By Deena Bodine, LCSW – July 28, 2021 – Parenting is no easy task. The teen years are notorious for challenging parents. While these years are a time of growth and a move towards independence for teens, parents may struggle to find a balance between encouraging independence and hovering too much. Distinguishing normal teenage behavior […]
Abby Betz, LSW – July 21, 2021 – As a school social worker, I have worked with students of all ages in both public and private schools. I have found, unfortunately, that the majority of students are unable to verbalize what they like about themselves. Most students lack the ability to talk about positive conditions […]
Ashley Underwood, LCSW – July 13, 2021 – As the mother of a child who will start kindergarten this fall, there’s been a nagging question in the back of my mind: “Is he ready?” Beginning kindergarten is typically the start of formal education for most children, which can be an extreme transition from life at […]
By Lisa Cossey, LCSW – July 7, 2021 – Parenting can be like spending time on a seesaw. There are ups and downs. Parenting with your partner when you don’t see eye-to-eye on discipline methods, however, adds another challenging element to the mix. In cases like this, both parties need to sit down and discuss […]
By Shannon Loehrlein, LCSW – June 30, 2021 – The numbers are staggering. According to the CDC, 61% of adults in the United States endured an adverse childhood experience in their youth. Childhood trauma comes in a variety of forms. It can be caused by divorced or incarcerated parents, death of a parent or caretaker, […]
By Amber Russell, LCSW – June 22, 2021- The words empathy and sympathy are often grouped together or used interchangeably, but they mean two very different things. According to the dictionary, sympathy means: “Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune.” Empathy, on the other hand, means: “The ability to understand another person’s feelings, experiences, […]
On June 18, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation presented $78,574 to Youth First, Inc. The grant provided HIPAA-compliant Zoom licenses and certification training in telehealth for Youth First’s mental health professionals. Youth First partners with 92 schools across 11 Indiana counties. Youth First Social Workers follow behavioral health best practices to proactively meet […]
By Aisha Givens, LCSW – June 16, 2021 – As parents, we often worry about our children. It’s part of the job. We worry when they are young and continue to worry as they grow into teenagers and adults. Being concerned about your child is a healthy and appropriate feeling. However, constant or excessive worrying […]
By Teresa Mercer, LCSW, LCAC – June 9, 2021 – Throughout the last year, the impact of a global pandemic has increased stress levels for people all over the world. Although pre-pandemic life had its fair share of stressors, Covid-19 introduced a new form of stress that many of us weren’t prepared to cope with. […]
By Grace Wilson, MSW – June 3, 2021 – In a world that is constantly on the go and filling our family’s schedules with various activities, it is important that we take time to slow down and spend quality one-on-one time with our children. If you have multiple children, take time to spend individual […]