Editor’s note: This story was first published in a Pittsburgh’s Public Source neighborhood zine. Look for our printed zines now in Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook and Oakland.
A middle school boy tugging a counselor toward dodgeball.
A teenage girl shaping clay into a burger and hot dog that look almost real.
A volunteer laying out popcorn chicken and mashed potatoes for anyone who’s hungry.
These snapshots show what Brookline Teen Outreach offers — a mix of play, creativity, nourishment and support for the challenges young people face. Founded in 2015, the South Pittsburgh-based nonprofit offers free social programming and educational support to about 270 kids, ages 10 to 18, each year.
Caitlin McNulty, the executive director and founder of Brookline Teen Outreach, said teens are “in a weird stage where you’re either looked at like a small child who doesn’t know anything, or you’re supposed to be an adult and have everything figured out.”
“If you don’t have support systems in place, it’s challenging,” she said.
Today’s teens face unique challenges. They aren’t hanging out with friends as much as they used to — a trend worsened by the pandemic. They’re spending more time on social media, which can harm their mental health. They’ve been exposed to school shootings, racial inequality, climate change and other stressful realities.
In 2019, one-third of surveyed high schoolers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Teens can better navigate these challenges with support from adults. Through its programming, Brookline Teen Outreach provides opportunities for teens to relieve stress, make friends and develop healthy coping strategies. The nonprofit works with Compassionate Counseling, a licensed counseling service, to provide individualized mental health support as needed.
Most of the teens do not receive professional counseling –– some just visit to charge their phone, eat an after-school snack and play a game with friends. But by providing a safe space, the nonprofit aims to make teens feel more comfortable seeking help.
“One of the interesting things that we really see in our space is that kids aren’t on their phones,” McNulty said. “For the most part, they want that separation and that time, and it gives them an opportunity to kind of be grounded in reality and not worry about that for a little bit.”
Kadidja Macina is a student wellness coordinator at Brookline Teen Outreach. As a counselor working toward licensure, she provides non-clinical support to teens who may have behavioral issues or need to be connected to resources.
“A lot of the time, we’re the only place where a student feels like they’re respected. I think adults, especially in the school setting, don’t have a ton of respect for teenagers, and they can feel that,” Macina said.
Going forward, McNulty said Brookline Teen Outreach will continue to strive to empower teens “to be the most authentic, fully acknowledged version of themselves.”
Emma Folts is a freelance reporter for Public Source. She can be reached at info@publicsource.org.
This story was fact-checked by Halle Stockton.
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