Staying Healthy When You’re Stretched Thin
Let’s talk about self-care for foster parents, shall we? It’s a hot topic that is beautiful and necessary in theory and often feels impossible in practice. When each day is unpredictable, especially as many of our children deal with night terrors and other nighttime disturbances, how do we find the time and mental, physical, and emotional space to take care of ourselves?Read More
Domestic Violence: Impact on Families, Children, and Communities
The month of October recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness. The one thing that is always true is domestic violence spans across family systems and impacts not only the survivor and their families but for communities, too. No matter the definition, domestic violence is much more than two words.Read More
Suicide Warning Signs
People who are thinking of ending their life often exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do. There usually is not one clear reason for why someone may feel suicidal or that suicide is the only answer to their problems. Suicide is preventable and knowing the warning signs allows us to help those around us who may be feeling hopeless.Read More
Parenting Tips for Suicide Prevention
Suicide is and has been for the last decade, the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. The reasons why suicide occurs are often not well understood, leaving family and friends wondering what could have been done differently. Here are some things you can do as a parent to help your child if there is a concern about suicidal thoughts or actions.Read More
Talking to Students About Suicide
Suicide can be a very difficult topic to discuss. Teachers often feel helpless to prevent student suicide, but they probably underestimate the impact of their words on their students. Honest and caring conversations about suicide can save lives. Not only can students in emotional pain benefit from these talks, but their peers can begin to recognize warning signs among their friends and gain the courage to act.Read More
End of Summer – Slump or Frenzy?
Summer is slowly coming to an end. Many families are experiencing a mixture of feelings, both positive and negative. Some of the positives are a desire for normalcy while some of the negatives include the pressures to finish summer projects. No matter how you are feeling as summer draws to an end, remember, your most important job is to teach your children how to be successful adults.Read More
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping. It may feel like a waste of time, but it may be helpful to think of sleep as an investment in your physical and emotional energy. Sleep gives your brain and body a chance to recover from the day and get ready for tomorrow.Read More
Creating Healthy Relationships
As teenagers and young adults grow up, they may begin to explore romantic relationships. While these are normal milestones for a young adult, it’s important to talk with youth about boundaries and consent, and how they are important in any relationship, platonic or romantic.Read More
The Invisible Bully
Children live in a new age of technology. Communication is mostly done through texting, Facebook messaging, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Cyberbullying can and does exist through each and every one of these platforms. With the Internet, sometimes it’s hard to tell who the source is, making it even harder to shut down the bullying.Read More
Summertime Depression – The “Blues” or Something More?
Seasonal depression, or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), is when someone experiences depressive symptoms during cold winter months. However, some people experience this in reverse and feel symptoms of depression during the summer and spring time. While fun for some, summer can trigger depressive symptoms or make people feel melancholy. So how do you know if you have “summertime blues”, summer SAD, or something more?Read More