Health education project launches tool to strengthen parenting skills

Research has consistently shown that nurturing an open and honest relationship with teenagers can significantly enhance their mental health. With this in mind, the Puerto Rico en Óptima Salud (PROSa) project is proud to present the book “40 Images and Reflections to Connect with Your Teenager”. This free digital resource is a powerful tool for parents and caregivers of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years, designed to facilitate effective communication and foster the positive development of youth.

“Our youth have a lot to say. They have concerns, they are aware of the world around them and the profound and rapid changes that affect us; they have questions but also ideas and solutions. From the perspective of positive youth development, it is necessary to include young people in the development of practices and policies so that they are effective, especially when they are directed at them,” explained Samaris Vega, who directs the PROSa program together with Dr. Edna Acosta Pérez.

The book covers five topics related to the optimal health of adolescents: socio-emotional health, physical health, safe spaces for reflection, self-care and recreation, sexual education with a broad perspective, and cultural health accepting diverse identities. To create the content, the Photo Voice technique was used, a participatory research methodology that integrates photos and narratives as a strategy to connect, investigate, share experiences, and provoke possible solutions to the concerns and challenges youth face.

“This book is the result of a three-year collaborative effort involving over 100 young people from various municipalities of Puerto Rico, who served as co-researchers for the project. To encourage reflection, the book also includes five activities designed to foster connection with adolescents and promote dialogue between generations,” added Dr. Rosa Corrada, leader of the Photo Voice Project. This tool is freely available for download on the site conectacontuadolescente.org, which also provides guidance capsules and practical advice for parents and caregivers.

The initiative is a continuation of the campaign “Hablar de sexo está de madre y padre: conecta con tu adolescente”, which was developed to provide resources to parents and caregivers to initiate and maintain a constructive dialogue with their children, facilitating the understanding of their sexuality and the adoption of healthy practices. The launch is part of PROSa’s commitment to implement evidence-based practices that support the well-being and optimal health of young people while working to reduce pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among this population. 

PROSa is a health education program implemented by Samaris Vega and Dr. Edna Acosta from Grupo Nexos in close collaboration with the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers, the Moroveña Prevention Coalition, and Urban Strategies.