Advice from Our Professionals

Informative articles by Youth First Social Workers

Teen Driving Safety

By Kelsey Crago, LSW - October 21, 2021 - Learning to drive is an important milestone in a young person’s life. Take a minute to think back to that time in your youth. Driving has the power to provide freedom and helps instill a stronger…

The Importance of Self-Care and How to Prioritize It

By Emily Bernhardt, MSW - October 13, 2021 - Self-care is something that can look different for every person. There are people who like to cuddle up on the couch with a book, do a face mask, take a bubble bath, or even those who like to…

Coping with Grief and Loss

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Mary Ruth Branstetter, LCSW, LCAC, RPT - October 6, 2021 - Grief is one of the most intense, sacred, painful, and intimate emotions humans are capable of feeling. Most people associate grief with the death of a loved one or a close personal…

Creating an Environment for “Purposeful Technology”

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Abby Betz, LSW - October 1, 2021 - The 2020-2021 school year was marked by adapting to quarantine procedures, social distancing, virtual learning, and masking. While not all fond memories, hopefully some of the aforementioned things will…

Navigating Parent-Teacher Communication

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Deena Bodine, LCSW - September 21, 2021 - Research has shown that students are more successful academically when they have support from their parents. Many parents are eager to jump in to help ensure success in the classroom, but it’s…

Building Strong Family Connections in the “New Normal”

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Chelsea Pfister, MSW - September 15, 2021 - For the past year and a half, families across the country have been working to settle into an ever-changing sense of what’s being referred to as “the new normal.” While simultaneously…