Is inflation affecting your kids?
Maintaining a mental health balance has been a struggle across the globe for several years, really peaking with the introduction and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation and economic struggles are hitting Americans hard and have been for several months now. Gas prices, grocery costs and/or rent hikes are affecting everyone. Financial struggles have long been recognized […]
Tips for providing mental health support for kids going back to school
By the end of this month, you’ll probably have your kids’ class assignments and back-to-school lists. The return to school and planning around it can often bring anxiety for kids, especially those starting a new school, moving from elementary to middle school or having an older sibling move up schools or those who have experienced […]
Keeping track of your child’s mental health
As a parent or adult in a child’s life, mental health awareness is so important, and issues sometimes increase over the summer months. Here is what you should be aware of when tracking a kid’s mental health Types of mental health issues present differently amongst youth and all need to be addressed by professionals: General […]
Support foster kids in Tennessee this May
May is celebrated as National Foster Care Awareness Month to bring awareness to the need for more foster care families. In Tennessee, approximately 8,000 children are in foster care at any given time. With fewer than 4,000 open foster homes, the need for more foster families is considerable. Jawyanna and Jonathon Neal knew that fostering […]
Talking about a tough topic: Child abuse prevention month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since COVID-19 became part of our lives two years ago, most agencies saw a decrease in child abuse reporting due to virtual schools and fewer activities outside of the home. Of course, that doesn’t mean less abuse is occurring. As a parent, teacher, neighbor and friend, you have […]
Four tips to manage your kids’ screen time
You’ve probably seen dozens of stories over the last decade, particularly in the last three years, about social media and its impact on our kids. While it can serve as a positive outlet and way to connect for some kids, others find themselves bullied and triggered because of their participation in various platforms. As a […]
Four tips to talk to teens about unhealthy relationships
It’s February! Love is in the air, and yes, that means Cupid is doing his work among our teenagers, too. Understanding healthy relationships, learning about boundaries and knowing how to recognize unhealthy situations is all part of growing up. As parents, we want to ensure we are good role models, so our kids can understand […]
New year, new goals: Mentoring
January is National Mentoring Month, a time when we can celebrate and note the importance of both serving as and having a mentor. At Youth Villages, we work to provide good mentors and counselors to our children, our families, and young people involved in programs like LifeSet. Whether through Youth Villages’ Chris Crye Mentoring Program […]
Five ways to combat depression in the holidays
When it’s more than the holiday blues: 5 ways to combat depression in the holidays The holiday season is upon us and with it can come a bevvy of emotions for adults and kids alike. Attending family events, programs, services, preparing and shopping… this season can feel like a stressor more than a joy. Avoiding […]
Teens in Need
In the state of Tennessee, 8,000 children are in foster care and approximately 350 of the kids don’t have identified adoptive homes. Nationwide, and in our state, most children available for adoption are teenagers and in 2019, less than 5% of the children adopted aged 15 to 18 years old. Children have a much higher chance of adulthood […]
How are you doing? A Mental Health Check-In
We’ve talked a lot about mental health for the last year and a half, especially in the early months of COVID-19 and its impending isolation. During the pandemic, there have been heightened levels of fear, anxiety, and depression causing an increase in mental health concerns. Understanding your own mental health is still just as important […]
How to talk to your teens about suicide prevention
September is recognized as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month when we in the mental health profession bring attention to depression and dark thoughts, which can help assuage suicidal ideation. Raquel Shultz, LPC-MHSP AS, program director of specialized crisis services for Youth Villages, offers tips on how to look for signs that your teen may be […]
