Pens & Paints is an eight-week creative arts discussion for youth between the ages of 12 to 20 years. The program was created to encourage youth to develop healthy self-expression as a way of coping with any stresses they may face and explore issues that affect everyday living.

Eight sessions are offered weekly for 1.5 to 2 hours each. Each session focuses on a specific issue relevant to youth, combined with a creative activity. Three sessions are under development: stigma, motivation, overcoming anxiety. Session topics currently include:

• Self Esteem
• Stress
• Healthy Relationships
• Body Image
• Substance Use: Making Good Choices
• Violence in the Media
• Diversity
• Emotional Well Being

Participation in all sessions is completely voluntary. As with other services, facilitators aged 16 to 30 years of age facilitate the sessions and encourage all youth to participate as fully as possible. Facilitators are also available to meet with youth privately, one-on-one, should it seem like someone needs help.

Bullying

Youth Net is beginning to connect with youth-serving organizations to develop a specialized Pens &Paints (P&P) series on bullying. It’s an issue that is often discussed in focus groups and has arisen in previous P&P sessions.

If you’re interested in helping with this project, please contact us.