Youth Development Programs

Elementary and Adolescent Help-Lines (Teen Talk and Phone Friend)

CAPTAIN Teen Talk at Silver Bay

CAPTAIN has operated two telephone assistance programs, called Teen Talk and Phone Friend, for the past fifteen years which are designed to provide youth help through connecting them with other interested teens.

Teen Talk is confidential helpline staffed by teens trained to effectively listen and respond to calls from other teens seeking to talk about youth-related topics and issues. Teen Talk helps youth who may be experiencing trouble at home, depression, academic pressures, bullying, gambling, relationship difficulties, or alcohol and substance abuse issues. Phone Friend is a call-in service also staffed by trained teens to help younger youth with homework.

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are selected by their peers and teachers to become Teen Talkers based on their leadership and good listening qualities. They volunteer to participate in an extensive, rigorous and ongoing training process to develop the skills needed to staff the phone lines. Over sixty Teen Talkers volunteer to staff four shifts each day after school throughout the school year. The Teen Talkers are always supervised by one of the many trained adult supervisors who volunteer for Teen Talk and Phone Friend.

Colleges look favorably on teens that become involved in volunteer work in their respective communities and Teen Talk serves as an excellent opportunity for them to demonstrate a commitment to community service while building a resume for life.