Vaping part of health series for parents about kids

MARYSVILLE – You may have heard of juuling and vaping, but may not know if it’s dangerous or how to protect your kids.

Find out at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Marysville library.

Jennifer Reid and Mary O’Leary from the Snohomish County Health district will answer your questions.

This is one on six free presentations called “What Parents Need to Know: Issues Affecting Marysville Teens” sponsored by the Marysville Together Coalition, Friends of the Marysville Library and the health district.

The series was developed with information from the 2018 Healthy Youth Survey in Marysville. Classes include a light meal at 5:30 p.m. followed by a presentation at 6 p.m.

A similar program will precede that Sept. 10. Its topic: “What Parents Need to Know to Build Positive Relationships with Youth.”

Ryan Brown, executive director of LINK NW, and Greg Kanehen, coalition coordinator, will present.

Marysville Together Coalition coordinator Kanehen said class titles were developed through conversations with Marysville librarians and the coalition leadership team.

“We looked at helping parents understand why we do a Healthy Youth Survey every other year, what the results show us, and how it guides support services through the community and school district,” Kanehen said. “It gives us a snapshot of issues our youth are dealing with.”

By helping parents, guardians and adult influencers understand the Healthy Youth Survey, the coalition tries to address issues in a proactive and educational way, tap into community resources and promote other classes, Kanehen said.

Other classes:

•Oct. 8 – Help Students Feel Safe in Schools: Mental health professionals and counselors will address ways to deal with bullying.

•Oct. 22 – Parenting Do’s and Don’ts: Kanehen will talk about parenting styles, communications and understanding personalities.

•Nov. 5 – Legalized Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse: Marysville Police Officer Brandon Lawrenson, a certified drug recognition expert instructor, will talk about recognizing drugs, understanding the negative impact of drugs on the individual, family and community, and the moral and legal responsibilities regarding marijuana. •Nov. 19 – Understanding and Handling Stress, Anxiety and Depression: Mental health professional Natalie Gustafson provides information to recognize and address the presence of stress, anxiety and depression in the family, both for parents to observe how they process it and the impact on their family, and to see signs and symptoms in the children and teens.