As a parent, guardian, caregiver or otherwise caring adult in a youth's life, you have a vital job. We seek to partner with you to boost the resilience, foster the growth, and celebrate the success of your child.
Community Partners
Important Information: Blue Whale Challenge
What is the Blue Whale Challenge and Why Should Parents Be Concerned?:
The Blue Whale Challenge is a social media challenge that is making its second wave to students ages 10-14. Children and young teens are sent the challenge through various social media applications including Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Whatsapp and Instagram. The challenge includes 50 tasks that escalate over 50 days. On the last day of the challenge, the only way to "win" is to commit suicide. Many of the tasks include acts of self-harm such as urging players to cut themselves in the shape of a whale. Players of this challenge post certain hashtags (#) or join specific groups on social media in the hopes of getting selected by the "group administrator". Players are required to send photos of evidence to their "group administrator" to prove that they have completed each specific task. The challenge as a whole is meant to harm children/youth and slowly get them to trust the game. In addition, players of the challenge can not stop playing once they have started because they are blackmailed and cyberbullied into completing the game. What should parents do?: Do your research and stay informed. This information is online. Talk to their child/teen about it. Create a safe, non-judgemental space to have this conversation, so children can be honest about their online activity. If further support is needed, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-800-493-8255 or text "Talk" to 38255.
Articles & Resources
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Articles
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Resources
- Support and resources for parents and their child with special health care needs, ages birth to 21. Services are provided free of charge to families in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties.
- JAC takes referrals from schools, provides a free assessment to youth and families, and connects them with resources in the community. They have been working with APS for quite a while.
- Referral Form
- Flyer (English, Spanish)
- Brochure (English, Spanish)
- Antelope is an online IOP for teens who need more than one hour of therapy a week but don't need to go to a residential program.
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