Advice from Our Professionals

Informative articles by Youth First’s Service Team

Shared Meals Lead to Happier, Healthier Families

By Diane Walton, MSW, LSW, Youth First Inc. Family meal times are such a valuable experience, with a wide variety of benefits for both children and parents. More shared meals together correlate to greater benefits seen; however, children…

Know the Differences Between Stress and Anxiety

By Melinda Johnson, MSW, LCSW, Youth First, Inc. “I’m really anxious.” “My anxiety is so high.” “I can’t do that; my anxiety is getting worse.” As a Youth First Social Worker working with junior high…

Respectful Communication Key for Divorced Families

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Lisa Cossey, MSW, LCSW, Youth First, Inc. In a perfect world, all marriages would have the “happily ever after” promised in fairy tales. Unfortunately, in the real world, some marriages end in divorce. For families in this situation,…

Supporting Your Child Learning a Second Language

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Diana Diaz, MSW, LSW, Youth First, Inc. There are many advantages to learning a second language. According to the U.S. Department of Education, babies raised in bilingual households demonstrate better impulse control, show increased…

Kids Need a Summer Schedule

All Posts, Counties, Youth First Blog

By Ellen Dippel, MSW, LSW, Youth First, Inc. It’s summertime! The days are longer and the air is warmer. This time of year, it’s much easier to toss routines out the window. Who needs a bedtime when there are fireflies to catch and…

Make Summer More Meaningful by Doing Some Pre-Planning

Counties, Youth First Blog

By Ashley Manship, MSW, LCSW, Youth First, Inc. I don’t know about you, but I struggle staying in a routine and making summertime with my kids as meaningful as it can be. Join me this summer in planning while also not being afraid…