Youth First Arms Parents with Online Safety Strategies for Kids

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“Parenting in a Digital World” to Take Place at Mitchell High School; Open to Local Parents and Community Leaders

[Mitchell, IN] On Thursday, April 2, Youth First is hosting a community event to arm parents with online safety strategies and proper social media use for kids. The presentation begins at 6:00 pm in the Mitchell High School cafeteria with refreshments provided. The media is invited.

The Youth First presentation, called Parenting in a Digital World, focuses on how to keep children safe online and with social media use. Presenting speaker is Laura Keys, LCSW, LCPC-S, Vice President of Programs & Services at Youth First. Keys will explore the digital environments young people encounter every day and highlight risks associated with social media use, the platforms and apps most popular with youth, the most concerning digital trends, and practical strategies for keeping kids safe online.

This community event is hosted by Youth First and Mitchell Community Schools and is sponsored by the Lawrence County Local Coordinating Council and Hoosier Uplands. Refreshments will be provided by El Compadre Mexican Restaurant and the Spring Mill State Park Inn.

Parents, caregivers, and community leaders are invited. Specifically, this presentation will engage parents of middle and high school students from Mitchell and Bedford schools.

Youth First’s mission of strengthening youth and families ensures mental health support for students in partner schools and bonding programs for families in the community. Across its service footprint, Youth First partners with over 130 schools in 14 Indiana counties to embed substance misuse prevention programs and over 100 skilled mental health professionals in school buildings, where they provide caring mental health support for students and prevention coaching for parents and teachers. Youth First Mental Health Professionals build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency, along with other valuable life skills.

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The Power of a Simple Conversation

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By Diane Moesner, MSW, LCSW – March 25, 2026 –

Talking to your child every day is one of the most powerful investments a parent can make.  Daily conversations do more than exchange information; they also build trust, emotional security, and a lifelong habit of communication. 

It’s a great feeling when these daily exchanges become so expected by your child that they start asking you the questions before you even get to ask them.  When children know they can talk to you regularly, they are more likely to share their thoughts, worries, successes, and struggles as they grow. These seemingly small everyday moments really lay the foundation for stronger relationships through the teenage years and into young adulthood.

Consistent conversation helps children feel seen and valued. When an adult takes time to listen, it sends the message that the child’s thoughts and feelings matter. This sense of importance helps strengthen self-esteem and emotional resilience. Children who feel heard are often better able to manage emotions, solve problems, and form healthy relationships with others. These daily moments of connection also give parents insight into their child’s world, making it easier to notice when changes in behavior, mood, or needs happen quickly.

Conversations do not have to be long or deep to matter. Small moments count, and consistency is important. Simple, open-ended questions can open big doors. 

Instead of asking “How was school?”, which often leads to a one-word answer, try asking:

  • “What was the best part of your day?”
  • “Did anything surprise you today?”

Some additional simple starters are:

  • “What made you laugh today?”
  • “What was something tricky you dealt with today?”
  • “If today had a title, what would it be?”

Be prepared to answer these questions about your day as well and share a little about yourself with your child. If the conversation feels stuck or your child is slower to warm up to the idea, you can start by saying:

  • “Something that challenged me today was…”
  • “I felt proud when…”

This side of the conversation shows that talking about feelings is normal and safe. Children often open up more when they are included in a two-way conversation rather than being interviewed.

To get your child excited about this part of the day, consistency and creativity matter.  Choose a regular time, such as during dinner, bedtime or a car ride, so conversation becomes a comforting part of the routine rather than a surprise demand. Make it relaxed and judgment-free.  If children sense that they won’t be criticized or rushed, they are more likely to participate willingly.

Turning conversations into something fun can also help, especially when just starting and the conversation isn’t flowing automatically. You might create a jar filled with ready-to-go conversation starter questions that are silly and thoughtful and take turns picking one. You can play simple games like “highs and lows” of the day, or “rose, thorn, and bud” (something good, something hard, and something you are looking forward to).

Most importantly, keep the focus on connection, not correction. Daily conversations should feel like a safe place to share, not a lecture. When children associate talking with warmth, attention, and enjoyment, they begin to look forward to it (and will begin to initiate it). Over time, these small daily talks add up, shaping confident communicators who know they are loved, valued, and never alone!

Diann Moesner, MSW, LCSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Elberfeld Elementary School and Lynnville Elementary School in Warrick County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 130 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 55,000 youth and families each year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.

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Building Resilience in Your Child

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By Jordyn Bryant, MSW, LSW – March 13, 2026 –

Today’s children are growing up in a world that rarely slows down. Screens glow late into the evening, schedules stay packed, and social pressures begin earlier than ever.

Many children are navigating constant input – academically, socially, and digitally, and their nervous systems often feel the impact. It is no surprise that we are seeing more anxiety, irritability, low frustration tolerance, and big emotional reactions from kids. When children are overstimulated, even small disappointments can feel overwhelming. The good news is that resilience is not something a child either has or does not have. It is a skill set, and skill sets can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time.

Emotional resilience is a child’s ability to manage big feelings, adapt to change, recover from setbacks, solve problems, and continue trying, even after disappointment. Resilient children are not children who never struggle. They are children who learn that struggle is manageable and temporary. They trust that hard feelings will pass, and they have the tools and support to get through challenges.

Here’s how parents and caregivers can help a child build resilience:

1. Connect Before You Correct – When emotions run high, connection lowers defenses. Before addressing behavior, acknowledge the feelings below the surface. Simple phrases like “I can see you’re frustrated,” or “That felt really hard,” help children feel understood. Validation does not mean agreement; it means recognizing their internal experience. A regulated child learns better than a reprimanded one. When children feel safe, they are more open to guidance and problem-solving.

2. Teach Emotional Language – Children cannot regulate what they cannot name. Help them move beyond “mad” or “fine” by identifying feelings such as disappointed, embarrassed, overwhelmed, jealous, nervous, or left out. Expanding emotional vocabulary builds self-awareness and reduces intensity. You might say, “It sounds like you felt left out when that happened,” giving them language for their experience. Over time, this awareness becomes the foundation for self-control.

3. Normalize Mistakes and Setbacks – In a high-pressure world, many children fear failure. Instead of rushing to fix problems or minimize disappointment, guide reflection. Ask questions like, “What could we try next time?” or “What did you learn from this?” When adults respond calmly to mistakes, children learn that failure is information, not identity. Resilience grows when children experience manageable challenges and discover they can move through them.

4. Create Predictable Calm – In an overstimulated environment, children need rhythms that feel safe. Consistent bedtime routines, screen-free family time, outdoor play, and moments without background noise help regulate the nervous system. Predictability reduces anxiety and creates space for emotional recovery. Even small rituals, such as reading together at night or sharing highs and lows at dinner, anchor children in stability.

5. Model Healthy Regulation – Children “borrow our calm” and our coping skills. When adults say, “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a deep breath,” it demonstrates that emotions are normal and manageable. Modeling repair is powerful too. Saying, “I raised my voice earlier, and I’m sorry,” teaches accountability and emotional safety.

We cannot remove all stress from our children’s lives, nor should we. Learning to handle challenges is part of growing. What children need most is not perfection, but relationships. When a child knows they are seen, heard, and supported, they develop the confidence to face difficulty. In a world full of noise and pressure, a steady, connected adult is the greatest source of strength. Resilience is not built in big, dramatic moments. It is built through everyday conversations, small repairs, consistent presence, and the quiet reassurance that they are not alone.

Jordyn Bryant, MSW, LSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Stringtown Elementary School in Vanderburgh County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 130 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 55,000 youth and families each year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.

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Helping Hands and Paws: Therapy Animals Help Students Succeed in School

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By Callie Sanders, MSW, LSW – March 4, 2026 –

Increasingly, schools across the country are incorporating therapy animals, particularly dogs, to help students feel calmer, more focused, and better prepared to learn. These programs, known as animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), are utilized in elementary and middle schools to support students in various ways. Research shows that spending time with trained animals can help children improve their emotional regulation, behavior, and even their reading skills.

Researchers interviewed school staff in San Antonio, Texas, during a study conducted in 2022 to learn how therapy animals were helping students. Teachers and counselors said they noticed big improvements in student behavior. Many children became less aggressive and more willing to talk about their feelings. Others who struggled with anxiety or trauma began to feel safer and more comfortable in school. Some staff said students even looked forward to coming to school just to see the therapy dog. While there were some concerns about safety, allergies, and planning, most teachers said the program was worth it.

Animal-assisted reading programs are also becoming more popular in younger grades. These programs let children read aloud to a calm, nonjudgmental dog. This helps them feel more confident and less afraid of making mistakes. A study published in 2014 concluded that students who read to dogs for ten weeks showed major improvements in reading speed, accuracy, and understanding, more than those who read to adults or stuffed animals. Even better, the progress continued for weeks after the program ended. Children stayed more engaged in the classroom and enjoyed reading.

Animal-assisted programs also help students with autism. A 2020 review in the journal Autism Research looked at 16 different studies involving nearly 500 children with autism. The review found that spending time with therapy animals helped many of these students improve their communication and social skills. Research shows that therapy animals can also be a great support in special education classrooms or in one-on-one sessions.

Therapy animals can help in many ways at school. They can sit quietly with a child during a stressful moment, listen to a student practice reading, or visit classrooms to create a peaceful mood. Schools that use trained animals and follow safety guidelines can create new opportunities for learning and healing.

These programs help all kinds of students, from those with learning difficulties to those who just need a little extra emotional support. In a time when concerns about student mental health and classroom stress are at an all-time high, animal-assisted interventions are proving to be more than just a feel-good idea. They are real, research-backed tools that help kids succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Callie Sanders, MSW, LSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Fort Branch Community School, Haubstadt Community School, and Owensville Community School in Gibson County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 130 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 55,000 youth and families each year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.

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