About Us
Teen HEART was created in response to a growing trend among teenagers to participate in risky behavior such as sexual activity and experimenting with alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Despite tremendous efforts, stemming this tide seemed impervious to traditional interventions. In response to this barrier, a school counselor, Kathy Royle, began developing a series of presentations on building resistance skills that she intended to deliver to middle school students. Research findings suggested that this group was most vulnerable to developing the poor decision-making skills that lead to big trouble for teenagers. Enlisting the help of volunteer high school students, Kathy developed student leadership training for the volunteer high school students. These students presented frank, practical, real-life stories and lessons about the dangers of risky behaviors and the value of abstinence from sex, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. From a modest beginning in which the organization worked with about 50 students in only one school building, Teen HEART has grown to serve over 3,500 students each year in 19 different school buildings throughout southwest Michigan.
a school-based, peer-led program designed to help young people make safe and healthy decisions about sexual abstinence and avoiding the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. The student leadership team members are volunteer high school juniors and seniors who are trained to teach younger teens, through the peer education program, the importance of living healthy lives.
Ronald Plaisier, President
John Haskins, Vice President
Ronald Franklin, Treasurer
Liz Walbridge, Secretary
Ginny Collinson
Mike Cox
Chris Czopek
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