JTeen Creates Safe Spaces for Parents in the Age of Social Media
August 22, 2025
Parenting has never been easy. But for today’s parents of teens, raising kids in a world of constant connectivity, comparison, and curated perfection brings a whole new level of challenge. JTeen and BeWellATL are partnering together to help parents feel more connected and empowered.
“Of course we think about how social media affects teens,” said Amy Fox, Parent Engagement Manager for JTeen. “But it’s also affecting parents — making us feel like everyone else’s family is perfect while we’re struggling behind the scenes.”
It’s a reality Amy hears often in her work. Parents tell her they want a place where they can be real — a space to speak openly about their fears, frustrations, and the everyday battles of homework, morning routines, and mood swings without the pressure to pretend everything is fine.
That’s where JTeen steps in. A Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta initiative, JTeen has become a hub for parents and teens alike, offering programs that blend expert guidance with authentic connection. Every JTeen event now includes BeWellATL, a collaboration between Federation and JF&CS that ensures mental health is at the forefront for pre-teens through adults in their mid-20s. Psychologists, parent coaches, and other specialists help families navigate topics from executive functioning to anxiety — equipping parents with the tools to support their teens and themselves.
The impact is clear. Recent gatherings have drawn large crowds of parents eager for insight and community. At a program led by psychologist Dr. Betsy Stone, parents were reminded that their role isn’t to make their children happy every moment, but to raise resilient young adults they’d want to know as peers someday.
Amy says, “The event was very positively received, reinforcing both parenting skills and Jewish community connection. Parents left with tangible strategies and a stronger sense of support. Requests centered on more time, more resources, and structured follow-up opportunities (especially mental health and parent support groups).”
One parent noted “I think we all struggle with wanting to help our teens grow into confident, compassionate, resilient Jewish adults, and feeling uncertain if we are doing it ‘right’. Mental health concerns have skyrocketed, especially after COVID. These groups help parents feel connected, share stories, and know we are not alone.”
These moments of truth, Fox says, are what keep parents coming back. “Every time they come, they walk away with a nugget of information and the feeling of being seen,” she explained. “That’s huge when you’re raising teens — because it can be the most invisible stage of parenting.”
Looking ahead, JTeen is expanding this work through a new Neighborhood Connector Network. Inspired by the PJ Library Connector model, these trained community members will organize small, local gatherings in living rooms, coffee shops, and community centers — making support accessible to parents across the Atlanta metro area.
For Federation donors, this work is a living example of the impact area of Jewish engagement. By strengthening parents today, JTeen is helping raise the next generation of Jewish Atlanta — resilient teens with proud Jewish identities, supported by families who feel connected to their community.
“When parents feel supported and confident,” Fox said, “that confidence trickles down to their teens. And that’s how we help nurture and grow the future of Jewish Atlanta.”