Healthy Petaluma Introduces Free Youth & Technology Education Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PETALUMA, CALIF., September 15, 2025 - Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation is engaging ScreenSense and Generation Remix to host a free Youth and Technology Speaker Series. The series offers parents, caregivers and youth expert guidance and practical tools for navigating technology at every stage—from elementary school recommendations, to setting healthy cell phone boundaries in middle school, to helping high school students think critically about technology as they gain independence.
Covering screen time, emotional well-being and real-world connections, the educational series provides actionable strategies for the whole family. Community members are welcome to attend in person or view online. Spanish translation services will be provided for online attendees. Light snacks and free childcare will also be provided for in-person attendees. Registration is encouraged to reserve a spot—only an email address is required, and no personal information will be collected.
In addition to the elementary and middle school sessions for parents and youth, Healthy Petaluma and Generation Remix will present youth-led educational sessions at all Petaluma City Schools high school campuses, including Casa Grande, Petaluma, and St. Vincent de Paul. These sessions will address the impact of social media and the importance of digital literacy using a peer-to-peer approach.
“Technology and social media are part of today's world, but they bring real risks for young people,” said Healthy Petaluma CEO Ramona Faith. “Families and educators are asking for guidance in a safe space, because how kids use technology affects their health, well-being, and relationships. That's why we're committed to giving families practical strategies to find balance in our elementary and middle school sessions, and we’re also excited to bring these conversations to local high schools in a unique peer-to-peer format later this year.”
The three-part series created for elementary, middle and high school audiences includes:
SESSION 1 - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Taking Phones Slowly. Together.
Designed to support parents and guardians as they navigate when and how to introduce technology to children. Attendees will learn practical strategies for setting a healthy foundation for kids’ tech use from a young age.
When: October 15, 2025, 5:00 refreshments; 5:30-6:30 pm program
Where: Blue Zones Project Petaluma, 8 4th St, Petaluma, CA
Who Should Attend: Elementary school parents and caregivers
SESSION 2 - MIDDLE SCHOOL
Social Media — What It Is and How to Reel It In.
Features strategies to help set healthier boundaries around social media and reduce potential harm, including ways for adults to work together to ease peer pressure. Middle school students will have the opportunity to participate in breakout groups led by high school students.
When: October 22, 2025, 5:00 refreshments; 5:30-6:30 pm program
Where: Blue Zones Project Petaluma, 8 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Who Should Attend: Middle school parents, caregivers and students
RSVP to attend either session in-person or via Zoom:
tinyurl.com/HPP-Events
SESSION 3 - HIGH SCHOOL
Digital Literacy — Learning From Each Other
Peer-led sessions will help high school students think critically about technology, social media and digital balance as they gain independence. With support from Generation Remix, students will participate in youth-led assemblies and classroom discussions on campus during the school day. Programming will address how social media impacts mental health, relationships and school life, while also offering practical tools for balancing screen time with real-world connections.
When: Sessions to be held on campus during the school day (Fall 2025/Winter 2026)
Where: Petaluma City Schools high schools and St. Vincent de Paul High School
Who Should Attend: High school students
Blue Zones Project Petaluma and Petaluma Educational Foundation are supporting the Series as partners and collaborators to help advance community wellness.
“By working together, parents, students, educators and community partners can ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, the well-being of Petaluma’s youth, added Faith. “This series is one step toward building healthier digital habits and stronger real-world connections.”
About Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation
Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation (formerly Petaluma Health Care District) is a community-owned and -operated agency comprising a special district and a 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all members of southern
Sonoma County. Its vision is a healthier community with equitable access to comprehensive health and wellness services. The district has ensured access to local acute care and emergency services and has served southern Sonoma County’s health and wellness needs since 1946. For more information, visit healthypetaluma.org and follow Healthy Petaluma on Facebook and Instagram.
About ScreenSense
ScreenSense helps parents, caregivers, and TK-8th grade schools implement and manage the guardrails and guidance needed to keep digital tech in check, through online resources, parent-ed events and community building. They facilitate conversations around tech use and offer support to implement phone-free school policies. Their vision is for families and communities to raise young people who are safe, balanced, and critical consumers of digital tech, and have ample time to cultivate their own senses of wonder and connectedness to nature, people, and the world around them. ScreenSense is a fiscally sponsored project of MarinLink, a California nonprofit. For more information, visit https://www.screensense.org/.
About Generation Remix
Generation Remix helps youth lead a digital wellbeing movement through peer-to-peer programming. Generation Remix supports teens in designing and leading programs that help youth have critical conversations about the potential health risks of technology and encourage them to spend more quality time offline. Older youth serve as mentors and influencers to younger youth, capitalizing on the social influence near-peers have to drive healthy habits and a commitment to digital wellbeing. Generation Remix is based in Marin County, CA but makes its resources widely accessible beyond the Bay Area. It is a fiscally sponsored project of GVNGorg, a California nonprofit. For more information, visit https://generationremix.org/.
# # #