# Presentation: 084904

## Work-Life Advisor

**Vol. 15, No. 11, August 2007**

**U.S. Department of**
**Transportation**
**1200 New Jersey Ave. SE**
**Room W56-402**
**Washington, DC  20590**
**800/525-2878 (ext. 1)**
**202/366-6389**

**Back To School**

**Teens & Depression**
- Teen depression isn’t just moodiness.  Depression is a serious problem that if left untreated can lead to problems at home, school, drug and alcohol abuse, or worse yet, to irreversible tragedy such as suicide.
- Teens with depression do not necessarily appear sad and weepy.
*Continued on page 2, column 2.*

- BALANCE
-   CAREER     HOME

**August EVENTS happening at DOT**
**August 9****th**
** **_“__Budgeting 101”_
- Conference Room 3
- (Money Management Inc.)
**August 14****th****  **
- _“__Advanced Investing Strategies”_
- Conference Room 8
- (*Smith Barney*)
**August 21****st****  **
- _“__Long Term Care”_
- Conference Room 1
- (*Transportation Federal Credit Union*)
**August 23****rd**** **
_** **__“__Retirement & Social Security Benefits, How it Works” _
- Conference Room 1
- (*Social Security Administration*)
**August 28****th**** **
- _“__Your Adoption Questions Answered”_
-  Conference Room 1
- (*Child Welfare Information Gateway*)
**August 30****th**
- _“__Effective Communication”_
- Conference Room 1
- *******************
**To Register for  **
**August Events, **
**Please Send an E-mail to:**
**Zakina.Brooker**
**@dot.gov**

- BALANCE
-   CAREER     HOME

**	****Back-to-****	****School ****	****Shopping: **
**	****7 Tips for ****	****Survival**
***Excerpt reprinted from:***
**Back-to-School Shopping:**
**A Survival Guide****7 Tips for Buying Wisely**
***Yahoo! Deborah Hopewell, Shopping Editor***
- Back-to-school shopping is a great opportunity for parents to teach their children about responsible shopping habits, these tips will help keep shopping stress-free:
- • Before hitting the mall, help your child go through all the clothing currently in his or her wardrobe, and clean out the outgrown and seldom-worn clothes. Either put clothing away for a younger brother or sister or donate it to charity. Then discuss what is needed to pull the back-to-school wardrobe together.
- • Once you've seen what's left, ask your child to identify his favorite items. "If they do wear something a lot, find out why," says Andre. "And if they didn't wear something, find out why" so that you don't make the same mistake again.
- • Talk about the styles the kids will be wearing this fall. Discuss the difference between fads, classics and trends. "It's important to recognize that clothing is an expression of their youth and peer group," says Andre, but it's also important to make appropriate choices.
*Continued on page 2, column 1.*

**YOU & YOUR CHILD**
**A Summer Special**
**Learning Tips from SCORE!**
*2 tips will be given each month throughout the summer *
*(June, July & August)*
**Visit area businesses**. A factory, farm, greenhouse, fire station – any place of business – can be a learning site for your child. Call these businesses to see if they conduct family or small-group tours.
**Play a board game. **Have the whole family participate in a game involving reading or math. MONOPOLY, for example, helps your child practice math skills as a banker or a rent-collecting proprietor of Atlantic Avenue and Water Works. Similarly, SCRABBLE tests everyone’s vocabulary and spelling skills.
*Reprinted from *_[www.escore.com/about/programs/summerlearningtips.php](http://www.escore.com/about/programs/summerlearningtips.php)__ _

## DOT WORK-LIFE WELLNESS PROGRAM

**Back to School**...*Continued*
- "Kids rely on parents to be parents, not friends. And you need to let them know that showing their belly button at school is not respectful.“
- • Browse through a few back-to-school catalogs with your child and talk to them about the issue of "what one wants" and "what one can afford." A calm financial conversation at home is one way to avoid an emotional blow-out at the store.
- • Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes that are easy to take off and put on for fewer hassles in the dressing room.
- • Take children shopping for a few hours, not the entire day. "What I've advised parents, especially those with young girls, is to let them go to the mall - then go back and help them with the purchasing," says Andre. "Let them do the window shopping, then limit the shopping time with parents to two hours." Long, shop-till-you-drop sprees usually lead to impulse buying, arguments and exhaustion.
- • Avoid buying everything before school starts. Andre advises doing some shopping for the first couple of school months, when the weather is typically warmer, then shop for warmer winter clothing. Another reason to hold off on buying all at once is that once your children see what everyone else is wearing, they might have different ideas about what they like and dislike.

**DOT WORK-LIFE WELLNESS PROGRAM**
- Provides information on work/life issues such as parenting, childcare, eldercare, telework,
- diversity, personal and professional development, and health and wellness.
- Resources on these topics can be obtained by calling
- 202/366-6389 or 800/525-2878 (ext. 1)

**DOT WORK-LIFE WELLNESS PROGRAM**
- Provides information on work/life issues such as parenting, childcare, eldercare, telework,
- diversity, personal / professional development, health and wellness.
- Resources on these topics can be obtained by calling
- 202/366-6389 or 800/525-2878 (ext. 1)

**Teens & Depression**...Continued
- In fact, according to the _[American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry](http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/publication_store/your_adolescent_conduct_disorders)__, “its symptoms can include irritability and rage.” _
** **
**SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN TEENS**
-  Sadness or hopelessness
-  Irritability, anger, or hostility
-  Tearfulness or frequent crying
-  Withdrawal from friends and family
-  Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities
-  Changes in eating and sleeping habits
-  Restlessness and agitation
-  Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
-  Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
-  Fatigue or lack of energy
-  Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
-  Thoughts of death or suicide
- Unlike adults who typically have the ability to seek assistance with depression, teenagers often need to rely on parents, teachers or other caregivers to recognize their suffering and get them the help they need.
- If you feel that your teen is depressed, the first thing you should do is to talk with your teen. In a loving and non-judgmental way, share your concerns with your teenager, letting him or her know what specific signs of depression you’ve noticed.  To get helpful assistance in treating the depression call your doctor, school counselor, mental health professional, or local crisis hotline.
- For questions or additional information please call your **Work-Life** **Advisor **or go to the following link.
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm

_**August**_
_**Book of the Month**_
**Teen Proofing**
- Fostering Responsible Decision Making In Your Teenager
**Author:**
- John Rosemond

- As summer vacations come to an end, students are getting ready for the start of a new school year. As you prepare to send your child to school arm yourself with some helpful information for your child’s health, safety and success.
- Suggestions for dealing with the back-to-schoo**l** blues and first-day nervousness
**http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/back_to_school.html**
- Federal Citizens Information Center
**http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfschool06/focus.htm**
- Staying healthy heading back to school
**http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/back_to_school.html**
- Getting organized
**http://organizedhome.com/content-58.html**
- Connecting with the school counselor
**http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=419**