They care enough to listen!

Teen Talk
* a peer listening service
* a program of CONTACT Helpline, Tri-Cities
* 946-TEEN
Teen Talk, an after-school listening service provided for teens by teens.
* a sounding board for your problems... family, school, relationships, drugs, alcohol!
* a friend when you are lonely
* confidential
* anonymous
Hours: 4:30-8:30 PM  SUN-THURS Call 946-8336
Someone to listen, someone to care. "My girlfriend just told me she is pregnant. I don't know how I feel. I don't know what to do." Teen Talk Caller, Age 16. All kinds of calls are received on the Teen Talk line. Sometimes a caller wants to talk because nobody else is willing to listen. Sometimes, a person just feels lonely. And some calls are a matter of life and death. There are hours when the phone doesn't ring at all. But Teen Talk volunteers are there, waiting for the phone to ring. They will not judge, only listen and care.

A link to community services. "I had a fight with my dad and ran away. I'm in a phone booth; three men are following me. I'm scared." Teen Talk Caller, Age 14. When listening is not enough, a Teen Talk volunteer will ask the caller if they would like a referral to a communty agency. CONTACT Tri-Cites maintains a data base with phone numbers, addresses and information on social service programs in the area. A Support Worker is available to teen volunteers if there are questions about referrals or interventions.

CONTACT TEEN TALK provides young volunteers with a lifetime of experience and understanding of the importance of community involvement. Teen volunteers receive the same training as the adult program, with special emphasis on the unique problems of adolescents.
Training topics include:
Effective listening
Understanding Mental Illness
Straight Talk About Suicide
Teen Issues Today
Crisis Intervention
Sexual Assault and Date Rape
Domestic Violence
Understanding the Elderly
Grief and Loss
The Helping Skills
Classes are taught by community professionals. If you would like to become a Teen Talk volunteer, enroll in the teflephone worker training program. For additional information call the Contact business office, Mon-Fri, 8:30 A.M-Noon, at 943-9017.