Resources For Youth And Parents

LAYSS would love to put itself out of a job! To that end, we have put together this page of resources in the hopes that some of the problems we see facing youth every day can be prevented. We hope that these resources can be of some help; if you know of others we ought to include (or would just like to comment), please let us know.

Resources for Parents

Parenting today can be a daunting task, and it's really nice to know that you have some support and help guiding youth through the maze of hazards and temptations that face them each day. On line, there is a wonderful site called "Parents' Place" where parents can get help with children of any age. Problems of discipline, guidance, problems at school, and problems with peers all have solutions, and many of them can be found there.
As the gay community comes out of the closet, parents by the thousands are discovering that they are parents of gay youth. This is happening at younger and younger ages; even in junior high. These kids need special help in ways their unsuspecting parents may not be aware of! "My child is GAY! Now what do I do?" is a site that answers many of the questions parents may have when they make this startling discovery. It also offers a great deal of help with what to do about it.
If you're interested in knowing what to do about the problems of the commercial exploitation of children (for sex and otherwise), you can't do much better than the United Nations site on the commercial exploitation of children. It has lots of resources and links to other sites and many things you can do to help solve the problem.

Resources for Youth

If you're a youth dealing with the problems of being gay and all alone, know that you're not alone by any means! There are gay youth all around you, and there are caring adults who really want to help you overcome your problems, too. The Cool Page for Gay Teens is a site just for you. It has tons of resources for youth facing the problems of being gay, and having to do it all alone. Lots of gay youth to meet, adults who care and who can help, and just plain fun things to do. Check it out!

If you're gay and you need to talk to an adult about your problems, try your local PFLAG chapter. Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is an organization designed to support families with gay members, but youth are welcome in most chapters too. There are lots of warm, loving adults there who'd love to help you out.

Comments to: Jason Wittman,MPS, Executive Director
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