Learn How You Can Prevent Addiction and Support Recovery for the Family

Attend a unique learning opportunity for clergy and congregational leaders who know families dealing with Substance Abuse issues.  This forum was developed to address concerns raised at a May 2010  forum where over 70 percent of attendees said they knew at least 20 or more families dealing with Substance Abuse issues.  You'll learn about how addiction impacts both the individual and their family and about resources for offering information, hope, and recovery support for all affected. 

The training will be held on Tuesday, September 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Recovery Connection, 253 State Street, Saint Paul, MN  55107.

Pre-registration is required.  The training costs $10 (which includes a box lunch) and certificates of participation for four contact hours will be provided.   Registration deadline is September 1st. 

Kids who feel supported and cared for as learners and as individuals by the adults and students in their school do better--both in and out of school.

Research shows that liking and feeling connected to school is a very important protective factor for kids that positively influences not just academics but also their social and emotional health.  Unfortunately, too many kids feel disconnected from school.

The 2007 Minnesota Student Survey included three questions that help measure how connected our students feel toward school:

1. How do you feel about going to school?
2. How many of your teachers are interested in you as a person?
3. How much do you feel teachers/other adults at school care about you?

Here are results for students in Suburban Ramsey County:

Every child is different and every stage in a child's life can bring new and interesting challenges.  As parents, it is important to learn about and be aware of our children's needs and differences at different stages of their development. 

It can be hard to know what are typical behaviors for kids of various ages but experts have been able to identify milestones in how a child typically plays, learns, speaks and acts at various ages. 

The Minnesota Department of Education has pulled together detailed information on common milestones for children from age 3 months to 5 years which also list simple things you can do to support and encourage your child's healthy development. 

Good health is an important aspect of well-being.  It can sometimes be easier to identify the physical needs of children than to identify their mental and emotional needs.  Just as kids need food, sleep, exercise, regular check-ups, and a healthy living environment, they also need love, self-confidence, playtime with other kids, encouragement, security, and guidance and limits. 

We are ready when kids who are learning to walk, snowboard, or ride a bike fall down and hurt themselves.  We are prepared for children to be sick with colds and fevers. 

As parents, we may not be as confident when dealing with situations such as a typically happy, confident child whose behavior changes when they are going to a new school or a teenager who spends most of their time in their room, listening on head phones.  We might be embarrassed when our toddler has a tantrum or our 9 year old throws the bat when they strike out or when our 16 year old yells at us while at the mall. 

No one is expected to know the answer to every parenting question or challenge.  Maybe you’re not sure what to do about a situation or what to do when everything you’ve tried hasn’t worked.  Try talking with friends, your pediatrician, your faith leader, or your child's teacher or child care professional.  If they're not able to help, they can often refer you to additional resources including parenting groups, behavior specialists, counselors, etc. 

Sometimes people are afraid to ask for help.  They believe that they should know how to handle the situation or only people with really bad problems should ask for help.  We don't expect ourselves to know and understand everything about the cars we drive and don't think twice about asking for help when we need it.  It is better to ask for help than to ignore a problem while it gets worse.  i

The teen years are a time of a lot of changes, challenges, and changing expectations.  MPower, a resource created by musicians for mental health, has created a “top ten” list of ways for teens to take care of their mental health.  (The tips work for adults too!).