By Niki Walls, MSW, LSW – October 29, 2025 – When’s the last time you tried something new without worrying about whether you would be good at it? As children, we would happily play and try something new; we were not consumed with thoughts of failure. However, as adults, we often avoid hobbies unless we […]
EVANSVILLE, IN – Youth First honored long-time advocate Tim Hollander at its 2025 Breakfast of Champions, presented by Toyota Indiana, on Tuesday, October 21, at Friedman Park Event Center in Newburgh. Hollander received the Dr. William Wooten Champion of Youth First Award. Hollander’s tireless passion for helping young people recognize their full potential has made […]
By Ashley Underwood, MSW, LCSW – October 22, 2025 – Allowing your child to have independence and responsibility can be challenging. It’s difficult for some parents and guardians to acknowledge that their little ones are growing up. Just a small amount of ownership and responsibility, however, can have a big impact on your child’s development. […]
By Angel Wagner, MSW, LCSW – October 15, 2025 – Anxiety is a common mental health condition that many people deal with. We all experience various levels of anxiety, often characterized by worry, fear and nervousness. Symptoms can range from visible shaking, agitation, and explosiveness to complete shutdown. Anxiety affects children and teens as well […]
By Brooke Skipper, MSW, LCSW- September 8, 2025 – One of the hardest things for a parent is to see their child struggle and not have the power to “fix” it. We all want happy, healthy children. In order to achieve that, however, we must allow kids to experience and understand a whole range of […]
By Missy Johnson, MSW, LCSW, CTRS – October 1, 2025 – As a Youth First Mental Health Professional, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible impact our Youth First programs and services have on students, their families, and the broader school community. Having worked in various mental health clinical settings, including inpatient and outpatient therapy, I’ve come […]
By Audrey Angermeier, MSW, LSW – September 24, 2025 – As any parent or guardian knows, setting boundaries with children can be challenging, especially when it comes to following through. Let’s face it, it would be so much easier to give your child what they want or let them do whatever they please all the […]
By Abby Betz, MSW, LCSW – September 18, 2025 – We live in a world where our screens never sleep. It is not very often that our minds truly get a break from the onslaught of social media and all of the information available on the World Wide Web. From never-ending notifications to late-night scrolling, […]
By Lori Powell, MSW, LCSW – September 10, 2025 – In today’s world, we hear a lot about anxiety. The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune.” Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree, but not everyone […]
by Britney Wagler, MSW, LCSW – September 3, 2025 – As the school year settles into full swing, many households find themselves battling a familiar evening routine: the “homework struggle.” It’s a time that often brings stress, frustration, and even tears for both parent and child. With the right coping strategies, however, parents and kids […]