These tools provide youth and young adults with honest, practical guidance on physical health, mental well-being, and building strong, respectful relationships. It also offers support for caregivers and providers to help guide meaningful conversations. Whether you're learning to care for yourself or connect with others, these resources can help guide your path and make informed decisions.
For more information, please feel free to contact Heather Jones DCF Transitional Supports and Services.
Taking Care of Yourself
Understand How to Take Care of Your Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health. Managing Stress and Making Healthy Choices.
Healthy Meal Planning
- Figuring Out Food Labels: learn what's in your food and what you are eating kidshealth.org
- FoodSubs Cooking Encyclopedia: FoodSubs is a Cooking Encyclopedia that Covers Thousands of Ingredients, Cooking Tools and Suggested Substitutions.
- Food Shopping & Meal Planning: Resources for Meal Planning, Grocery Shopping, and Good Budgeting to Eat Healthy.
- Smart Snacking: Helpful Strategies to Choose Healthy Snacks.
Home Maintenance
- Cleaning Tips for Young Adults: Making Your First Place Your Own
- Fast and Efficient Home Cleaning Guide: Learn How to Quickly and Efficiently Keep Your Home Clean
- How to Keep Apartment Clean - Tips and Cleaning Checklist: Helpful Cleaning Tips and Manageable Steps
- My First Apartment Checklist: A Comprehensive List of Items You Will Need to Set Up Your First Home.
Internet Safety
- 11 Internet Safety Tips for Your Online Security
- Online Privacy and Security | Consumer Advice: Understanding Online Privacy and Safety: How to Protect Your Devices from Hackers and Threats, and How to Avoid Common Online Scams.
- Tips for Safe Social Networking for Teens: How to Stay Safe While on Social Media
Mental Health
- CT Support Group: Helping Teens and Young Adults in Their Search for Emotional and Mental Health Help to Understand your Options.
- Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support: Connect with a Volunteer Crisis Counselor
- I'm So Stressed Out! Feeling overwhelmed? Read this Fact Sheet to Learn Whether it’s Stress or Anxiety, and What you Can Do to Cope.
Physical Health
- Body Image and Self Esteem: Helping You Understand the Way You Feel About Yourself
- Conditions and Diseases: Learn About Health Conditions and Diseases, How They Affect Your Body, and What You Can Do
- CT Dental Health Partnership: Healthy Mouth Tips for Adolescents and Young Adults.
- How Can I Feel Better: People, Places, and Things that Help.
- Medical Self-Advocacy: Becoming Responsible for Your Medical Care is Part of Growing Up.
- Safety & First Aid for Teens: Learn How to Protect Yourself and Deal with Emergencies
- Signs and Symptoms of Illnesses: Information About Common Illnesses and How to Treat Them
- Taking Care of Your Skin: Information and Tips About Common Skin Issues
- Your Changing Body: Basics on Your Changing Body from Head to Toe.
Well-Being
- 10 Ways to Manage Everyday Stress You Can’t Avoid Stress, But Here Are Some Tips to Help.
- 14 Mindfulness Exercises for All Ages: Learn Relaxation Techniques and Other Wellness Techniques to Help with Anxiety, Stress, and More.
- How Sleep Works and Why Sleep is So Important: Good Sleep is a Vital Part of Your Well-Being and Health
- How To Calm Down When You're Anxious or Angry: Healthline.org Helpful and Actionable Tips to Try
- Mindfulness: Learning to Live in the Present
- Why Exercise Is Wise: How Exercise Improves Your Mood, and Health!
Sexual Health
- Get the Facts About Sexual Health: Important Information to Know
- HIV and AIDS Support: Ryan White Program: HIV/AIDS Services and Assistance in Your Area
- Should I Worry About Getting an STD? Know How to Protect Yourself and Be Safe
Substance Misuse
- Drugs: What You Need to Know.
- Know Your Vape: Find Help to Decide to Quit and Create a Quit Plan from drugfreect.org
- National Smokefree Teen: Become a Smoke Free Teen: Facts and Tips
- One Pill Can Kill: The Dangers of Fentanyl and Prescription Drug Misuse, Use of Naloxone, and How to Get Help
- Prescription Drug Abuse: Dangers of Misusing Prescriptions Taking Prescription Drug Not Prescribed to You by Your Doctor is Unsafe.
- Prescription Medicine Safety: Resources for Teens & Tweens Get the Facts About Substance Misuse from Poe Health
- Vape Free CT: If You Want to Quit, Visit vapefreect.org for Tips and Support
- What Are Substance Abuse and Addiction: Learn the Differences, How to Help, and Get Help.
Suicide Prevention
- 988 Lifeline - If You Need Emotional Support, Reach Out to the National Mental Health Hotline: 988. Available 24-Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week.
- When a Friend Dies by Suicide: How Do You Help Yourself and Your Friends at a Time Like This?
Relationships & Communication
Explore tools and resources that help you build healthy relationships, communicate effectively, and strengthen the connections that support your success and well-being.
Relationships
- Building and Maintaining Good Relationships: Maintaining Good Relationships Helps us in School, Work, and All Aspects of Life. Find out Why, and Get Tips on Building Skills like Compassion and Being Able to Understand Others
- Friends and Relationships: Answers to Some Common Questions About Friends and Other Relationships.
- Relationships: Like Friendships, Relationships Require Give and Take. This Link has Information on What Makes a Healthy Relationship.
Teen Dating Violence and Support
- Dangers of Sexting: Sexting is Against the Law. Read More Here and Learn How to Protect Yourself.
- Is This Abuse? – Prudence Crandall: Domestic Violence is a Pattern of Coercive, Controlling Behavior that can Include Physical Abuse, Emotional or Psychological Abuse, Sexual Abuse or Financial Abuse. Types of Abuse, Including Examples is Included in this Link, Plus How to Get Help.
- Love is Respect: Learn About Relationships, How to Set Boundaries, and Information to Prevent Unhealthy Relationships.
- Safe Place Info: Safe Place Provides Access to Immediate Help and Supportive Resources in Your Community. Enter Your City, State, or Zip Code and You’ll Be Provided with a List of Safe Place Sites Nearest You.
- Teen Dating Violence: Information and Resources to Help You in CT.
- Warning Signs – Prudence Crandall: Are You, or Do You Know Someone Who is in an Abusive Relationship? In this Link, Find Information and 24/7 Assistance.
Communication
- Anger Awareness: Becoming More Aware of Your Emotions, and How You Respond to Others.
- Communicating with Family/Friends/School: Learn More About How Your Emotions Impact the Way You Respond to Others.
- Communicating Safely Online: Are You Sure Who You Are Connecting with Online? Learn More on How to be Safe Online.
- Taking Charge of Anger: Learn More on What to Do with Your Strong Feelings.
Grief & Loss
Grief and Loss are Feelings of Deep Sadness that Comes after Losing Someone or Something Important. Below are Some Helpful Links and Tools to Support You Through it.
- 5 Ways to Cope When a Loved One Dies
- The Children's Room: Online Resources and Peer Support for Grieving Teens
- Tips for Teens Who are Grieving: When Someone Dies, Life Changes
Parenting & Childcare
Whether You Are Expecting, a New Parent, or Need Help Finding Health, Childcare and Educational Resources, Explore Information Here.
Parenting Supports
- 4 Lessons About Success I Learned From Becoming a Teenage Father
- 211 Diaper and Feminine Hygiene Banks: Enter your Zip Code to Locate Diaper Banks
- Are You a Pregnant or Parenting Teen? CT In-State Resources Center for Children's Advocacy
- Coping with a Crying Baby: Tips from CTDMHAS To Help During Times of Stress
- CT Early Childhood Parenting Support: Parenting Support and Resources in Your Community.
- Dad University: I'm Becoming a Father at 17! Tips and Advice for New Dads
- Family Enrichment Center | The Hospital of Central Connecticut: Specialized Teen Services and Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens
- Having a Healthy Pregnancy: Taking Care of Yourself and Importance of Prenatal Care
- The Family Bridge Program: From Hospital to Home: CT In Home Support Program for New Parents.
Childcare and Early Childhood Education Information and Tips
- Connecticut Birth to Three System: Family Resources, Eligibility, and Supports
- Connecticut Office of Early Childhood: Do You Need Help Finding or Paying for Child Care? Questions About Child Development or Developmental Delays?
- CT Head Start Association: Learn About the Head Start Program and Find a Program in Your Community