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Why Join PTA/PTSA?

Your PTA/PTSA membership connects you to National PTA and NYS PTA

  • Your advocacy voice will be heard in Washington DC and in Albany

  • Join like-minded adults and students who care about your education and wellbeing

  • Participate in making decisions regarding your own education

  • Utilize PTA as an open forum to discuss student needs

  • Speak for yourself and on behalf of your fellow students

  • Be in the know as to happenings in your school

  • You can be elected for officer positions (president and treasurer only 18 and older)

  • You can also serve on the PTA/PTSA Board and serve on or chair committees

PTA/PTSA involvement can help you gain leadership skills such as:

  • Goal setting and conflict resolution

  • How to run a meeting according to parliamentary procedures

  • Strengthen your decision-making skills

  • Become comfortable with public speaking

#PTAneedsYOUth

Join Today!

You can make a difference by joining today! Remember, we can do more together than apart.

NYS PTA Awards and Programs

NYS PTA Awards:

Jenkins Memorial Scholarship for Teacher Education: Available for graduating seniors pursuing a career in education.

Susanne Smoller Commitment to Advocacy Youth Award:   Will be awarded to one high school senior to encourage them to pursue post-secondary education or training and to continue their active engagement in advocacy in the areas of HIV/AIDS, the LGBTQ+ community, mental health, social justice or substance use.

Youth Humanitarian Award in Memory of Stanley Marcus: Recognizes a high school senior or junior who exemplifies humanitarianism.

NYS PTA Programs:

Pick A Reading Partners Award: Recognizes outstanding PARP program at the region and state levels.

Reflections Theme Search: Each year students throughout the state have the opportunity to submit their ideas for future Reflections Program themes. Five NYS PTA state winners are chosen and forward to National PTA for the Theme Search Contest.

Scholarship Resources

Contact your local PTA Unit, Council and/or Region for information regarding PTA scholarships.

NYS Excelsior Scholarship

Scholarship Guide for Black Students

Scholarship Guide for Hispanic Students

Scholarship Guide for Asian Students

Native American Scholarships

MoneyGeek – scholarship search tool

Scholarships.com – Free College Scholarship Search

College Scholarships.com

Contact your school’s guidance counselor for information regarding local scholarships.

SUICIDE
National Suicide Prevention Hotline800-273-TALK (8255)HTTP://WWW.SUICIDEPREVENTIONLIFELINE.ORG/
24-hour National Suicide Crisis Hotline:
Automatically directs call to nearest crisis center
800-SUICIDEHTTP://WWW.HOPELINE.COM/
Hopeline: Speak to a trained volunteer800-442-HOPE (4673)HTTP://WWW.HOPELINE.COM/
Hopeline: Teen to teen peer counseling877-YOUTHLINEHTTP://WWW.HOPELINE.COM/
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health America: Refers to local mental health services or support programs800-969-NMHA (6642)HTTP://WWW.MENTALHEALTHAMERICA.NET/
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Support, information, and referrals800-950-NAMI (6264)HTTP://WWW.NAMI.ORG/
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance800-826-3632HTTP://WWW.DBSALLIANCE.ORG/
Boys Town National HotlineSupport for young people and families going through difficulties800-448-3000HTTP://WWW.BOYSTOWN.ORG/HOTLINE
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder802-296-6300HTTP://WWW.PTSD.VA.GOV/
Postpartum Support International800-994-4PPD (4773)HTTP://POSTPARTUM.NET/
   
ABUSE
National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-SAFE (7233)HTTP://WWW.THEHOTLINE.ORG/
National Sexual Assault Hotline800-656-HOPE (4673)HTTP://WWW.RAINN.ORG/
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)HTTP://WWW.CHILDHELP.ORG/
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
CDC National AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Disease HotlineInformation & referral800-342-2437HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/STD/
American Social Health Association STD Hotline800-227-8922HTTP://WWW.ASHASEXUALHEALTH.ORG/
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPPORT
National Clearinghouse Alcohol & Drug Abuse hotline800-729-6686http://www.samhsa.gov/
Al-Anon and AlaTeen: meeting information for teens and families888-425-2666
888-4AL-ANON
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
   
RUNAWAY
National Runaway Safeline800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929)HTTP://WWW.1800RUNAWAY.ORG/
EATING DISORDERS
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders847-831-3438HTTP://WWW.ANAD.ORG/
National Eating Disorders Association Information and Referral Helpline:Support for people struggling with eating disorders and their family800-931-2237HTTP://WWW.NATIONALEATINGDISORDERS.ORG/
OTHER
National Center for Victims of Crime800-FYI-CALL (394-2255)HTTP://WWW.VICTIMSOFCRIME.ORG/
Anti-Hate Line: Discrimination support and resource referral800-649-0404 
Teen Health QuestionsLucile Packard Children’s Hospital Teen Resource Line offers confidential health information888-711-TEEN
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