Welcome Parents!
Having the right words to say can be tough, UpStreet is here to help.
A message from our Director
Dear Parents,
Have you ever wondered what’s going on with your teen? Are they having trouble at school? Is there a lot of fighting at home? Are they staying up later than they should be? Are they staying up later than you would like them to?
As a mother of 2, I know it’s natural to worry about your kid, and it can be difficult to realize they may need more support than you are able to provided. And it’s also normal for teens to go through some rough patches. But if you’re worried about your teen, or suspect that something is going on, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. At UpStreet, we support the entire family unit—and we’re here for you!
We can help assess whether what you’re seeing is typical teen behavior or something more serious. And if it does seem like there might be a problem, we can work with your child individually as well as with you and your spouse/partner as a couple. We know how hard it can be when things aren’t going well at home, so let us help make it easier.
Interested in trying it out? Check out the chat for yourself and say hello!
Erin Barr
Director, JFCS Youth Services
Watch Erin Barr speak with KDKA-Pittsburgh News about the growing teen mental health crisis and how UpStreet is helping.
Our goal is to help your teen understand what they are going through so they can move forward with hope and confidence, knowing that there is support available should they need it again in the future—or if something else comes up along the way!
Good mental health is an important part of a teens’s healthy development, and can affect his or her ability to learn, interact with peers, and reach his or her full potential. The earlier that parents and family members identify warning signs, the better.
You want the best for the teens in your life. You may be concerned or have questions about certain behaviors they exhibit and how to ensure they get help.
At UpStreet, we understand that being a parent or caregiver can be challenging, and we are here to help you find solutions. Our trained professionals are ready to listen carefully, develop a plan of action with you and engage with your teen in a way that helps them feel comfortable speaking freely about their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Partnership with Local Schools
Community School East
Allderdice High School
We understand the profound impact that local schools have on the development and success of our city’s youth. That’s why we take immense pride in collaborating closely with Pittsburgh’s educational institutions, fostering a strong bond that fuels growth, innovation, and opportunity.
Helping teens through online counseling
Teens Helped
Resources for Parents
Peer Mentoring Program Provides Additional Support For Teens
Have you ever wished you could just have someone unbiased and your own age who understands what you’re going through to talk to when things are tough? Or maybe you see teens younger than you struggling with things you’ve been through and wish you could offer them...
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence isn’t just something that happens between married couples. In fact 1 in 12 teens experience some form of domestic violence, with those who identify as women and/or LGBTQ+ being at higher risk. Women between the ages of 18-24 experience the highest...
Four Types Of Bullies At Least 20 Percent Of Students Experience
At least 20% of students ages 12-18 experience regular bullying in the US. Bullying can take many forms, some of which are more common and noticeable than others. It’s important to recognize signs of bullying and types of bullying so that you can get help if you need...
Teaching Body Autonomy as a Core Value
Teaching Body Autonomy as a Core Value Most parents have the best of intentions to help their kids develop strong core values like kindness, leadership and integrity. These are traits that will help them live long, happy lives. But there’s an important value that has...
How to Talk to Teens about Getting Mental Health Help
How to Talk to Teens about Getting Mental Health Help The Centers for Disease Control reports about 17% of kids ages 12-17 have received mental health treatment, taken medication for their mental health, or received counseling or therapy from a mental health...
Mental Wellness Toolbox: What are the Levels of Teen Therapy?
Mental Wellness Toolbox: What are the Levels of Teen Therapy? It’s normal for parents to feel ill equipped to help their teenage kids. Regardless of whether a mental illness is at play, parents may feel totally in the dark or totally overwhelmed about the right words...
Talking it Out: When to Turn to Friends, Peer Mentors and Therapists
Talking it Out: When to Turn to Friends, Peer Mentors and Therapists Dear teens: The worst thing you can do is bury the nagging feelings that make it hard to enjoy life. Even the smallest, most trivial worries can mushroom into debilitating fears. And who has time for...
Your Teen May Be Struggling with a Secret Addiction
Your Teen May Be Struggling with a Secret Addiction Addiction is a tough reality for people of all ages, and teens in particular. Hiding harmful activities becomes a priority over pretty much everything else. To be clear, parents can and should be vigilant about the...
Parenting Teens: Five Mistakes to Avoid
UpSTREET Parenting Teens: Five Mistakes to Avoid We all make mistakes, and parenting is… well, really hard. Most parents’ instinctive reactions to their teens tend to be unconscious, stemming from their own experiences as young women and men. Reflection and...
How to Identify Anxiety in Teens
UpSTREET How to Identify Anxiety in Teens Everyone experiences anxiety, and it’s never too early or too late to start actively managing that thorny part of life. When teens start to experience anxiety, it’s important to help them recognize it and to build healthy...
Reading for Parents
“Everything you wanted to know about your child’s mental health but are afraid to ask”
JFCS Counseling Services has also developed a handbook, Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Child’s Mental Health But Are Afraid To Ask. The information in the handbook is provided to educate families about mental health and guide them through an often difficult journey.
You can read an electronic copy of this handbook below. Hard copies are available at no charge from JFCS Counseling Services. You may want to share them with colleagues, families, teachers and others.
This handbook was made possible through the generosity of the Seed family in memory of Alex Edward Seed, and funded by the Alex Seed Mental Health Fund with assistance from Rodef Shalom Congregation.
To download, click here.