June 2022

By John Verdejo, 6/16/22, https://positiveexperience.org/category/blog/ Sunday, June 19 th is a day of celebrating both freedom and fathers. In part, Juneteenth honors Black children and families, including fathers, who were separated from each other during Slavery. The freedom to have a family and to raise children is fundamental to HOPE. Although racism still affects the ability for Black families to access the Four Building Blocks equitably, the team at the HOPE National Resource Center...

We know that 200,000 teen girls give birth every year in the U.S., but what about the other half of the equation – the 200,000 fathers? Unfortunately, only about 33 percent of fathers under 18 stick around to help raise the child. When you consider that 70% of those teen moms don’t graduate – it’s not hard to imagine why. For Father’s Day, we are spotlighting one teen dad who takes his role seriously and is actively parenting his child. Meet Ricky C., 19, who brings his 4-month-old son to...

By John Verdejo, 6/16/22, https://positiveexperience.org/category/blog/ Sunday, June 19 th is a day of celebrating both freedom and fathers. In part, Juneteenth honors Black children and families, including fathers, who were separated from each other during Slavery. The freedom to have a family and to raise children is fundamental to HOPE. Although racism still affects the ability for Black families to access the Four Building Blocks equitably, the team at the HOPE National Resource Center...

After more tha n two years of a deadly pandemic, a racial reckoning laying bare gross inequities, historic environmental catastrophes, and record-breaking gun violence and mental health challenges, could the first known national study of “What Happened to You?,” by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey, help us heal our collective trauma, one relationship and community at a time? That’s the question Carey Sipp, PACEs Connection director of strategic partnerships, hopes will be answered with a...

By Raquel Torres, Photo: Nick Wagner/San Antonio Report, San Antonio Report, June 12, 2022 Celeste Ibarra, mother of 9-year-old Aubriella Melchor, has witnessed her daughter deteriorating since the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School. Aubriella hid in a bathroom stall as the gunman walked past and began shooting. Now, Ibarra said her daughter hardly eats or sleeps, and when she does sleep, she has nightmares of the gunman coming after her. She said she still hears the echoes of the...

By Sophie J. Balk, MD, FAAP, HealthyChildren.org Many parents know that very loud noise can hurt kids' hearing. With more kids and teens using personal listening devices like headphones and earbuds for music, videos and classes, it's especially important to be aware of sound that's too loud. It's also important to know that too-noisy environments can have harmful effects that go beyond hearing. Read on to learn more. [ Please click here to continue reading about the effects of environmental...

The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project offers a series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills. The project was born of an innovative partnership between the state of California and the Child Mind Institute. Please click here to learn more and access the resources! Also available in Spanish!

Original post in Children's Bureau Express Whether a caregiver is a birth, foster, adoptive, or grandparent, the role can be as challenging as it is rewarding. The stress associated with caregiving can lead to burnout, which can adversely affect relationships and one's capacity to provide care. Alia released Caregivers Guide to Wellbeing to highlight the importance of self-care and support and inspire caregivers—including those caring for children or adults—by providing them with the...

There are protections in federal law, collectively known as “parity,” which are designed to ensure that certain types of health plans cover mental and substance use disorders no less generously than they cover other health issues. This resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can guide you to helpful materials and places. Please click here to access the resource.

Building knowledge, strategies and tools for thriving educators, families and children Arizona is in the midst of a trauma crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood trauma has now reached the level of a public health crisis. What’s more, Arizona ranks highest in the nation for victims who have experienced two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). To make matters worse, certain population cohorts are two and three times more likely to have multiple...

By Jessica Grose, Image by Davin G Photography/Getty Images The New York Times, June 11, 2022 Lately, I’ve been saying that my level of burnout feels like “Covid of the soul.” Which is to say I mostly feel normal, and that we’ve gradually been able to ease back into the rhythms of our prepandemic life, but there remains a residual exhaustion, partly psychic, that I haven’t had time to fully resolve. There are some days when my alarm goes off and the first thought that occurs to me is: I...

Wednesday, June 22, 2022 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET A family-centered approach reflects an understanding and responsiveness to the fact that parents and children live within the context of a larger family system and services must respond to the needs of each family member and the family system to achieve the best outcomes. Children with actively involved fathers have better outcomes. i Engaging fathers in services for families affected by substance use disorders, particularly in the perinatal...