Transitioning to Adulthood
It can be challenging for youth and caregivers when the time comes to transition into adulthood and independence. The Child Welfare Information Gateway outlines key areas families can focus on during this transition.
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What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care is becoming increasingly common in health, education, and social services as we better understand how past experiences shape brain development and daily functioning. Its goal is to support individuals in healing from trauma through approaches that promote long-term emotional and behavioral wellbeing.
Four Steps to Letting Go
2020 brought unprecedented challenges to mental health, mindset, and overall wellbeing. As we move forward, it’s important to reflect on the highs and lows, including how we coped with struggles. The Four Steps to Letting Go can help support a healthier mindset moving into a new year.
10 Things You Can Do for Someone Struggling with Depression
When a loved one is dealing with depression, it's important to understand what they may be going through and what actions you can take to show your care and support. Understanding their feelings of depression may start with you asking a few questions and taking note of changes in their behavior.
Caution: Being Charitable May Cause Side Effects
Even the smallest gifts like waving to your neighbor, or paying for the person's food behind you can make a tremendous impact. It is true that in the act of being charitable, one always receives far more than one gives. Pass it on!
Maintaining Relationships through Respectful Conversations
Today's world comes with its fair share of challenges which can make it difficult to connect with one another. Active listening, processing out loud, and accepting things we cannot change are techniques we can use to help us communicate in respectful and productive ways.
Minnesota Is Waiting for Families
In Minnesota there are 733 children waiting for families. Foster families play a critical role as many children in foster care have experienced trauma during their critical developmental years.
Empathy Is Essential in Residential Treatment
We are quick to judge parents, even when we don’t know the backstory. In residential treatment, we work hard to recognize the parent’s effort in trying to find help for their child, no matter how they show up throughout the treatment process.
Why Is Caregiver Involvement Important in Child Therapy?
It is very important for the caregiver to be involved in their child's therapy. As the caregiver you provide the most treatment, your therapist needs your input, and the therapists are here to support you.
One Cup at a Time
The Cornerstone Café serves as a vocational program of Nexus-Onarga Family Healing where youth in residence build real-world skills by applying, interviewing, training and working at the café.
Rewriting the Story
Fostering or adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences as you help a child rewrite the story of their future. We sat down with Melissa Moore, a foster and adoptive parent, to ask her what rewriting the story means to her and her family.
Fostering Hope
It can be easy to mislabel foster youth, but it’s important to recognize the trauma and loss they often carry—and their resilience in navigating it. Foster parenting goes far beyond providing basic needs; it’s about supporting emotional growth, validating experiences, and helping children feel seen, valued, and worthy.
Supporting a Child Exposed to Trauma
We know more about childhood trauma and its effect on the developing child than we ever have before. The resiliency of the developing brain provides an opportunity for us to intervene and provide healthy, safe, and nurturing experiences that grow the brain and help heal.
What is Childhood Trauma?
One in four children experiences a traumatic event before age 16. Trauma differs from everyday stress in that it involves a real or perceived threat, an overwhelming sense of fear or helplessness, and a strong physical stress response such as rapid heart rate, shaking, or increased breathing.
Life after Foster Care
With celebrations, graduation parties, and college preparations underway, many young adults are eager to leave home and step into new independence. In doing so, they may not always recognize the support systems that have helped them along the way. For youth in foster care, this transition can look very different.
Building New Families through Foster Care
The idea of becoming a foster parent can bring both excitement and uncertainty. In a podcast episode, a foster parent and social worker share their experiences to help ease concerns and offer insight into building families through foster care.
Fishing for Health
Sport fishing is central to the Mille Lacs Lake area and offers more than just recreation. Beyond fresh air and relaxation, fishing can support mental health, strengthen relationships, and provide space for self-care, helping reduce stress, ease anxiety, and improve overall mood.
Talking to Children about Difficult Topics or Events
While adults often try to shield children from difficult topics, it’s not always helpful—especially when they’re already exposed to real-life events. In these moments, open conversations are important to help children process, understand, and make sense of what’s happening around them.
The Top Five Myths of Foster Care
There are many myths about becoming foster parents. Some of these myths may even stop an amazing potential foster family from inquiring because they don’t believe they would qualify. We’re here today to debunk what tend to be the top five myths of foster care and set the record straight!
The Elements of Wellbeing
We all share the same fundamental needs to wellbeing regardless of who we are. These five universal needs are equally important and interconnected and if one need is lacking or having a negative impact on another, our wellbeing is out of whack.
5 Things to Know if Your Family Is New to Telehealth Therapy
Telehealth therapy offers real-time, two-way communication with a therapist through technology, providing continuity of care for individuals, couples, and families. It’s a flexible option for those seeking support for depression, anxiety, or stress.
When Does Your Child Need Professional Mental Health Care
Adolescents experience a wide range of emotions and behaviors, making it hard to define what’s “normal.” While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, understanding key warning signs can help parents recognize when it may be time to seek support from a mental health professional.
Parent Resources
Nexus is committed to involving families in the treatment process. That includes providing information and resources to help you better understand your child's mental health and family needs during this time.
Talking to Your Kid about Their Drug or Alcohol Problem
Many parents may not recognize signs of substance use right away, and problems can develop before concerns arise. Teens often hide their use, while parents may underestimate the risk—highlighting the importance of awareness, open communication, and early intervention.
Resources provided through our website are informational in nature and not meant to take the place of consulting your physician, mental health professional, or other qualified health providers regarding your well-being or the well-being of others.