In my last blog on teen driving, I discussed Georgia's graduated driver's license process for those ages 15-18. There are a lot of specific rules and requirements, but what does this mean practically speaking?

One important take away for parents is that regardless of your child's age, the restrictions associated with an Intermediate Provisional License, or a "Class D" license, are based on the class of the license and not the age of the driver. The Class D license is the license your child gets after they graduate from a learner's permit but are not given the full privileges, of a "Class C" license (which is what we as adults have).

This becomes problematic when teens who are 18 years old do not take the steps to apply for a full, class C license. They may believe that because of their age the curfew restrictions and passenger requirements do not apply. However, if they do not abide by these rules and are stopped by law enforcement, they could be given a citation and then have to face the hassle of going to juvenile court.

Medical Amnesty---what does this mean and why should parents care? Georgia’s Medical Amnesty law was passed back in April 2014, but many parents I work with are not fully aware of the law and its potential positive impact.  Since we are in the thick of summer, where teen party-going tends to be more prevalent, let me take a minute to share with you some details about this law.
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Georgia’s Medical Amnesty law protects people who call 911 to seek medical attention for a person who may have overdosed on drugs or alcohol. Neither the person calling 911, nor the victim of the overdose can be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for small amounts of drugs, alcohol or drug paraphernalia when evidence of the crime was found due to an individual seeking medical assistance.

Parents are the ultimate teachers. From a young age, our kids are watching us, modeling our behaviors, and looking to us for answers on how to navigate life. No pressure, right?
 
As a parent and attorney who works with parents, I have found learning how to provide these answers to our kids is critical. Education is huge, whether understanding social media and technology to be on a level playing field with our teens, learning the risks associated with prescription drug abuse, or even knowing how to deal with law enforcement.
 
When it comes to teaching our children how to interact with police officers, parents tend to fall into a few different camps. Some do not think it is applicable and are oblivious to the notion that their child could have an encounter with the police. Others may feel that embracing this topic is introducing and even condoning the topic of misconduct and should be left alone. Others feel it is necessary or even vital for our kids to be equipped with this knowledge. And I wholeheartedly agree with this last point of view—knowledge is a powerful tool.

Happy Friday! I am excited to introduce you to Vicki Steine with Your Healthy Structure! I also want to explain a change in our "Friday Feature" segment schedule. We have been busy at Boortz Law with juvenile court and school board hearings, so will now feature incredible youth-focused professionals on the fourth Friday of the month. We are always accepting nominations!

Today, meet Vicki Steine--a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Doctorate in Holistic Nutrition. Vicki is passionate about working with our youth, and specializes in working with children who have ADHD, bi-polar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression. She is in private practice with offices all around the Atlanta area and has also worked in addiction for many years. Vicki explains that she combines “talking” therapy skills with lifestyle changes around good food, sleep, exercise, spirituality and community. She also uses “mind-body” techniques like mindfulness and visualization to help people find peace. I know you will enjoy her insight as well as her perspective in serving our youth and their families.