws enacted to keep our communities safe.

To acquaint yourself with the curfew laws in your community, click on brochures.

For more information on local community curfew laws, contact: Nate.Kruckeberg@ysblakesarea.org.

February 11, 2010: Youth Enrichment & Leadership is for ALL Youth

It all started when a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement officers and educators came together in 1976 to create the Youth Service Bureau, a diversion service to keep first time young offenders from re-offending. Over the past 34 years, the programs have evolved to include Youth Enrichment & Leadership and family support in addition to early intervention for youth, ages 9 to 18 years.

Current Programs:

Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
- Groups of student volunteers in Forest Lake & North Branch who are designing and implementing community service projects of their choosing.
Mentoring
- 1:1 goal-oriented adult volunteer to youth matches.
Hidden Heroes
- Mystery match pen pal program between adult volunteers & youth throughout the school year. Adult’s identity is kept a secret until the reveal party in May.
Coffee Talk
- Bi-monthly one hour empowerment meetings for high school girls at Kodiak Coffee in Forest Lake & Cool Beanz Coffee & Tan in North Branch.
Life Talk
- Enlists the power of positive peer influence to help to female Forest Lake Teen Center participants as they transition towards high school.
Mocha Mondays
- Held every other Monday that school is in session for high school girls at Chisago Lakes High School. Talk about life and what goes along with being a teenager.
Job Connection
- Referral service linking trained youth ages 12-15 looking for work to adults 55+ and/or disabled in the community in need of help with indoor & outdoor chores.

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

February 5, 2010: Healthy Heart Month

February is the Heart month…a reminder to pay attention to our health and, more specific, to our heart. How can we take care of our heart? Doctors would probably tell us that we can exercise, eat healthy meals, not smoke or use drugs, sleep 8 hours, start a hobby, and learn to relax! So why is there a Valentine’s Day right in the middle of the month? Could it be a reminder to pay attention to the quality of our relationships with family members, friends, work associates, and others we have contact with during our daily routines? For most of us it would cost too much to buy a Valentine’s card for all of them so here is another method for letting them know that you care about them: tell them what you appreciate or like about them.

Use “validations” to express appreciation for the positive personal qualities of another person. Here are some examples:

I like your sense of humor. You make me laugh!
I really appreciate that you came in on time last night.
I love your smile.

Try to start validations with “I” and be as specific as you can be. For example, instead of “You played well in the basketball game tonight, remember a specific play where he/she stole the ball or made a basket and show them you noticed their effort and skill.

Valentine cards are also appreciated as an expression of caring but don’t forget validations which don’t even cost a penny and convey a personal message of affection and love! It is a way of building self-confidence in others and helping them be more in touch with their skills, talents, and strengths. All children and teens will be thrilled to get one of these “cheap valentines!”

For more information about ways to keep your relationships healthy, contact Jackie Hays, Parenting Education and Support Coordinator, Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or jackie.hays@ysblakesarea.org.

January 28, 2010: Empowering Girls

For years there has been a growing concern for adolescent girls in our culture. For many girls, adolescence is a time where self esteem plummets and insecurities rise. There are mounting social pressures to look a certain way, act a certain way, and be a certain type of person, forcing them to abandon their true selves as they attempt to fit into the few boxes society has created for them. The outcome of this predicament is a generation of girls who are finding consolation in empty foundations.

The statistics are staggering. Drugs: Today’s Daughters are 15 times more likely than their mothers to begin using illegal drugs by the age of 15. Suicide and Depression: One out of four girls has exhibited depressive symptoms such as crying often or hating oneself. One in three high school girls have considered suicide. Violence: One in five girls will be the subject of abuse during high school. Risky Behavior: The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate among developed countries. About 1 million teens become pregnant each year; 50% of those pregnancies end in abortion.

For those of us who are concerned about the state of our adolescent girls there are things you can do.

Here are a few things you can start to do today.

Keep them interested in the things they’ve always done, to help them maintain their own identity, not a pre-subscribed set of ideas.
Teach them to be Advertisement Savvy, and not to buy into the “sex sells everything” mentality.
Encourage girls to use their brains and their bodies (ie: sports, dance), so they understand themselves as whole beings, not just attractive or sexual beings.
Praise girls for their interests and characteristics, not for what they look like.
Encourage boy/girl activities that don’t include dating, so they can learn about the opposite sex in a no pressure situation.
Get girls involved in a cause, so they understand life as bigger than themselves.
Support girl’s athletics (February 3, 2010 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day), and limit beauty enrichment activities.

By encouraging and empowering girls we can make a difference during this very difficult time of life. With each individual act that is made we pave the way for cultural change.

For more information, contact Kari Lyn S. Wampler, M.A., LMFT at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or karilyn.wampler@ysblakesarea.org.

January 22, 2010: Mocha Mondays at Chisago Lakes High School

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau is offering a new program just for girls called “Mocha Mondays” at Chisago Lakes High School! Come for chatting, connecting, relating, sharing, growing, and learning with other high school girls. Sessions will take place right after school from 2:30-3:30pm in the Health 1 Room. We’ll meet every other Monday that school is in session, beginning Monday, February 1. Each girl will receive a free Mocha Mondays travel mug during her first session which can be brought back again & again to fill with hot cider or cocoa to go along with other goodies served. There is no cost to attend Mocha Mondays. An adult female will be at sessions to get things started and offer assistance to girls. There is no set agenda- we talk about whatever is on the girls’ minds and have fun conversation starters, too. Try it out & bring a friend!

For more information, contact Tovah Marek at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685 or tovah.marek@ysblakesarea.org.

January 22, 2010: LAYSB Seeks Nominations for Annual Awards

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau (LAYSB)’s Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the annual LAYSB service to youth awards. The winners will be honored at a special presentation in front of family, friends and community members and in local publications. The awards are given in the following categories:

“On Behalf of Youth Award” honors individuals who demonstrate a passion for the well-being of youth. This award will be given to one adult and one youth.

“James Trudeau Award” honors a licensed police officer for service or activities related to youth.

Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, March 12, 2010. Nominations may be made by any area resident (not family members), local business owner or any area civic or service group. A connection to LAYSB is preferred but not necessary.

Youth and adult nominees must live, work or go to school in the communities that make-up the LAYSB service area, which includes Forest Lake School District #831 and all of Chisago County. Adult nominees must be a positive role model for youth, break down barriers between youth and adults and provide enthusiastic leadership and service to youth above and beyond regular job or volunteer duties. Youth nominees must be in grades 9-12, be a positive role model to peers, nurture connections between youth and adults and demonstrate developing leadership skills.

Recipients of the “On Behalf of Youth Award” will be selected by a committee made up of LAYSB Board members and community members. Recipients of the “James Trudeau Award” will be selected by the LAYSB Board of Directors.

OBYA Nomination Letter 2009

OBYA Nomination Form 2009

James Trudeau Award Nomination Letter 2009

James Trudeau Award Nomination Form 2009

January 22, 2010: Calling all Adults!

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau has an opportunity for adults that might interest you. If you have a skill or talent and a desire to help teens improve their life with it, you are who we are looking for.

When a youth in our community gets into trouble with the law and is referred to us, there are certain components that they have to complete as part of a community justice contract. In addition to the mandatory components, they can choose to complete counseling, community-service hours or peer groups.

Peer groups are educational small groups where the teens learn a skill that will help improve their lives or make them more successful.

We are looking for people from all walks of life and all manner of careers to come create and lead their own Peer Group at Lakes Area YSB. If you become one of our trained volunteers you will have a chance to pass along knowledge and life lessons, that have taken you years to acquire, to a new generation of youth that is in need of direction.

Examples of possible peer group topics:

Job skills, Domestic skills, Outdoor skills, Citizenship Building, Relationship skills, Communication skills, Chemical/Addiction knowledge, Future planning, Business skills, Gardening skills, Fire safety, etc…

If you have the ability to effectively communicate with teens, or are willing to learn, and have a desire to help youth succeed, we want to talk with you. Contact Matt Howard at 651-464-3685 or matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org to receive a volunteer application and notification of the next available volunteer orientation session.

Providing Enrichment Programs & Intervention Support to Youth & Families Since 1976. LAYSB is a Non-Profit 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization.

Press Releases

February 10, 2012: Free Field Trip to the MN State Capitol

February 3, 2012: “Fusion” Means Fun for Youth

October 14, 2011: Save the Date – LAYSB Fall Open House

October 7, 2011: LAYSB’s “Fusion” is Available to Youth

September 30, 2011: LAYSB Takes Anger Head On

September 23, 2011: Take Advantage of The Job Connection!

September 16, 2011: FREE Support for Parents of Teenagers

September 9, 2011: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership is for ALL Youth

September 9, 2011: Counseling Services Available at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

September 2, 2011: Sponsors Needed

September 2, 2011: LAYSB Fundraising Event

June 3, 2011: Dan Charpentier to Receive the 2010 On Behalf of Youth Award

June 3, 2011: Be a mentor, impact the life of a teen

May 26, 2011: Forest Lake Officer Maryrose Warke

May 26, 2011: Shredding Event a Success!

May 26, 2011: LAYSB Recognizes Annual Youth Award Winner

April 29, 2011: LAYSB: Punitive or Wimpy?

April 22, 2011: The Job Connection is Gearing Up

April 15, 2011: Graduation and Prom Are Near; Celebrate Wisely

April 8, 2011: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

March 25, 2011: Risky Teen Behavior Resources for Parents and Teens

March 18, 2011: The @ Generation: Online Behavior of Youth Workshop

March 18, 2011: LAYSB Offers Free College 101 Workshop

February 18, 2011: Free Field Trip to the MN State Capitol

February 11, 2011: LAYSB’s Girl Talk is Great for Teen Girls

February 11, 2011: Despite Cold Temp, We Have Warm Forecast

February 4, 2011: LAYSB Welcomes Aaron Lynch

January 28, 2011: LAYSB Seeks Nominations for Awards

January 28, 2011: Navigating the Grey

January 21, 2011: Texting and The Teenage Brain

January 14, 2011: The @ Generation: Online Behavior of Youth Workshop

October 22, 2010:Black Tie to Blue Jeans Event Thank You

October 22, 2010: Everyone Welcome to LAYSB Fall Open House

October 15, 2010: LAYSB Takes Anger Head On

September 3, 2010: LAYSB Welcomes New Youth and Family Counseling Intern

August 27, 2010: Help Your Teen Make the School Year A Successful One.

August 20, 2010: LAYSB Seeks Participants for Hidden Heroes Program

August 13, 2010: Conflict Resolution for Kids

August 13, 2010: Black Tie to Blue Jeans Event

August 6, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

July 23, 2010: LAYSB’s Life Talk is Great For Teen Girls

June 25, 2010: 2009 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award presented to Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Majeski

June 25, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

June 18, 2010: “Our Place”, A New Teen Sobriety Support Group

June 18, 2010: LAYSB Twelve and Under Program

June 11, 2010: Don’t Miss TASTE! – Buy Your Tickets Now

June 4, 2010: On Behalf of Youth Awards Presented

June 4, 2010: Counseling Services Available at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau

May 28, 2010: Teen Driving Safety Recognized June 7-13

May 21, 2010: Outdoor Adventure Boys Camp

May 21, 2010: LAYSB Youth Enrichment & Leadership Program Brainstorming Sessions

May 14, 2010: A Mindful Slowdown

May 7, 2010: LAYSB Recognizes Annual Youth Award Winner

May 7, 2010:

April 30: Honorable Judge Robert Rancourt to Receive the 2009 On Behalf of Youth Award

April 30: LAYSB’s Job Connection Available to Adults 55+

April 30: Keeping Your Teen Safe On The Road

April 22, 2010: Graduation Safety

April 16, 2010: Parent Support Meetings

April 16, 2010: Make an Impact – VOLUNTEER

April 9, 2010: April is MN Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 9, 2010: Mentoring through LAYSB

April 2, 2010: LAYSB Youth Advisory Board Offers Volunteer Opportunities

March 26, 2010: LAYSB’s Coffee Talk is Great For High School Girls

January 22, 2010: LAYSB Seeks Nominations for Annual Awards

January 22, 2010: Calling all Adults!

Pages

Support LAYSB

Twitter

Lakes Area YSB

244 N. Lake Street Forest Lake, MN 55025

Phone: 651-464-3685 Fax: 651-464-3687

Follow “Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau”

244 N. Lake Street
Forest Lake, MN 55025

Phone: 651-464-3685
Fax: 651-464-3687