Let’s Talk Community
Discussion Series
In our community discussions, we take a deeper dive into the six sections of the Let’s Talk booklet with guest facilitators and topic experts. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to share their experiences and best practices in a safe, solution-oriented environment.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS
-
JUST SAY KNOW
October 9, 2024
Details to be posted in August 2024. -
THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
December 4, 2024
-
PARENTING TO SUPPORT OUR TEENS
February 5, 2025
-
MENTAL HEALTH AND UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE
MAY 7, 2025
WATCH THE 2023/2024 RECORDINGS
-
JUST SAY KNOW
October 4th, 2023
In the first community discussion of 2023-24, we discussed what to know about and what is being done about today's current drug trends among local youth with special focus on fentanyl, psychedelics and Delta 8 THC products. We also included information and training on Narcan, the opioid reversal medication for fentanyl and opioid overdose/poisoning.
Guest speakers:
DR. MATT WILLIS has been the Marin County Public Health officer for 10 years. He holds a Medical Degree from Temple and completed a Master’s in Public Health and Internal Medicine residency at Harvard. Dr. Willis is a champion for innovative and collaborative approaches to address the opioid epidemic locally.
LAURIE DUBIN has been educating Marin parents on adolescent substance use for the past 13 years as founder of Be the Influence and a co-founder and current Board member of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships. Most importantly, Laurie is a parent of 3 Redwood HS graduates, now in their 20s. In her prior life, Laurie practiced corporate law and worked as an investigator and enforcement attorney for the federal government, skills that came in handy when her kids were teenagers!
JESSICA MENDIETA is a senior at Novato High School. She is a member of the Marin County Youth Commission and has been chair of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) subcommittee for the past three years. She also serves as co-chair for the ODFree Marin Youth Action Team.
-
LET'S START TALKING
August 29, 2023 (English)
September 5, 2023 (Spanish)During this informative discussion, we focused on navigating early adolescence during the middle school years. Topics included were social and emotional development, the teenage brain, and risks and trends of substance use including an emphasis on vaping. This discussion provided information and tools to help you navigate the tough stuff.
Guest speakers:
Aran Watson, Ph.D., Wellness Center Coordinator, San Rafael City SchoolsAntonio Zavala, Director of Programs, Youth Transforming Justice
Raven Twilling, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, BACR (English presentation)
Grace Vasquez, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, BACR (Spanish presentation)
VIEW RECORDING (English)
VIEW RECORDING (Spanish)
-
THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
December 6, 2023
During the second community discussion in the 2023-24 series, our presenting speaker, Dr. Aran Watson, shared his expertise in adolescent development, emphasizing the unique strengths and challenges. He discussed youth-informed coping strategies to guide caregivers and youth support staff to best serve adolescents' needs during this developmental stage – including areas of mental health and underage substance use.
Our youth speaker, Leo De La Huelga, shared some of the peer-peer education they have helped develop on the teen brain and underage substance use.
Guest Speakers:
DR. ARAN WATSON is a clinical psychologist and current Wellness Coordinator for San Rafael City Schools. He is the former Senior Trauma Trainer and Director of Community Health for the RYSE Center, a community-based youth-adult partnership organization in Richmond, CA serving adolescents subject to multiple levels of violence exposure. His research has focused on the unique expressions of trauma and healing in adolescents overcoming multi-layered trauma and marginalization.
LEO DE LA HUELGA is a junior at Tamalpais High School and an intern with Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships through the Elevate Youth Program. They are passionate about fighting the fentanyl crisis and developing effective methods of underage substance use prevention and harm reduction.
-
PARENTING TO SUPPORT OUR TEENS
February 7, 2024
During the third community discussion in the 2023-24 series, our presenting speaker, Annie Egan, returned to the Let’s Talk Program for a deeper dive into parenting and the integral impact you have on your teen. We learned about the variety of parenting styles and which one continues to rise to the top as most effective, and why. Annie provided accessible take-aways and language to use with your teen to increase communication around sensitive issues and served as a guide for topics including modeling, boundaries, clarity, and connection.
Annie was joined by our youth speaker, Cole Greene, who provided his perspective and thoughts on supporting teens.
Guest Speakers:
ANNIE EGAN - Founder of Worth Wellness, Annie Egan has worked with teens in school and home settings for over 20 years and is a frequent presenter for schools and community agencies across the country. Rooted in a deep foundational knowledge of adolescent development and with a lens of compassion, her work focuses on creating effective systems, enhancing communication, and strengthening relationships. Annie received her BA from Duke University and her Masters in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.
COLE GREENE - A junior at Terra Linda High School, Cole has volunteered for OD Free Marin and is part of the school Student Wellness Advisory Committee.
-
HABLEMOS ACERCA DEL USO DE SUSTANCIAS DE ADOLESCENTES Y ENTRE MENORES DE EDAD
March 20, 2024
El 20 de marzo realizamos una conversación informativa acerca de cómo navegar el uso de sustancias entre menores de edad durante los años de la escuela secundaria.
Conversamos sobre el alcohol, la nicotina, el cannabis, el vapeo y el fentanilo, incluyendo los riesgos, las tendencias y cómo mantener seguros a sus hijos. Esta conversación también cubrió qué hacer si creía que su hijo adolescente estaba consumiendo sustancias.
EXPOSITORES
Antonio Zavala, Director de Programas, Youth Transforming Justice
Grace Vásquez, Coordinadora de Prevención del Tabaco, Bay Area Community Resources
Jessica Mendieta Alvarado, Estudiante Representante, Marin County Youth Commission
-
MENTAL HEALTH AND UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE
May 1, 2024
This was our last Let’s Talk Community Discussion of the 2023-24 school year. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we discussed the current state of teen mental health in Marin and what we can do to support our local teens.
SPEAKERS
CAREN SCHMIDT, PsyD Dr. Schmidt is the Associate Director of Behavioral Health at Marin Community Clinics. She is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of childhood trauma and has 20+ years of experience working with children and families. She has been a lead clinician on multiple grants addressing trauma and ACES in healthcare settings over the past 8 years in her role at MCC. Prior to MCC she was the Director of Clinical Services at UCSF/ZSFG Child and Adolescent Services and has been an appointed member of the Marin Child Care Commission. She was recently recognized as one of First 5’s 2024 Champions for Children. Dr. Schmidt was born and raised in Marin, and is currently raising her two teenagers here.
FIND YOUR WAY YOUTH INTERNS Marin 9 to 25 youth interns, Alexandra Sumski and Sophia Ruben, discussed sheir perspective on mental health and substance use and shared the Find Your Way resource guide for youth.
WATCH THE 2022/2023 RECORDINGS
-
JUST SAY KNOW
October 6th, 2022
In the first community discussion of 2022-23, we'll discuss what to know about today's current drug trends among local youth
Guest Speakers:
ED TERNAN and his wife Mary created Song for Charlie after the sudden loss of their son. Ed has dedicated himself to informing young people about current risks of self-medication and recreational drug use in the age of synthetic drugs like fentanyl. Song for Charlie creates and distributes social media campaigns and educational materials. Their programs provide fact-based resources directly to young people in plain language and encourage healthier alternatives for managing stress.
DR. JEFFERY DEVIDO is Board certified in adult and addiction psychiatry and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of addictive disorders as well as general psychiatric conditions in the context of co-occurring medical illness. He maintains a teaching faculty appointment at UCSF's Department of Psychiatry and continues to teach, lecture, and publish on a wide array of psychiatric conditions.
HENRY PRATT is a senior at Archie Williams high school. He is in his third year of journalism and the Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. Henry was nationally recognized for his article on fentanyl.
-
THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
December 7th, 2022
In the second community discussion of 2022-23, we’ll discuss The Adolescent Brain - focused on adolescent brain development, how substances impact the brain, why teens get addicted quicker and how they are wired for risk taking.
Guest Speakers:
ANNIE EGAN has worked with teens in school and home settings for over 20 years. Through her breadth of experience, she recognizes the impact of surroundings on an individual's mental health. Rooted in a deep foundational knowledge of adolescent development and with a lens of compassion, her work focuses on creating effective systems, enhancing communication and strengthening relationships. Annie received her BA from Duke University and her Masters in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.
RIYA AGHI is a junior at Marin Academy with an interest in public health, substance misuse prevention, and mental health. Currently, she focuses on the effects of tobacco on teens in Marin County through her internship with Bay Area Community Resources. She also serves as a member of the California Youth Advocacy Board. She has presented and shared her perspective on the growing issues of substance use to middle schoolers, parents, and school boards. Her ultimate goal is to help create the next generation of substance-free youth.
-
PARENTING TO SUPPORT OUR TEENS
February 1st, 2023
In the third community discussion in the 2022-23 series, we will discuss Parenting to Support Your Teen. Topics that will be covered include: supporting vs over- parenting, parents’ changing roles over time, recognizing how our issues may impact our parenting, communication and tools to help as our teens develop and grow in maturity and independence.
Guest Speakers:
ANNIE EGAN has worked with teens in school and home settings for over 20 years. Through her breadth of experience, she recognizes the impact of surroundings on an individual's mental health. Rooted in a deep foundational knowledge of adolescent development and with a lens of compassion, her work focuses on creating effective systems, enhancing communication and strengthening relationships. Annie received her BA from Duke University and her Masters in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.
LEO DE LA HUELGA is a student at Tamalpais High School and an intern with Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships through the Elevate Youth Program.
-
MENTAL HEALTH AND UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE
May 3rd, 2023
For the final Let’s Talk Community Discussion in the 2022-23 series, we will discuss how mental health and substance use are related. The speakers will discuss mental health challenges facing young people today, the risk of using substances to cope with mental health difficulties, and how the use of some substances can put youth at an increased risk for mental health issues.
Guest Speakers:
DR. EMILY TEJANI trained at the Yale University Department of Psychiatry and is board certified in three medical specialties: child & adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and addiction medicine. She is a member of the teaching faculty at UCSF. Currently, Dr. Tejani consults with SAMHSA's Opioid Response Network, helping to develop emerging substance use disorder treatment programs for youth.
SOPHIA DEMOE (they/them), a sophomore at Novato High School and MHYP intern.
WATCH THE 2021/2022 RECORDINGS
-
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PRETEEN/TEEN
October 6th, 2021
In the first of six community discussions for 2021-22, our guest expert and youth representative will discuss puberty and the adolesence brain, specifically looking at how the brain shifts and changes during these years.
Guest Speakers:
DR. EMILY TEJAN trained at the Yale University Department of Psychiatry and is board certified in three medical specialties: child & adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and addiction medicine. She is a member of the teaching faculty at UCSF. Currently, Dr. Tejani consults with SAMHSA's Opioid Response Network, helping to develop emerging substance use disorder treatment programs for youth.
ANNIKA DANNE is an 11th grader from Redwood and a Youth Advisory Council member.
-
JUST SAY KNOW
November 3rd, 2021
In the second of six community discussions for 2021-22, our guest speaker will discuss the importance of "knowing" about substances, brain chemistry, and current substance trends.
Guest Speakers:
JENNIFER EPSTEIN has been a Health Educator for the past 20 years, and has taught in both public and private high schools in San Francisco. Her curriculum focuses on substance use prevention with an emphasis on saying "know."
SOPHIA PELLETIERI is a seinor at Archie Williams High School and a member of the Youth Advisory Council.
-
PARENTING TOOLS
December 1st, 2021
In the third of six community discussions for 2021-22, our guest speaker and youth representative will discuss parenting tools as they relate to underage substance use prevention - bonding, role modeling, setting boundaries and ongoing communication.
Guest Speakers:
JENNIFER TAYLOR, JD is the Founder of JET ED Consulting, Inc, a therapeutic educational academic consulting service and residential specialist. She is the Board Chair of the Therapeutic Consulting Association, a Board Member of Sky's The Limit Fund and Founder of the Marin Chapter of Willows in the Wind. She volunteers with Horse Buddies, Bread & Roses and does pro bono work for Saving Teens. Ms. Taylor is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of San Francisco School of Law. She is pursuing her Certificate in Clinical Psychology from Harvard University.
ANTHONY GILL , a senior at San Rafael High School and member of the Youth Advisory Council, will share the youth perspective on this topic.
-
MENTAL HEALTH AND UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE
February 2nd , 2022
In the fourth of six community discussions for 2021-22, our guest speakers will discuss how some youth with mental health issues can be at higher risk for substance use and abuse. They will address how to support your teen during any mental health issue and how to find help as needed for both the issue as well as for any substance use concerns that may also be happening. They will provide tools and strategies to help navigate these challenging topics.
Guest Speakers:
MEGAN GREENWOOD is a school counselor at San Rafael City Schools and was the Tobacco Use Prevention Education coordinator.
VALERIE FOWLER is a local clinician who specializes in PTSD, anxiety, and depression and works with all ages including teens.
RIYA AGHI is a sophomore at Marin Academy with an interest in public health, substance misuse prevention, and mental health.
-
POLICY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
March 2nd, 2022
In the fifth of six community discussions for 2021-22, our guest speakers will address policy and enforcement around substance use within our schools, peer groups, and communities.
Guest Speakers:
BOB RAVASIO is a former Town Council member and Mayor of Corte Madera and a founding member of the Twin Cities Coalition for Healthy Youth which became the Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships.
CASSANDRA EDWARDS is the Deputy District Attorney for Marin County and coordinates cases in the juvenile court.
TRISTAN THUESEN is a senior at Archie Williams High School and an active peer educator.
-
HARM REDUCTION
May 4th, 2022
THIS PARENTING THING IS HARD. Whether you are a parent or caregiver, Let'sTalk is for you.Join us for the final community discussions of 2021-22 where we will talk about "HarmReduction" with our guest topic experts and local youth.
Guest Speakers:
JACKLYNN DAVIS authored the Let's Talk booklet. She received her Masters in Public Health and Social Work, and now focuses on adolescent health and youth development through her work with Huckleberry Youth Programs, local school districts, and teaching at Dominican University.
RUSTY HENDLIN is a licensed marriage family therapist in Marin County. He works with families to set reasonable agreements around issues such as homework, curfews, social interactions, and substance use.
TALIA HARDER is a San Rafael High School student who has worked with Youth Transforming Justice as a peer solutions volunteer, is a Youth Action Team member for the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a 9 to 25 member, and a trauma informed restorative practice trainer. She has also participated in a family session of the Substance Safety Skills Harm Reduction training.
CAMERON HENN is an AmeriCorps Vista associate working for OD Free Marin as well as with Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships.
WATCH THE 2020/2021 RECORDINGS
-
GETTING SUPPORT AND HELP
April 14, 2021
In the last community discussion of the school year we discussed different levels of support. How to know if, when, what and where you or your teen can get the support needed.
Guest speakers:
HEATHER JOHNSON, M.A., LMFT, Clinical Supervisor for Huckleberry Youth Marin Mental Health and Substance Use Counseling Program
KRISTA MACKINNON, Clinical Outreach Specialist for Newport Academy
SAYRA SORIANO, Youth Health Educator with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)
EMIILY GALLEGOS, student at Redwood High School and a member of the Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
-
Legal and School Consequences
March 3, 2021
The laws have changed and so have the philosophies around what works to help young people who are facing consequences around substances. Knowing what the law states and what schools and other organizations are doing to assist young people is helpful for parents and their teens.
Guest speakers:
JEFF PETERSON, Central Marin Police Authority
JOAQUIN LANG, former Marin high school student
JON HIRSCH, Social Issues and Substance Use Prevention teacher, and Tobacco Use Prevention educator at Redwood High School
-
Uppers, Downers and All Arounders
February 3, 2021
In the fourth community discussions we will look closely at “Uppers, Downers and All-Arounders.”
Guest Speakers:
JENNIFER EPSTEIN has been a Health Educator for the past 20 years, and has taught in both public and private high schools in San Francisco. Her curriculum focuses on substance use prevention with an emphasis on saying "know." She has talked with hundreds of young people frankly about substances and uses student voices as well as current research to create class sessions that are both informative and relevant.
MICHAEL DANNE is a senior at Redwood High School and is co-chair of the Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships Youth Advisory Council. He is also a Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) peer educator.
-
Parenting to Support our Teens
December 2, 2020
The third of six discussions on the Let's Talk booklet. This session focused on Parenting to Support our Teens.
Guest Speakers:
JENNIFER TAYLOR is the Founder of JET ED Consulting, a therapeutic academic consultation and consulting service. She is the Board Chair of the Therapeutic Consulting Association, a Board Member of Sky’s The Limit Fund and Founder of the Marin Chapter of Willows in the Wind.
LAURIE DUBIN is the founder of Be the Influence - A parenting program which seeks to delay adolescent substance use and reduce rates of binge drinking, alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and other drug use in our communities.
SOPHIE TAUBMAN is a senior at HS 1327 and a member of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships Youth Advisory Council.
-
What’s the Big Deal?
November 4, 2020
DON CARNEY, the Director of Youth Transforming Justice, shares his perspective from years of helping young people in Marin County through Youth Court. Don has developed a nationally recognized program to help achieve success through restorative practices.
JESSICA GLENNON, a member of Youth Advisory Council and a Tobacco Use Prevention Peer Educator shares a youth perspective.
JACKLYNN DAVIS, authored the Let's Talk booklet. She received her Masters in Public Health and Social Work, and now focuses on adolescent health and youth development through her work with Huckleberry Youth Programs, local school districts, and teaching at Dominican University.
-
What’s happening to your teen?
October 14, 2020
In the first of six community discussions, we explored the first section of the Let's Talk booklet: “What is happening to your teen?” Our guest speakers led the discussion with presentations on the topic and then we moved into breakout rooms for discussion (not recorded).
Guest Speakers:
DR. EMILY TEJANI trained at the Yale University Department of Psychiatry and is board certified in three medical specialties: child & adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and addiction medicine.
JON HIRSCH, Redwood High School teacher and substance use prevention educator.
KATHERINE CHUANG, College of Marin student and youth tobacco use prevention educator,
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The community discussion series runs from October through May. Please sign up if you would like to receive notifications.