Adolescence can be a tough time for everybody: adolescents themselves, their parents and all adults who care about seeing young people make the transition into adulthood. Michael Nerney, who has been working with adolescents for more than 39 years, will share his insights on the issue at the next Cazenovia Forum on Friday, November 15.
Nerney’s presentation, “The Adolescent Brain: What Parents Need to Know”, will examine research linking adolescent brain development with the ability of adolescents to successfully engage in future planning and appropriate decision making. Research has shown that adolescents are actively interested in two aspects of their future: the education/career/ family track, and the social/emotional track. New research on adolescent brain development provides adults who work with adolescents more effective tools and approaches in helping them acquire knowledge and skills for problem solving, decision making, and successful future planning.
Nerney, who has four children of his own, taught and coached at the junior and senior high school levels for 12 years. He then spent four years as a chemical dependency counselor and director of the Drug Abuse prevention council in Hamilton County, NY. In 1984, he joined the staff of Narcotic and Drug Research, Inc., where he was director and now serves as a consultant. His areas of expertise include psychopharmacology, adolescent chemical dependency, and managing violent incidents. He also worked with the U.S. Department of Justice on the research and development of presentations to aid communities in their response to the current opioid crisis. This work led to the development of the Department of Justice documentary “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict.”
The presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Cazenovia College’s Catherine Cummings Theater, Lincklaen Street, Cazenovia, NY. Admission is free, reservations are not necessary and audience members are invited to a reception following the program.