Ventress Memorial Library


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Ventress Memorial Library

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Our list of teen links is a selectively curated list of quality outside resources of interest to teens for entertainment and reference.

Subjects (Click to jump to section):


Adulting:


College:

General Resources
Paying for College
SAT/ACT Prep

 

General Resources:
  • ACCSC Directory - directory of accredited vocational programs across the U.S.

  • AIE - a public service website developed to help students plan and complete their journey through higher education.

  • Best Colleges - hundreds of independent college rankings.

  • Big Future - a college search tool from College Board.

  • College Navigator - database with up-to-date info from cost, to majors, to enrollment and more from the National Center for Education Statistics.

  • Common Application - a non-profit membership organization of nearly 900 institutions of higher education that connects college applicants to public and private colleges and universities across the U.S. and abroad.

  • Real Work Matters - a resource hub for students who are interested in vocational, trade or technical training.

Paying for College:
SAT/ACT Prep:
  • SAT - learn more about the test, take practice tests, and sign up for the actual test from College Board.

  • Khan Academy - free practice SAT tests and strategies.

  • ACT - learn more about and sign up for the ACT on the official website.

  • Union Test Prep - a free ACT practice exam that you can take multiple times - simply click the "start" button under one of the four practice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, or Science.


Health & Wellness:

Crisis Hotlines
General Health
LGBTQ
Mental Health
Sexual Health
 
Crisis Hotlines:
  • Anti-Violence Project - 212-714-1141 - an English & Spanish, 24-hour, 365-day-a-year crisis intervention hotline staffed by trained volunteers and professional advocates, offering support to LGBTQ & HIV-affected survivors of any type of violence.

  • Crisis Hotlines - a list of multiple hotlines that serve as resources for anyone who is experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, or crisis intervention.

  • Crisis Textline - text HOME to 741741 - will connect you to a trained crisis counselor who will help you move through whatever stress you’re facing until you’ve both decided you’re in a calmer headspace.

  • Love Is Respect866-331-9474 - or text or chat to talk to trained peer advocates are available 24/7/365 to offer education, support and advocacy to teens and young adults, as well as their concerned friends and family members, who have questions or concerns about their dating relationships.

  • National Sexual Assault Hotline - 800-656-HOPE (4673) - trained staff provide confidential support and connect you to resources in your area via phone or live chat.

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 800-273-8255 - provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

  • Safe Horizon 800-621-HOPE (4673) - based in New York City, Safe Horizon's mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities.

  • Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860 - a grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis - for the trans community, by the trans community.

General Health:

  • Girls Health - a website run by the Office on Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Go Ask Alice - supported by a team of Columbia University health promotion specialists, this website aims to provide reliable, accurate, accessible, and culturally competent health information for teens on a wide variety of topics.

  • MyPlate - basic nutrition information for teens from the USDA.

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens - a comprehensive, federally-funded source for science-based information on teen drug abuse and its effects.

  • SafeTeens - a thorough and comprehensive database of all health topics pertaining to teens, SafeTeens is a project of Maternal and Family Health Services Inc, a private non-profit health organization in Pennsylvania that works to meet the health and nutrition needs of women, children and families.

  • Teen Health FX - a thorough resource of health questions by teens answered by experts at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey.

  • Teen Health and Wellness - provides teens with “up-to-date, nonjudgmental, straightforward curricular, and self-help support” on a wide array of health subjects specifically geared towards high school students.

  • Teen Help - a general resource covering a variety of general health topics for teens going through common adolescent development issues.

  • Young Men’s Health - a website developed by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital in order to provide carefully researched health information to teenage boys and young men.

  • Young Women’s Health - a partnership between the Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine and the Division of Gynecology at Boston Children’s Hospital and is committed to providing teen girls and young women with carefully researched health information. 

LGBTQ:
  • BAGLY - the Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth, a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community. 

  • SHAAGLY - the facebook page for the South Shore BAGLY branch - currently meeting virtually every week.

  • LGBT National Help Center - a discreet, thorough and authoritative source of information and links to peer groups and other support lines.

  • LGBT Resources Map - a map of local LGBT groups from the Massachusetts Commission on LGBT Youth.

  • Transgender Health - online resources and gender-affirming, high quality, patient-centered care from Fenway Health in Boston.

  • Trevorspace.org - an affirming online community for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24.

Mental Health:
  • Depression Forums - a depression peer to peer mental Health social community support group with a wide range of discussion forums and blog articles.

  • Getting Started with Mindfulness - a basic overview of mindfulness and its purpose as well as tips and short, recorded guided meditations.

  • Hope Floats - this healing and wellness center hosts support group sessions, called ‘Mike’s Club’ for teens grieving sibling loss or the loss of a parent/caregiver. Support group sessions take place in Kingston and registration information is provided on the website.

  • Medline Plus: Self Harm - a database of teen self harm prevention resources from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

  • Medline Plus: Teen Mental Health - a database of teen mental health resources from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

  • National Alliance on Mental Health and Illness - resources for teens and young adults.

  • OK 2 Talk - a community where teens and young adults struggling with mental health conditions can find a safe place to talk about what they’re experiencing from the National Alliance on Mental Health and Illness.

  • The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know - a short, 2 page infographic on teen brain health and development from the National Institute of Mental Health.

  • Teen Mental Health - high quality, clearly explained mental health information for teens. 

  • Your Life, Your Voice - a comprehensive collection of articles and resources from Boys Town. 

Sexual Health:
  • Scarleteen - provides inclusive and comprehensive information on sex, sexual health, and relationships for teens. This site also features a chat service and message board where volunteers can answer your questions privately.

  • Sex, etc. - includes accurate sexual health and relationship information written by teens and volunteers for teens, a state-by-state guide on teens sexual health rights, sex health videos, and a glossary of over 400 sexual terms.


Money & Employment:

Money
Employment

 

Money:
  • Building your Credit Score - explains what credit and a credit score are, how to build your credit, and why it’s important to create and maintain good credit for your future.

  • Consumer.gov Playlist - a playlist of YouTube videos that are less than 2 minutes long; tips on saving money, having a credit card, and more.

  • Making a Budget - practical tips on how to make your own budget, monitor your expenses, keep track of various bills through a free budget worksheet you can download.

  • Mint.com - an all-in-one finance tracker; use the website or the app.

  • Wallethub.com - an all-in-one finance tracker; use the website or the app.

Employment:
  • Expert Tips for Answering Common Interview Questions - short video playlist from LinkedIn Learning.

  • Jobs for Teens HQ - connects teens to local teen jobs, resume writing tips, job fair information, interviewing best practices, work permit info, volunteering opportunities, labor laws, and other information.

  • My Next Move - an interactive tool for job seekers and students to learn more about different career options with current data and links to real job openings.

  • Reach Hire MA - developed by the University of Massachusetts Medical School with the mission to to support young adults inspired to work, learn, and train, who pursue financial independence as a path to a meaningful life.

  • Resume Builder - an easy-to-use tool from LiveCareer.com that offers a variety of visually appealing layouts and easy-to-insert information tools.

  • Resume Writing for Teens - offers free resume templates for teens in high school and provides the vocabulary you’ll need to promote your skill sets even if you don’t have much formal work experience.

  • Teen Resume Guide - a thorough guide with plenty of examples from the City of Boston.

  • Working as a Minor - explains the child labor laws of Massachusetts and will help you apply for a work permit.


News & Magazines:

  • Girls' Life Magazine - founded in August 1994, GL is dedicated to informing, inspiring and entertaining girls around the globe.

  • Seventeen Magazine - now exclusively online, this longstanding teen publication has the latest on cute hairstyles, celeb news, fun quizzes, beauty advice, teen fashion, and more.

  • Teen Ink Magazine - a national teen magazine devoted entirely to writing, art, and photos by people aged 13-19 since 1989. Teen Ink is devoted to helping teens share their own voices, while developing reading, writing, creative and critical-thinking skills.

  • Teen Graffiti - a project of Teens Reaching Teens, this site shares teen writings, achievements, concerns, and opinions published in their print magazine.

  • The Teen Magazine - founded in 2017, The Teen Magazine started as a blog with a few writers. Since then, it has grown into an international online magazine with over 250 writers from around the world.

  • Teen Vogue Magazine - now exclusively online, the “young person’s guide to conquering (and saving) the world,” Teen Vogue provides resources for teens looking to make a tangible impact in their communities and covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. 

  • YC Teen - founded in 1980, this magazine is by New York City teens who write stories about their experiences and issues that matter in their lives.

  • Youth Voices - a news blog created by young people from around the globe. Contributors aged 15-29 exchange perspectives on events happening in their country or community or issues that affect young people around the world, such as poverty or climate change. 


Online Literacy:

Guides
Playlists
Organizations

 

Guides:
Playlists:
  • Digital Citizenship - a YouTube playlist of original videos from CommonSense Media that feature teen voices and opinions on the internet and social media.

  • Digital Literacy - Ventress Library’s own carefully curated YouTube playlist of short and engaging videos on internet use, privacy, fake news, and more.

  • Navigating Digital Information - a Crash Course series YouTube playlist.

Organizations:
  • Cyberbullying Research Center Blog - facts, figures, and detailed stories from those who have been directly impacted by online aggression, as well as resources to help teens prevent and respond to cyberbullying incidents.

  • News Literacy Project - a national education nonprofit offering nonpartisan programs that teach students how to know what to trust in the digital age.

  • Snopes - the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded as an invaluable research companion.


Outdoor Fun:


Reader’s Advisory:

  • Book Riot - book recommendations, lists, quizzes, and more!

  • Epic Reads - community of YA book lovers, with blog posts, videos, exclusive author interviews, and more!