Resource Center | Nexus Family Healing

Engaging Children in Difficult Conversations

Our first instinct as adults is to protect children from information deemed as “too difficult to understand.” While this is true when the information serves no purpose, children need to discuss life events so they can appropriately make sense out of what is happening. When done with real intent and thoughtfulness, talking about current events provides the opportunity to help children develop critical thinking skills, as well as provides the chance to educate and encourage appropriate action in terms of diversity, ending racism and supporting community.

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Adoption Necessities

Through the journey of knowledge, bravery, and strength, the child and adoptive family make a significant and meaningful impact on one another. The child and adoptive family allow for vulnerability in getting to know each other and open their hearts to begin a new chapter together.

Talking to Your Child About Domestic Violence

At Nexus Family Healing, we serve youth and families who have often either been victims of and/or witnessed domestic violence. For a parent/caregiver who was the victim of intimate partner violence, navigating how to handle it with your children can be extremely tough.

Keeping Your Oxygen Mask On

It’s second nature to put our children’s needs before our own. But that is a surefire path to burnout. Taking care of yourself so you have the resources to be a healthy and effective parent is so important.

The Burnout Beast

Burnout is common in many fields and can creep up unexpectedly. When it does, remind yourself why you do what you do, challenge yourself to start a new hobby, take mindful breaks from work, and seek support in friends, coworkers, and supervisors.

Helping Youth Navigate Election Stress

With the school year underway, kids face typical stressors—plus, every four years, the added tension of a U.S. presidential election. Hearing strong opinions can create new emotional challenges, making it important to help them navigate difficult or uncomfortable conversations.

A Responder’s Perspective on Suicide Prevention

Working with youth experiencing suicidality is a routine part of my role as a family responder. While parents are often the first to support their child’s mental health, they don’t always have the same tools as professionals—so I often share key guidance based on what I’ve learned working with families.

How To Identify and Address Bullying

Childhood bullying is a near universal experience with 1 in 5 children encountering it it at some point. To help our children navigate this, it is crucial to engage in candid discussions about various bullying types and effective coping strategies.

Hope Notes: A Small Surprise to Boost Your Child’s Mental Health

With the school year underway, kids may feel everything from excitement to anxiety. One simple way to support them is by sending a small note of encouragement in their backpack or lunchbox—a comforting surprise during their day.

Hope Notes for Back-to-School

With school in full swing, let your child know that you are thinking of them with our hope notes down below, which can be cut out and placed in their lunch box, backpack, book, or wherever you think seeing it will brighten their day!

You can also be creative and make your own notes! Write a fond memory, a poem or haiku, a joke your child will like, a doodle, or a little reminder of something fun you and your child have planned that week.

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Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Month, an opportunity to focus on the prevalence of suicide in our communities and talk about steps we can all take to support mental health and suicide prevention. Learn more about the warning signs and what you can do to help.

Supporting Your Student’s Mental Health in the Classroom

When a student is facing a mental health challenge, teachers often walk a fine line of providing support while being cautious to not overstep boundaries. So, what should teachers do if they observe a student struggling with a mental health issue?

Poetry Slam

From acrostic to free verse, a variety of poetic styles help us explore our feelings with freedom and confidence.

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Daily Reflection

Use this sheet to check in on yourself and reflect on the things that support your mental health and well-being each day.

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Finding Inspiration in Textiles

Knitting, embroidery, quilting, and other textile hobbies can be incredibly beneficial for mental health. The repetitive motions and focus create a calming experience that can reduce stress and anxiety. This form of art fosters creativity, offering a sense of accomplishment and pride as you see your work come together.

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Supporting Your Student’s Mental Health in the Classroom

Teachers have a profound impact in the classroom, both in how they educate and in how they support their students’ growth. When a student is facing a mental health challenge, teachers often walk a fine line of providing support while being cautious to not overstep boundaries. So, what should teachers do if they observe a student struggling with a mental health issue? This resource shares seven steps to best support the student and their family.

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How You – and Your Employer – Can Tackle Caregiver Burnout

Over the past few years, individuals in the caregiving field have been experiencing an alarming increase in feelings of high stress and burnout. What is burnout and how can employers help to prevent employee burnout?

Talking to Your Teen

You heard this would happen. Your little snuggler, your “mini-me” has become a teen. Attempting to engage with them now may elicit a series of grunts and groans, or seemingly thoughtless one-word answers. Try these techniques to help you reconnect with your teen and keep the lines of communication open.

Creating Coping Skills

Arts and recreation activities build skills that can help young people by providing a sense of community, building connections, creating purpose and meaning, helping to process trauma and become more resilient. All important tools in preventing suicide and building resilient mental health in youth.

Mindful Breathing with Bubbles

Taking a moment to focus on your breath can help reduce anxiety and improve your mindset. One great way to practice mindful breathing and slowing down your breath is through blowing bubbles. Try this exercise!

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Cultivating Workplace Kindness

Everyone wants to be treated with kindness. And yet as adults, many people don’t experience kindness in their workplace. Kindness often comes with barriers that make it inconvenient. An easy way to identify your kindness skills is to see how your actions align with the three levels of kindness.

Traumatic Stress in Children and PTSD

Trauma is pervasive and has a broad and diverse impact, and deeply affects how the youth we serve approach the services we provide. If done incorrectly, social services can re-traumatize those they are trying to help, which is why being trauma-informed is so crucial in every part of social services.

Using the 5 Senses to Support Your Child’s Mental Health

As we enter another school year, parents, caregivers, teachers, and others need to be aware of the different ways children communicate. One way to “hear” what a child is nonverbally communicating is by analyzing the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.

Busting Your Child’s Summer Boredom

For parents of school-aged children, the phrase “I’m bored” can crop up in the middle of summer. Trying to fill your child’s time may add stress or anxiety to your already busy schedule. Check out these four tips on how to help bridge your child's boredom.

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.