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Sophey Cherry – Adolescent Appreciation Month

November 26, 2025

Adolescent Appreciation Month – Sophey Cherry

Sophey Cherry  | Northwest School of the Arts – 12th Grade

What is your role at Teen Health Connection (TAB, Scholarship recipient, patient, other)? 

I am a part of the Teen Advisory Board as a member (TAB)

How long have you been a participant in Teen Health Connection’s programs?

I have participated in Teen Health Connection since 2021, my 8th-grade year, starting with my first viewing of their play production of “The Big Picture.”

How has this participation benefited you as a teenager?

My participation has immensely impacted me as a teenager in this generation through my pledge of staying alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) free. I have had the opportunity to speak at the international CADCA conference in Dallas, Texas, serve as a panelist at events, and act in a few short films to spread a notion in which I am beyond passionate about. I had the utmost privilege in providing a mentorship to a group of middle school students through our annual summit initiative, and even helped select scholarship recipients to change-making teenage pioneers; all in the aid of spreading the mission of developing and empowering adolescent leaders into making informed decisions due to a conscientious pursuit of a healthy life. This organization has been a driving force in my personal and professional growth by fostering my developing values of leadership, responsibility, and resilience, inspiring me to actively contribute to my community and become a positive influence for others.

Is there anything you would like to say about Teen Health Connection and the importance of our services to teens?

The service that Teen Health Connection provides is vital to the teens in our community. Their services offer a safe, supportive space where teens can truly get the help they need. Having access to trusted healthcare providers who you feel understand you is a game-changer within the healthcare industry, creating a massive difference during the many hard times one can experience. I admire how Teen Health Connection stresses to teens that they do not have to face their struggles alone. Teen Health Connection is here to support, empower, and help us grow into healthy, confident leaders.

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Adolescent Appreciation Month

Cameron Miller – Adolescent Appreciation Month

November 3, 2025

Adolescent Appreciation Month – Cameron Miller

Cameron Miller | Senior – East Mecklenburg High School

My name is Cameron Miller. I’m currently a senior at East Mecklenburg High School, and I’ve been a member of the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) going on four years now. This program has allowed me to find my inner voice and gain my self-confidence. Teen Health Connection is super important for teens because their services are geared specifically towards teens, meaning they know how to get proper help and resources to any teen.

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Adolescent Appreciation Month

Maya Tolani – Adolescent Appreciation Month

November 2, 2025

Adolescent Appreciation Month – Maya Tolani

Maya Tolani | Senior – Parkwood High School

My name is Maya Tolani and I am a senior at Parkwood High School. I am a member of the Teen Advisory Board and have been since September of 2025.
My participation as a teenager in TAB has benefited me by learning about the different struggles and adolescent health issues that are relevant in the world now. I’ve been able to spread what I’ve learned about these topics outside of TAB and into my school community.
Teen Health Connection is helping make a difference with the care and services that are provided in helping teens grow into healthy, resilient adults.

38North
Adolescent Appreciation Month

Alana Curry – Adolescent Appreciation Month

November 1, 2025

Adolescent Appreciation Month – Alana Curry

Alana Mykel Curry | Hopewell High School

Alana Curry (right) and her friend Alyssa Hamm are students at UNC Charlotte. They both participated in Teen Health Connection’s Leadership Summits and are still using skills they learned to be successful in college.

Years You Were Involved with Teen Health Connection? 

2023 – 2024

School Attending Now? 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

What is your major? 

I am currently majoring in Pre-Professional Exercise Science

What are your future plans?

I am currently on track to Physical Therapy School to be a Pediatric Physical Therapist, but I am also exploring careers in social work.

What Teen Health Connection programs and services did you participate in?

My first introduction to Teen Health Connection was through a mentor who invited several of her mentees to the Teen Leadership Summit in 2023. I attended the Summit a bit nervous because there were so many people I didn’t know and a program I was unfamiliar with. I quickly bonded with some of the older and younger leaders and began to truly enjoy my time. By the end of the Summit, I didn’t want to leave. I’ll cherish the memories I made there every day. After the Summit, I engaged with the Teen Advisory Board, attending weekly meetings and engaging with the members. I learned many skills such as emotional regulation, substance abuse awareness, and recognizing the many signs of prominent issues teens are facing. 

How did Teen Health Connection help you?

Teen Health Connection allowed me to get to know people from the surrounding communities and recognize that I am not alone in some of the ways I feel and the things we as youth go through each day. I was also able to meet and connect with mentors and adult staff who provide perspective and can help you navigate challenges and provide resources that may not be accessible to teens on their own. I have been able to share the resources Teen Health Connection provides with friends and peers. Lastly, I have been able to network and make connections that will benefit me throughout my college and adult life and career. 

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Adolescent Appreciation Month

A Look Inside Teen Health Connection – Building Stronger Families Through Parent Education and Community Partnership

November 1, 2025

A Look Inside Teen Health Connection –
Building Stronger Families Through Parent Education and Community Partnership

At Teen Health Connection, we believe that helping teens thrive really begins at home with their parents and caregivers. Our Health Education team works alongside parents of teens and adolescents to strengthen relationships, build communication, and set consistent boundaries—all key elements when supporting adolescents through change and challenge. They do this through workshops and training sessions and establishing a presence in the community while sharing information. Get to know Kris N. Hawkins, our parent education coordinator and Kenyatta “Dr. Ken” O’Bryant, Ph.D., manager of health education and community outreach.

Meet Kris N. Hawkins, our Parent Education Coordinator, who has been with Teen Health Connection for six years. Kris coaches parents of teens and young children using evidence-based practices. Her work focuses on 45-minute to 1-hour trainings that teach parents how to establish healthy relationships and provide strategies on how to communicate with their  children calmly and respectfully.  “I came to Teen Health Connection when my oldest was 17 and found the resources I needed. I consider it a privilege to be able to do that for others today,” she shares. 

Using the active parenting of teens approach, Kris demonstrates the benefits of adopting authoritative parenting principles, which encourage parents to show up for their teen in a loving, respectful way and provide consistent boundaries. It is an evidence-based approach that shows that teens parented this way are less likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, or academic problems.

Kris hosts workshops throughout the city and county, often partnering with local organizations to reach a broader audience. She also provides support to families in transitional housing through strategic relationships with Families Forward and Charlotte Family Housing. While she may not work directly with families experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, she knows that her efforts provide some support in a highly stressful situation and offers access to helpful resources. “My role is to empower parents, focus on their strengths, and help them feel seen by designing sessions that are flexible and accessible. Once you’ve found us, you have a resource for life,” Kris says.  

“My goal is for parents to feel more confident after they attend a training and to recognize they are not alone. “I always try to stress to parents that I will always be a resource for them. They have all my contact information. They don’t feel like I am on a pedestal. I share my parenting struggles with them and they feel as though I’m in the trenches just like them,” she shared. “Yes, I’m an expert on the parenting material, but there is no “parenting expert or perfect parent,” she concludes.

Kris N. Hawkins, Parent Education Coordinator

Another element of the health education team is community outreach, and that’s where Dr. Kenyatta O’Bryant comes in. “Dr. Ken,” recently joined the team, having previously served as the Deputy Director of Homeless Services for the city of Baltimore, Maryland. In that role he oversaw programs for youth ages 14 to 25 who faced housing insecurity and behavioral health challenges.

Now, at Teen Health Connection, Dr. Ken and his team collaborate with local hospitals, schools, and nonprofit partners to empower and inform parents about the organization’s behavioral health services. “We are the backbone of Teen Health Connection when it comes to adolescent and behavioral health,” Dr. O’Bryant explains. “As health educators, our job is to engage the community—internally and externally—and provide people with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions based on what’s available to them.”

Dr. Ken ensures that he educates parents through a health equity lens to ensure that information is accessible to all. “Our goal is to give people information and resources to make informed decisions,” he shares.

The mission of the community outreach team is to be a holistic resource for families of teens. “We educate the community not only about adolescent and behavioral health but also about the totality of wellness—chronic disease, mental health, prevention, and overall well-being. Our role is to help people live healthier lives and understand what good health really means,” Dr. Ken concludes.

Kenyatta S. O’Bryant, Ph.D., Manager of Health Education and Community Outreach

Another key member of the Health Education team is Madi Davis, health educator and teens program coordinator. Next month’s newsletter will feature more about Madi’s work with our teens through the Teen Advisory Board, Teen Leadership Summits, our Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership scholarship and more.

Madi Davis, health educator and teens program coordinator

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BLOG Newsletter

Starting the Conversation on Teen Homelessness Awareness with Teen Health Connection

November 1, 2025

Starting the Conversation on Teen Homelessness Awareness with Teen Health Connection

Often, when we think of homelessness, we picture someone living on the streets or in a shelter with other unhoused individuals. However, for teens and adolescents, housing insecurity can look different.

This month, our health education topic is Teen Homelessness Awareness and Prevention, and we want to help you recognize the signs if you encounter a young person who may be experiencing housing insecurity. According to our community partner Families Forward, approximately 45,000 children are experiencing poverty right here in Charlotte. In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing and Homelessness dashboard, the article on The Rising Challenge of Student Homelessness states that during the 2024-2025 school year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) identified a total of 5,680 students experiencing homeless, an 18% increase from the 4,815 students identified during the 2023–2024 school year.

This increase isn’t just a statistic; it reflects the rising housing instability impacting families with minor children across our community. Research shows that poverty is a major contributor to youth homelessness, which means there is a high probability that someone in your sphere of influence may be at risk of not having consistent shelter. Many young people experiencing homelessness aren’t on the streets — they’re moving from one friend’s or relative’s home to another, unsure where they’ll sleep next. For some, age restrictions prevent them from staying in shelters with their parents or guardians. For others, family conflict or lack of support leaves them without a stable place to call home.

A Closer Look at Who’s Affected

Certain groups face even greater barriers. LGBTQ+ teens often experience rejection and have fewer safe spaces to turn to, while teens with children and youth aging out of foster care are at particularly high risk. At that age, the stigma surrounding homelessness can make it hard for teens to ask for help, but here’s what you need to know. This issue is closer than we think and the degrees of separation between stability and homelessness have never been smaller.

A Local Perspective

Given Charlotte’s record as 38th nationwide for economic mobility and knowing that access to affordable housing is a major lever in this process, homelessness can trap multiple generations in financial insecurity if not addressed. Poverty isn’t new in our community — and that’s part of the challenge. Without collective awareness and action, the problem persists.

To help raise awareness about this growing problem, Mecklenburg County has launched a 100-Day Challenge to Prevent Youth Homelessness. Visit the website to learn more.  

Here at Teen Health Connection, we work holistically to prepare teens for life’s challenges and connect them to essential community partners such as Charlotte Family Housing and Families Forward, both of which are saving families from homelessness every day. This November, we encourage parents, caregivers, and community members to recognize the signs, build empathy, and share this message. This newsletter is filled with information and suggestions on how you can help make a difference.

Together, we can raise awareness and help more teens find safety, stability, and hope.

Resources for Teens & Families

  • Teen Health Connection Triage Team: Connects families to community-based services and resources, as well as resources available directly through Teen Health Connection.
    TeenHealthConnection@TeenHealthConnection.org or call (704) 381-8336.
  • Charlotte Family Housing: Provides housing and support for working families experiencing homelessness.
    charlottefamilyhousing.org
  • Families Forward Charlotte: Helps families overcome poverty through mentoring, resources, and connection.
    familiesforwardcharlotte.org
  • The Relatives – On Ramp Resource Center: Offers a drop-in resource center for any young adult 16-24 years old who may need help making the successful evolution from youth to being an independent adult. Helps teens find employment and education, and housing opportunities. therelatives.org/our-programs/on-ramp-resource-center/
  • National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-RUNAWAY – 24/7 confidential support for youth and families in crisis.

Remember, help is just a phone call or email away. Contact a member of our team at: TeenHealthConnection@TeenHealthConnection.org or call (704) 381-8336.

Teen Health Connection has placed billboards and electronic signs like the one above throughout Mecklenburg County highlighting our behavioral health services.

38North
BLOG Newsletter

News Around Town: Jennifer Thomas named executive director of Teen Health Connection

October 29, 2025

News Around Town: Jennifer Thomas named executive director of Teen Health Connection

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jennifer Thomas to the Teen Health Connection family! Her recent recognition in local media reflects her passion for improving adolescent health and her leadership in the Charlotte community. Learn more about Dr. Thomas and her work in the articles below.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/potmsearch/detail/submission/6565138/Dr_Jennifer_Thomas

 

WCNC TV Features New Executive Director, Dr. Jennifer Thomas

https://www.wcnc.com/video/news/local/teen-health-connection-enters-new-era/275-f25955b8-8d2c-46a3-9b25-1bc42c555c8c

 

 

Jennifer Thomas named executive director of Teen Health Connection

 

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BLOG News Around Town Newsletter

Message From Foundation For The Carolinas Institute For Philanthropic Leadership

October 21, 2025

MESSAGE FROM FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS INSTITUTE FOR PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP:

Michael Marsicano Award for Philanthropic Leadership recipient: Libby Safrit

On October 14, 2025, IPL Awards Luncheon was a powerful reminder of what inspired, mission-driven leadership looks like.

We were proud to recognize this year’s Michael Marsicano Award for Philanthropic Leadership recipients: Libby Safrit, Executive Director of Teen Health Connection, and Stephanie Stenglein, CFRE, Associate Executive Director of Arts+.  Both have transformed their organizations through integrity, innovation, and impact.

Our Board Chair, Jim Kelley, shared powerful reflections on IPL’s mission and growth. Through Leadership Gift School (275 leaders from 109 organizations) and Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy (171 participants from 92 nonprofits), IPL continues to strengthen the leadership pipeline across the Carolinas. Jim also celebrated our partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlotte, whose Unite Charlotte cohort helped make this fall’s ELP our largest yet.

We were equally inspired by Michael Marsicano, who expressed his pride in the award that bears his name and gratitude to those who’ve contributed to its growing endowment – now at $370,000 and moving toward a $500,000 goal. He reminded us that nonprofit leaders are, in many ways, an extension of our democracy, helping ensure every community thrives through service, generosity, and leadership.

Deep gratitude to our event hosts:  Amy Tribble and The Mint Museum Uptown, and Bonita Buford and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Jim Kelley and The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, Shannon Williams and Armstrong McGuire & Associates, and Michelle Hamilton, CFRE at Carter, Advancing Philanthropy Worldwide, and to our table hosts whose partnership made this celebration possible.

38North
BLOG Newsletter