Tennyson Center for Children’s Post

It's BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month! Fostering empathy in young children is crucial for their emotional development. Why? Because empathy helps children understand their own emotions and connect with others in meaningful ways. Responsive caregiving, a key element in fostering empathy, is critical to building securely attached relationships for infants and toddlers.  Preschoolers benefit from reading books about feelings and being encouraged to express their emotions openly.  As for kindergarten and first graders, discussing feelings and using real-life examples can significantly expand their emotional vocabulary. Want to learn our recommended strategies? Check out our Development of Empathy Tip Sheet: https://lnkd.in/gv7eKeMr #inclusionmatters #BIPOCmentalhealthmonth #childdevelopment #earlychildhooddducation #breakthestigma

Announcing BrainFutures' $1M Investment from the State of Maryland for our Youth Executive Functioning Program We're proud to share a monumental milestone in our efforts to advance equitable access to mental and brain health innovations. Thanks to the generous support from the state of Maryland, we've been awarded a $1 million dollar grant to implement an innovative Youth Executive Functioning Program in public schools across Howard County. Over half of the children living in the US are affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can impair executive function skills. Youth executive functioning programs can boost cognitive function, support mental health and wellbeing, prepare students to learn more effectively, and can help counter some of the harmful, chronic effects of these experiences. Programs like these can empower youth and set them up for lifelong success and overall wellbeing. Read more about executive function, mental health, and how you can support our work: https://lnkd.in/gzBHdSP #brainhealth #mentalhealth #youthmentalhealth #nonprofit

“If you're not ready to feel uncomfortable with certain feelings, you're not going to ever be able to talk about them.” -Maira Magallanes ❤️ February ❤️ may be over, but we’ll never stop talking about love and healthy relationships at Florence Crittenton Services! We spoke with FloCrit’s newest Bilingual Family Advocate, Maira Magallanes, for an inside look at promoting healthy relationships. See below for three steps for cultivating healthy relationships in your life! Teen moms face distinct challenges in relationships as they navigate adolescence and parenthood simultaneously. Maira notes that due to a lack of effective communication tools, self-confidence issues, and fear of loneliness, many FloCrit students often prioritize their partner’s needs over their own. In response, Florence Crittenton Services provides a tailored support system where teen moms can develop healthy coping skills and gain insight into what defines a healthy relationship. At FloCrit, teen moms have the opportunity to participate in individual therapy, healthy relationships group therapy with Servicios de La Raza, and in-school events that focus on mental health and family engagement. Family Advocates like Maira also offer one-on-one support and case management to help teen moms connect with community resources and navigate life challenges. Maira shares three key insights to her students when navigating healthy relationships: 1️⃣ Have a ‘check-in’ process with your significant other “Having that check in and check out helps your partner recognize where you are mentally, how your day was, how they can help, and vice versa.” 2️⃣ Recognize the difference between accommodation and compromise “If there’s compromise, it's beautiful. But if you're accommodating more to one side than the other, that's unhealthy. If you're noticing that you're always accommodating for their needs, you're always going out of your way to help your partner… and it's not reciprocated, that's a huge warning sign.” 3️⃣ Learn to sit with uncomfortable emotions Maira explains that there was a time when she would push away her emotions “because I was uncomfortable with certain feelings…so until I actually sat with them and kind of rode the rollercoaster…(now) I can acknowledge it and then process and move forward.” Support healthy relationships for FloCrit teen moms and their children by making a gift today: https://bit.ly/4bUqa0j

Today, we recognize the two-year anniversary of the launch of 988 and extend gratitude to our grantee partners, colleagues, and public officials who have worked so hard to help ensure the promise of 988 is realized. We look forward to continued collaboration and a future where data, best-practices, and person-centered design will continue to inform the development of this important national resource. Mental health emergencies deserve a medical response and a fully-realized 988 system is a key to help ensure a future where mental illness is no longer criminalized. 1M4, The Council of State Governments, inseparable, Mindful Philanthropy, NAMI, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Peg's Foundation, Scattergood Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Just Trust, SoundMind, The Confess Project , The Miles Hall Foundation, The Trevor Project, Steinberg Institute, Tradeoffs, University of Chicago Urban Labs , Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) #MentalIllnessisNotaCrime #988

Few factors are more critical to a child’s well-being than the consistent presence of caring adults in their lives and a physically and emotionally safe environment. We recently distributed $145,000 in grants to nonprofits who are walking alongside local families with supportive services. From building community for single parents, to family mental health care, to birthing classes and post-partum care, these grants create a strong foundation for local children and families. https://lnkd.in/gB4WZtHT

Top 10 Reasons I love CHOOSEWELL COMMUNITIES INC #6: We meet people where they are and walk alongside them as they navigate the path they are choosing to walk. "Life is slippery. Here, take my hand." H. Jackson Brown, Jr. What we believe... Parenting is tricky. Navigating new sobriety is equally so. Imagine doing both at the same time. The first five years of children’s lives are more critical to healthy brain development than the rest of their lifetimes. Meanwhile, the first three years of sobriety are predictive of long-term recovery. Since 2014, ChooseWell has faithfully journeyed with young families working to maintain sobriety while improving the health and well-being of their family. We are improving the odds of maintaining parental sobriety and stability during this fragile and precious time of their children’s development. Would you consider joining me in donating to ChooseWell Communities today via Give for Good Louisville? https://lnkd.in/eHUDHmx5

When it comes to mental health, it is time that we focus on prevention over intervention. With a staggering 1.6 million youth under 25, there has never been a more urgent time for supporting youth mental health. To combat this increasing mental health crisis in Canadian youth, BizKids is implementing a scalable model designed to effectively reach the masses of Canadian youth with critical education & support. By prioritizing prevention strategies, we are able to address the immediate crisis promoting future well-being for all ages, while also creating space to provide students with quality education, valuable real-world experiences, and future-ready skills. https://lnkd.in/grtWDE8t #MentalHealthWeek #Prevention

Did you know that developmental disabilities are lifelong conditions that emerge during childhood and affect cognitive, physical, or behavioral functioning? This includes autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). 1 in 6 children have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays. Despite progress in awareness and support, individuals with developmental disabilities still face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to inclusion in many aspects of life. At Positive Work, we are committed to helping create a more inclusive work landscape and society as a whole for those with developmental disabilities. Each person with a developmental disability is unique, with their own strengths, abilities, and potential for growth and contribution to society. ❤️ 💛 💙 Join us in our mission by following us on social media, signing up for our newsletter, and making a donation. https://lnkd.in/grb_QvJw Additionally, consider supporting other organizations dedicated to the developmental disability community, such as The Arc of the United States, National Down Syndrome Society, Easterseals, and Special Olympics. #developmentaldisabilities #disabilityinclusion #autismawareness #autism #downsyndrome #adhd #cerebralpalsy

Days of Gratitude! At the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, we are deeply grateful for policymakers and advocates who champion equity, inclusion, and access in infant and early childhood mental health. The Alliance and our collaborators are making critical progress in amplifying the importance of perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health, expanding access to Reflective Supervision for professionals, advocating for increased compensation for those working with families and young children, promoting accessible and affordable mental health-informed professional development worldwide, and ensuring that all families receive culturally responsive, relationship-based care. Consider making a donation to help the Alliance expand its impact and continue building a more equitable, inclusive system for families and professionals. https://lnkd.in/gGe7qh9M

Today is GivingTuesday, the world’s largest generosity movement. It’s about inspiring a world to give as part of everyday life. It’s about encouraging people to do good. Simple acts of generosity, from helping a stranger, to supporting a friend, giving gratitude, to giving someone a reason to smile - every generous deed matters. Give where you live. Find a mission that moves you - seniors, pets, youth, homeless, Alzheimer's - the list is endless. What matters to you? Who could you honour? How can you help your community? Give what you can. A smile, a coffee, a donation.