Getting to Know Your NSPN Family: Ways to Combat Boredom
by: Eric Peterson
Written by: Eric Peterson, Communications Intern, National Safe Place Network
With how hectic and complex our lives can be on a regular basis, even the basic idea of “free time” can get left behind and covered up as we deal with the various tasks and obligations that take up our waking moments. That said, when we do get time to ourselves, it can sometimes be hard to know what to do with it, and when boredom sets in, it can be hard to free yourself from it.
Lessons in Mental Health Care
by: Hillary Ladig
Category: Networking and News
Written by: Shauna Brooks, Performance and Evaluation Specialist, National Safe Place Network
About fifteen years ago, my partner Kim and I went to very upstate New York to visit her long-time friend who lived on a lettuce farm with her husband and two daughters, the elder 6 and the younger 3 years-old. I learned two very important lessons during our stay up North: the power of a wet paper towel and the meaning of care.
NSPN MembershipRHYTTACSafe Place
Written by: Tammy Hopper, Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer, National Safe Place Network
Have you ever felt “less than”? It is difficult to explain the feeling but there are times when you can be in a room by yourself and feel “less than”. Your life isn’t what you wanted. You didn’t meet the expectations of others and worse, you didn’t meet the ones you set for yourself. Sometimes you can be on crowded public transportation, face focused outward because looking at the walls of a tunnel are more comforting than looking into the eyes of fellow passengers. The thoughts are persistent – am I “less than” these other passengers because of how I dress, the way I look, the amount of money I have with me, where I am going? Sometimes you can be in a classroom or office and feel secure in who you are and what you know and still feel “less than” your peers or colleagues. Why do they get the interesting opportunities, or feedback, or acceptance?
“Less than” makes people do strange, hurtful, and, sometimes dangerous things. The bully feels “less than” and so will reach out in anger to ensure some sense of control and superiority. The driver with road rage reaches a boiling point and is committed to saying no – you are in my way, you are slowing me down, you are not better than me – I am not “less than.” The shooter who enters a building and takes the lives of others may even feel that any life, especially his or her own, is not worth living. They may believe there is no value placed on life because lives lived in fear, anger, poverty, mental health crisis, abuse, substance addiction - may be perceived as lives of value “less than” others.
Making the Best Home for Your Autistic Child
by: Paige Johnson
NSPN MembershipSafe Place
Written by: Paige Johnson, learnfit.org
Every parent wants what’s best for their children. As a parent of an autistic child, you are certainly no different. Having a child with autism presents a set of unique challenges for parents to figure out. Your latest puzzle is your home interior, and now you want to make a few changes to give your child the best home experience they could ever wish for. While no two children on the autism spectrum are alike, there are a few known ways to make your home more autism friendly. Whether you are starting from scratch with a new home or updating your current one, here are three key essentials every parent should know when designing their home.
Beat the Odds with These Organizational New Year’s Resolutions
by: Elizabeth Smith Miller
Written by: Elizabeth Smith Miller, Director of Marketing & Events, National Safe Place Network
Are you one of the 41% of individuals who makes one or more New Year’s resolutions? In 2017, the top 5 New Year’s resolutions included:
A Holiday Memory
by: Tammy Hopper
It would be difficult for me to think about or discuss the holidays without remembering my paternal grandparents and the influence they had on my life. As my mother’s parents had passed before I was born, my only experiences with grandparents were from a couple who were courageous, hard working, simple and very different from each other.
Receiving RHY Funding News: When Hope Turns to Uncertainty
If you applied for RHY funding this year, the staff of NSPN hope you have received good news. The work you do in your community is important and youth depend on your services. If you were successful, congratulations!
Children with Cerebral Palsy at Greater Risk of Bullying
by: Cerebral Palsy Guidance
Written by Cerebral Palsy Guidance
Youth and family service organizations serve a multitude of young people, including those with disabilities. Children living with any type of disability are more vulnerable to bullying than their peers. With those disabilities that make a child look different, including Cerebral Palsy, the risk of being a victim of bullying is even higher. The Forum for Equality estimates that nearly 15-25% of students in the United States are victims of bullying. While bullying is a big problem for a lot of children, and the consequences can be serious, there are things that can be done to prevent this victimization and to help victims cope.
This was supposed to be a 4-day weekend for me - Labor Day holiday Monday, and a vacation day Friday to bring home a newly adopted pet and allow some time for her to adjust to her new environment. This is the first time in almost 18 years my partner and I have added someone to our little family. We have talked about it and delayed and negotiated our preferences for so long. Kim wanted someone small, and I really like big dog personalities. Kim wanted a fur family member to provide me with emotional support. I also wanted a dog to help me be more active. After months, even years, we just couldn’t push it back any longer.
Laughter Isn't Always the Best Medicine
by: Candace Leilani
Written by Candace Leilani, Guest Blogger
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin
Self-Care: So Who Takes Care of You?
by: Mark Wolf
Written by: Mark W. Wolf, Training Director at National Safe Place Network
This is my first attempt at a blog so bear with me. I volunteered to do this one because the most significant thing I have learned in my nearly 40 year career in the youth work field is the importance of taking care of yourself.
School Supply Donation Drives
by: Autumn Sandlin
Written by Autumn Sandlin, NSPN Marketing & Communications Intern
The end of the summer season is quickly approaching. School will be back in session soon enough, and with that comes supplies. School supplies can be an underlying source of anxiety for youth and their families. While supplies are essential to a student’s education, they can be expensive and cause a strain on families and their budgets. You can help the youth in your programs ease this burden by holding back—to--school donation drives. Not only will these drives help support youth you serve, but they’re also a great way for the community to become involved with your program(s).
Where to Turn if You're at Risk for Suicide and How to Prevent Future Suicidal Thoughts
by: Jennifer Scott
Written by: Jennifer Scott, SpiritFinder
Note: Ms. Scott offers a forum where those living with anxiety and depression can discuss their experiences.
Photo Credit: BrookLorin, Pixabay
My Life as a Gruntled Employee
Written by Elizabeth Smith Miller, Director of Marketing and Events, National Safe Place Network
I’m gruntled. I’m so gruntled I sneak around on the weekends, wake up really early, and stay at the “office” really late. I know, I know—you’re probably thinking this sounds like the beginning of a twisted Lifetime movie. I get that these activities can be seen in a negative light, but in this case—I assure you, they’re great!
NSPN: Meeting Your Personal, Organizational, and Community Needs
by: April Carthorn
Written by: April Carthorn, General Specialist, National Safe Place Network
Social Media and Body Image Issues Among Teens
by: Hilary Smith
Written by: Hilary Smith, Freelance Journalist
Staying Connected and Reaching Out During Summer
by: Karen Sieve
Written by: Karen Sieve, Regional Safe Place Manager, Youth in Need
Summer is around the corner. Memorial Day means public pools are opening, and temperatures are warming up. Summer is an important time for youth outreach. Schools, which provide structure and additional supports throughout the fall, winter and spring, are not in session. Children, teens and those who care about them are looking for fun activities to keep them occupied and out of trouble. As temperatures heat up, however, many young people opt to stay indoors and find themselves home alone. This can make outreach a challenge.
Safe Place - What are the Benefits?
by: Susan Harmon
Written by: Susan Harmon, Director of Safe Place National Operations, National Safe Place Network
5 Art Therapy Facts + 3 ways to Use Art in Your Therapy Practice Now
by: Ginny Gaulin
Written by Ginny Gaulin, Clinician & Art Therapist at RefugeeOne
You can’t walk into a bookstore without spotting several art therapy coloring books on the “What’s Hot Now” table. The coloring books are trending, but art itself has been used as a tool for communication for thousands of years. Art therapy as a health services profession has been official since the 1970’s, with founding figures utilizing art therapy starting in the early 1900’s. Today, more people than ever are engaging in and benefiting from art therapy.