Parent Pulse

WELCOME NOTE

Dear Parents,

Over the last six months, BBYO has been working on our three-year strategic plan. While there is still pandemic uncertainty in play, we felt that this was the perfect time to reflect on our past efforts and prepare for the much-anticipated opportunity to bring our teens back together. It is also an ideal time to leverage the extraordinary creativity of our teens, staff, advisors, parents, alumni, funders, and a group of industry experts to help develop our plan.

As part of our efforts, we conducted a wide range of research including two broad surveys of nearly 4,000 teens and 2,500 adult stakeholders, more than 40 focus groups, and countless interviews to determine what teen needs will look like after the pandemic is over. BBYO’s strategic plan is focused on four key areas of work:

• Teen Experience: What are teens and families looking for from BBYO and how must our programming evolve to meet their needs? How should we continue to evolve our practices so that BBYO is a welcoming place for all teens regardless of ability, race, gender, beliefs, or interest?
• Global Movement: Over the last 10+ years, BBYO has consistently grown around the world. As we continue to create opportunities for teens across 55+ countries, what must BBYO adapt in terms of its operations, systems, and management to support the growing global community?
• Changing World: Young people are driving a generational moment of social change at a time when civil discourse is more polarized than ever. What is the right balance between creating leaders who advocate passionately for what they believe in and providing a neutral space for those with different beliefs to have respectful dialog around these topics and maintain friendships?
• Stakeholder Experience: Parents and alumni have increasingly been a support system for BBYO in terms of volunteering, strategy development, mentorship, brand building, and fundraising. What are the best ways to harness this incredible source of talent?

As we continue this critical work, we look forward to sharing our findings with you in the coming months. If you have ideas on ways that we can improve or innovate in any area of our work, I would love to hear from you!

Wishing you and your families a happy and meaningful Passover celebration.

Warmly,
Jill Hulnick
Chief Impact Officer

AROUND THE ORDER

Passover | BBYO has two exciting ways to enhance your Passover celebration: 

• The Great Afikoman Hunt IS BACK! We are re-launching this EPIC global game on Thursday, March 25, with daily challenges, fun new content, and great prizes.
• BBYO is here to help you transform highlights from the traditional Seder into contemporary conversations on today’s issues with our new BBYO Seder Discussion Cards. Be on the lookout for our printable cards coming your way later this week.

Summer Registration Filling Fast | Summer is just around the corner, and we can hardly wait to welcome teens back for a safe and healthy BBYO Summer. We recently released our Summer Procedures so families know what to expect, and we will continue developing them as needed. If you haven’t made plans, it’s the perfect time to give your teen a summer experience they’ll never forget! Visit bbyo.org/summer to learn all about our signature programs: CLTC, ILTC, International Kallah, Camp BBYO, and Movement Makers.

Virtual Ambassadors Trips | This April, BBYO teens have the unique opportunity to “travel” with ZWST in Germany and JDC's AJT in the Former Soviet Union and experience cross-cultural exchange with their global peers. Alephs and BBGs will participate in virtual experiences to explore the rich history and culture of these regions and learn about strengthening global Jewish life. Registration closes on March 26. Ambassadors to Germany and Ambassadors to the Former Soviet Union have been made possible with the generous support of the Genesis Philanthropy Group.

Helping Teens Prepare for Social Re-integration

The past year has impacted many teens’ sense of trust, social skills, and mental health. For some, COVID-19 has been a welcome relief from fears of bullying and social anxiety. For others, they have appreciated spending time at home focused on the quiet pursuits they enjoy. As we all prepare to re-integrate to in-person interaction, programming, and education, some teens may experience increased exhaustion, hesitancy in social interactions, anxiety around being exposed to others, fears of pre-pandemic stressors like social bullying and cliques, and even grief and loss for traditions that have changed, milestones that went uncelebrated, or lives lost.

The good news is, there are a number of ways parents can help their teens transition back with empathy and support.

1. Plan for the transition. Planning can help relieve stress, fear, and anxiety. As you get information on dates for in-person schooling and programs, help your teens think through what they may need and what questions or concerns they have, and then problem-solve together to set them up for success.
2. Normalize and validate feelings. Teens often believe they are the only ones feeling a certain way, leading them to feel isolated and misunderstood. By asking questions and listening to their answers, parents can reassure teens they are not alone and that many others are hesitant about what will happen next.
3. Establish routines. It is important to reset healthy habits and get back to normal sleeping, eating, and homework routines. Having routines helps make our days days more predictable and gives teens a sense of safety and security.
4. Create space to process. Highlight the positives and help your teen find spaces where they can process what they have been through and express their feelings. This can help them feel more in control and able work through the growing pains of re-integration.
5. Be clear on boundaries and expectation setting. Help your teen understand the rules for whatever setting they are going into. When rules are clear and teens know what is expected of them, it can help ease fears and uncertainty.

It is important to keep in mind that short-term psychological impacts and behavioral changes while transitioning back are to be expected. However, if you notice continued psychological and behavioral impacts in your teen—such as disconnection with activities and friends, thoughts of harming themselves, feelings of hopelessness, or not sleeping or eating—then it may be time to reach out for help.