Parents
March 2024 PARENT FORUM-
"Healthy Sleep Hygiene for Teens"
Please scroll down to access the forum video.
Parents,
Hart District Wellness believes in the powerful impact positive, caring adults can have on the overall wellness of teens. Cultivating caring, supportive relationships with your teen is so impactful and important... and, sometimes, so hard. But, you are not alone. We are here to support you!
We are here if you need someone to bounce ideas off of or someone to vent to. We are here to provide resources through our Parent Forums (video recordings below), guidance on the specific concerns included in this website, and connecting you to community resources. Most of all, we are here if you are worried about your teen. If you call us or fill out an appointment form we can discreetly check on them.
Navigating Insurance and Mental Health Care
In an emergency call 911 and/or go to the emergency room.
Check to see if your health insurance policy covers mental health care. Look at your online account or plan documents. You can also call your insurance provider (their phone number should be on the back of your policy card) or talk to HR if your health insurance is through your employer.
Find a mental health care provider. Ask your health insurance for a list of covered providers, ask friends and family for suggestions, or search through an online directory like this one.
Screen providers for proper qualifications. Be sure the provider you choose is licensed or supervised by a licensed clinician. Mental health providers may be a psychiatrists (M.D. or D.O.), psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.), licensed clinical social workers (L.C.S.W.), or licensed professional counselors (L.M.F.T. or L.C.P.C.).
Ask potential providers about their office hours, insurance they accept, and approach to specific issues.
Try again if the first therapist is not a good fit. It is okay to shop around for a provider that your teen feels safe and comfortable with!
Student Care Lines
A student care line provides students and the community with easy access to report any potential behaviors of concern in others that might indicate a need for further attention. Each school site has a number or email address that can be used to alert school staff about the safety or well-being of others. Each member of our community has the ability to make a positive difference in the life of someone who needs help. If you see something, say something, and let’s take care of each other by making a confidential report. Once a report is received, the school site will evaluate the situation to ensure the student(s) have the needed support and resources to get back on track!
Utilize this link for up-to-date student CAREText lines for each school.
Additional Resources
Cultivating a Sense of Purpose in Youth: Presentation by Janis Whitlock
Purpose powerpoint.pdfChronic Absenteeism: How to Manage School Refusal
Self-Injury and Recovery: Information for Parents
Self-Harm Information for Parents.pdfHelping Youth Manage Stress and Anxiety During Stressful Times: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and UCLA
Helping Youth Manage Stress & Anxiety During COVID-19.pdfWellness: Child and Family Center of Santa Clarita Valley discussing anxiety, depression, and seasonal depressive disorder
Wellness presentation for teens.pptxBullying and School Violence Advocacy Program: San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc.
Canyon H.S. English Parent Bullying Advocacy.pptxWhat Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know about Fake Pills
What Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know About Fake Pills.pdfLo Que Todo Padre y Cuidador Debe Saber Sobre las Pastillas Falsas
Lo que todo padre debe saber de Pastillas Falsas_ Spanish flyer.pdfOCD and Internal Compulsions: By Child Mind Institute
Discover how to identify OCD in children with hidden mental rituals as Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, explains how these less visible symptoms can impact a child's life. Learn about the different types of compulsions and why it is crucial for parents and family members to be equipped with specific skills and strategies to support their children effectively. For comprehensive resources on OCD treatment and helping children with mental health challenges, visit childmind.org/OCDSupport
OCD is Like a Bully in Your Brain: By Child Mind Institute
Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist and director of the Intensive Pediatric OCD Program at the Child Mind Institute, explains how they engage kids in OCD treatment by likening it to a bully inside their brain. Discover how this approach helps children comprehend OCD's impact and encourages parents to join the fight against the "bully." For comprehensive resources on OCD treatment and supporting children with mental health challenges, visit childmind.org/OCDSupport now.
How to Support a Depressed Teen: By Child Mind Institute
When kids are young, parents are used to swooping in and rescuing them whenever they need help. As your kids get older and their problems become more complex, you have to transition into more of a supporting role, and that can be difficult. This is especially true with teens who are struggling with depression. Related article - What to Do if You Think Your Teenager Is Depressed: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-... Find information to help you support children who are struggling with mental health, behavior or learning challenges: - https://childmind.org/resources
How to Change Negative Thinking Patterns: By Child Mind Institute
Kids can be their own worst critics. This is particularly true for those with mental health disorders, who may be especially down on themselves. In this video you'll learn - How can negative thinking patterns affect kids’ lives? - What are some of the most common negative thinking patterns? - How can parents help kids change negative thinking patterns? Read the article - https://childmind.org/article/how-to-... Find information to help you support children who are struggling with mental health, behavior or learning challenges: https://childmind.org/resources
How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Child: By Child Mind Institue
Discover the impact of parental anxiety on children and effective strategies for managing stress with mindfulness techniques in this insightful video. Learn how to avoid transmitting anxiety to your kids by managing your stress effectively and setting boundaries. By modeling stress tolerance, engaging in open conversations, and planning ahead for stressful situations, you can create a calmer environment and support your child's emotional well-being. For more resources, visit https://childmind.org/resources/
When Kids Refuse to go to School: By Child Mind Institute
The video explores the phenomenon of "school refusal," a distinct pattern of extreme anxiety and avoidance related to attending school, which is different from regular truancy. It delves into the nuanced differences between school refusal and typical avoidance behaviors, emphasizing factors like duration, distress, resistance, and impact on daily life. The video also highlights strategies for addressing school refusal, including early intervention, identifying potential underlying causes like anxiety disorders or difficulties at school, and employing therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. For more resources please visit childmind.org/anxietysupport
Helping Collage Kids with Depression: By Child Mind Institute
Starting college can be an exhilarating time, but for some students, depression can hinder their experience. In this video, we explore the unique challenges college students face and how it can trigger or exacerbate depression. We discuss common signs to look out for and emphasize the importance of seeking help. From utilizing campus health centers to finding ongoing treatment options, we provide guidance for parents and students alike to ensure a supportive environment for mental well-being. With the right support systems, college students can overcome depression and thrive in their new environment. For more resources visit https://childmind.org/moodsupport
The Global Crisis In Youth Mental Health: A Dialogue with World Mental Health Experts
The SNF Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute builds on the longstanding partnership on youth mental health between SNF and the Child Mind Institute, and includes the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) in Greece, as the first constituent program of the center. The CAMHI was established in 2021 under SNF’s GHI and has grown into a nationwide initiative with a strong institutional network working to enhance mental health care capacity and to strengthen the infrastructure for the prevention, assessment and treatment of mental health challenges faced by children and teenagers all across Greece.
Help Kids Focus: Practical Parenting Skills to Reduce Inattention & Hyperactivity
The prevalence of ADHD diagnoses has surged by almost 40%. Despite an abundance of resources, parents often find themselves seeking practical, applicable advice to help their children enhance focus and reduce inattention.
Responding to this need, Fort Health hosted a webinar focused on actionable strategies parents and educators can use at home and in the classroom.
Led by seasoned ADHD and mental health experts, this webinar aims to empower parents with the knowledge to:
1. Identify signs of inattention and hyperactivity across different age groups.
2. Establish effective daily routines and strategies for home and school.
3. Recognize when professional intervention is necessary and understand how to proceed.