BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness (CAW)

Happy 2025! To kick off the New Year, we wanted to remind you all who we are and what we do. The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness aims to ensure that youth-serving organizations have the tools they need to support the mental, emotional, and social health of the youth they serve. We offer: * Wellness Assessments * Policy Creation and Revision * Training for staff, teens, and caregivers * Crisis Support Think of us as your go-to for ensuring the next generation grows up supported, strong, and ready to take on the world. Reach out today to start a conversation about how we can support your organization and the youth you serve! https://lnkd.in/esQP9mwK

Grab your journals and a pen—it’s time to reflect and reset for the new year! 🖊 Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, clarify your goals, or simply reflect on where you’ve been, journaling can be a great way to check in with yourself. With the New Year approaching, this is the perfect time to let go of what no longer serves you and set the tone for what’s to come. Here’s a prompt to get you started: “What is one thing you want to leave behind in 2024, and one intention you want to carry with you into 2025?”

At BBYO CAW, we are heading into the final week of the year with immense gratitude for all the hard work everyone on our team has put in this year. Don’t forget to take a moment to remember that you did the work and you deserve to thank yourself. As Snoop Dogg said, “I want to thank me for believing in me.”

Our Senior Director hosts a column in BBYO's Parent Pulse, where she responds to parent questions. This month, a parent asked, "How can I support my teen in setting—and keeping—their New Year's resolutions?" Here’s what Drew Fidler, LCSW-C had to say: A new year offers a fresh opportunity to reset and invest in personal growth, but it can also feel like a pressure cooker for some teens. Parents can help by rethinking the “New Year, New You” mindset in a few ways: It doesn’t have to be new. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean the goal needs to be entirely new. Instead, teens can focus on something they already enjoy or want to dedicate more time to, like a hobby or interest. Invest in happiness. Encourage teens to focus on what truly makes them happy. The new year doesn’t have to center on health or weight loss—it should reflect their personal desires for the year ahead. Work together. Achieving goals is easier with support. Whether it’s an accountability partner, a friend, or even you, discuss how you can help your teen stay on track without being overbearing. Keep it simple. Small, achievable goals are more likely to succeed. These smaller goals can build confidence and set the stage for tackling bigger challenges. Most importantly, remind your teen to have fun, take healthy risks, and embrace new experiences. With a balanced mindset, you can help them set meaningful goals for a fulfilling year ahead. Wishing you a healthy and happy 2025!

Hanukkah is a time for light, joy, and togetherness—but if we’re being honest, it doesn’t always look like the perfectly curated photos we see online. Social media can make it feel like everyone else is celebrating with homemade latkes, perfectly spun dreidels, and eight nights of Pinterest-worthy festivities. But here’s the truth: it’s okay if your Hanukkah isn’t picture-perfect. At the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, we believe the beauty of Hanukkah is in its meaning—finding light in the darkness and celebrating the imperfect moments that make our lives unique. So, whether your candles melt at odd angles or your sufganiyot don’t quite rise, remember: it’s the laughs, the stories, and the connections that make this holiday special. This Hanukkah, let’s embrace the joy of being present, not perfect. How are you keeping the focus on what really matters? Drop your thoughts below! 💬

It’s that time of year – introducing the ultimate Mental Health Gift List for the Teens in Your Life! Each of the eight nights of Hanukkah is a chance to offer “gifts” that go beyond the tangible, bringing light, love, and wellness into their lives. Here’s our Mental Health Gift List for the Teen in Your Life: 🕎 Night 1: The Gift of Space - Because everyone needs a moment to recharge 🕎 Night 2: A Listening Ear - No advice, no judgment, just hear them out! 🕎 Night 3: Validation - Let them know their feelings are real, important, and valued 🕎 Night 4: Time to Recharge - Unscheduled moments for rest and restoration 🕎 Night 5: Encouragement to Set Boundaries - Help them learn to say “no” and protect their well-being 🕎 Night 6: Understanding Their POV - Practice empathy and see the world through their eyes 🕎 Night 7: Celebrate Their Efforts - Acknowledge their hard work, big or small 🕎 Night 8: Unwavering Support - Let them know you’re there for them, no matter what This Hanukkah, let’s give our teens the “gifts” they truly need to feel supported, understood, and cared for. The light we share today will help them shine tomorrow.

BBYO CAW is looking forward to being in Chicago next week for the Foundation for Jewish Camp's Leader's Assembly. We would love to connect with you IRL to: ☕️Talk training for your summer staff and campers 🤗Share resources at our booth in the Exhibit Hall 📚Learn together in our Tuesday choose day session 👋Just say hi and talk camp Shout out below if we will see you there!

This Giving Tuesday, BBYO CAW is grateful to be a part of BBYO. BBYO plays a pivotal role in helping teens to develop Positive Childhood Experiences. By helping teens to participate in community traditions, building a sense of belonging in high school, providing safe and supportive environments of friends, and providing role-models and relationships with caring adults, BBYO helps teens form identity and build resilience. Adolescence is a challenging time with significant mental, emotional and physical changes. Having a place like BBYO, that helps teens to develop meaningful and supportive relationships, feel a sense of belonging, and find safe spaces to be themselves helps to shape who youth are for the rest of their lives.

At the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, we believe gratitude is a powerful way to nurture mental health. This Thanksgiving, try these creative ways to share your thanks: 🦃 Create a gratitude turkey: Have family and friends write what they're thankful for on paper feathers. 💌 Write heartfelt gratitude cards for loved ones. 🍯 Set up a joy jar: Leave out a jar with slips of paper for everyone to write notes of gratitude. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!🧡

Partnership SPOTLIGHT! ✨ At the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, we’re proud to collaborate with the Foundation for Jewish Camp to make mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health (MESSH) a camp priority! BBYO CAW has created a unique camp wellness assessment that helps camps review everything from policies to trainings, ensuring that wellness is a part of their DNA. This partnership celebrates each camp’s unique needs with personalized assessments, hands-on guidance, and training. A big win? Our Best Practices Guidebook offers camps actionable steps to boost wellness. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/ejmn242u. What's next for BBYO CAW X FJC? BBYO CAW is heading to FJC's Leader’s Assembly on December 9th, ready to share our wellness insights and lead some exciting sessions to help camps create healthy, happy spaces where kids and staff thrive. Let us know in the comments if we will see you there!