What We Have Learned
IHM Youth Ministry has been promoting what we call the 5-1 Button Campaign. We have spoken to multiple parish groups to share with them what we have learned about the important role non-parental adults play in the lives of teenagers to support the irreplaceable work of parents. We have learned that every teen needs 5 trusted adults in his/her life in addition to caring parents. A church is an ideal place to nurture teens because we have weekly opportunities to be in contact with them. We are challenging every IHM adult to be a trustworthy person in the lives of our IHM teens.
Every teen does better in life when they have at least 5 trusted non-parent adults who regularly express care and concern for them and take an interest in their lives in partnership with the teen's parents. In this way, teens are no different from elephants! Watch this short video to understand what we're saying...
Every teen does better in life when they have at least 5 trusted non-parent adults who regularly express care and concern for them and take an interest in their lives in partnership with the teen's parents. In this way, teens are no different from elephants! Watch this short video to understand what we're saying...
When teens have 5 trusted adults in their lives in addition to caring parents, they are far more likely to exhibit the following:
- they stay in school,
- their grades go up,
- they enroll in college,
- they exhibit leadership traits,
- they pursue higher goals,
- they build better relationships with their parents,
- they socialize in more mature and positive ways,
- they volunteer more,
- they exercise more,
- they finish tasks that they start,
- they are less likely to use drugs,
- they are less likely to experiment with sex prematurely,
- they are less likely to solve problems with violence or express their frustration with anger
- they are less likely to be depressed
- they appreciate diversity more.
Why Young People Leave the Church and What We Can Do About It!
What You Can Do Now!
Join us in supporting our teens to grow into healthy and spiritually mature young adults. Wear a button to church and commit to doing three things:
Contact Margie Hynes at ihmmargie@gmail.com or 330-793-9988 for more information about how we love our teens!
- Smile at and greet teens in church.
- Offer a warm sign of peace to teens sitting nearby in church.
- Welcome any opportunities you get to chat with teens.
Contact Margie Hynes at ihmmargie@gmail.com or 330-793-9988 for more information about how we love our teens!