October 13, 2021 Promoting Mental Health and Family Well-Being in Today’s World Workshop Series Are you interested in learning more about promoting familial mental health and well-being? Join Brazelton Touchpoint Center for a series of three sessions on various ways that professionals can support the families that they serve. Sessions This series features three sessions, each costing $35 or $90 for all three sessions. Registration is available online. October 20: Enhancing Partnerships Between Parents and Staff October 27: Understanding Depression and Fostering Resilience November 3: Talking with Children about Difficult Issues More Information Social-emotional wellness is essential for young children, their families, and the providers who work with them. Yet, promoting wellness and responding to the mental health needs of children and families may be challenging, especially during the ongoing pandemic. In this three-part series, you will learn knowledge and skills to strengthen relationships with adults and children and promote family well-being. You will: Learn practical strategies for building strong partnerships with families Learn the signs, symptoms, and causes of depression Explore communication challenges that can occur between staff and parents, and how to overcome them Enhance your understanding of resilience and how to partner with families to strengthen their resilience Learn how to talk more effectively with children about difficult issues Enhance your ability to support families seeking access to mental health services This series is for all professionals who work with families of young children, including early care and education providers, family child care providers, home visitors, and more.
September 11, 2020 Building Resilience While Social Distancing: Parental Depression & Coping Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center on October 26 for “Building Resilience While Social Distancing: Parental Depression & Coping” to learn coping skills you can share with parents to address the effects of isolation in the short and long terms. About This webinar will explore the similarities between isolation and depression, paying close attention to the distinct needs and behaviors of parents suffering from depression and anxiety. Participants will learn coping skills they can share with parents to address the effects of isolation in the short and long terms. Participants will also learn when to consult with mental health professionals in their work with families. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event registration page. Space is limited.
September 1, 2020 Stress Management Tools and Techniques Are you interested in learning evidence-based tools parents, teachers, and children can use to self-soothe and regulate their emotions? Join Coach Troy Byer on September 22 for “Stress Management Tools and Techniques.” About In this webinar, Mind Care & Emotion Regulation Expert Troy Byer will highlight tools and tips parents, teachers, and children can use to self-soothe and regulate their emotions – especially when confronted with stressors, threats, or challenges. Coach Troy will help participants learn exercises focused on self-soothing and emotion regulation techniques that address confusion, anger, anxiety, depression, and help children regulate their behavior. Participants will complete this webinar with a toolbox of organic, quick, effective, and fun techniques. Featured Topics This webinar will feature the following topics: how to use Emotion Regulation Finger Holds, how they work, and why they work so well; how to distinguish emotional triggers and how to deactivate a trigger before it is expressed negatively; and the importance of maintaining a state of peace and right brain/left brain coherence and how to organically regulate the experience. Registration To register, visit the event webpage.
April 21, 2020 Mindful Self-Compassion | Webinar Series Join the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, the Center for Child and Family Well-being at the University of Washington, and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion for their three-part webinar series, “Mindful Self-Compassion.” About the Series In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, the Center for Child and Family Well-being at the University of Washington, and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion have teamed up for a three-part webinar series that will introduce families and family-facing providers to mindful self-compassion (MSC) practices to help them care for themselves and each other. Available Webinars Heart Skills for Our Families and Ourselves in Challenging Times | April 29, 2020 | 3 p.m. This first webinar will provide an introduction to MSC, the research that supports it, and a few simple ways we can bring it into our lives during these challenging times. Participants will learn how MSC is being practiced in diverse communities around the world, can build resilience in all kinds of families, reduce caregiver burnout, and strengthen relationships. Participants also will have a chance to experience MSC through a few brief practice exercises during the webinar. Co-Creating Heart Skills with Communities | May 13, 2020 | 3 p.m. This second webinar will explore how communities can create culturally relevant, trauma-informed mindfulness, and self-compassion programs. Representatives from a team of parent leaders and health care partners in Seattle, Washington, will share their experience developing community-led mindfulness and self-compassion practices to promote the well-being of youth, families, and communities who are marginalized. Co-creating Heart Skills in Early Childhood Programs and Systems | June 24, 2020 | 3 p.m. This third webinar will explore how early childhood programs and systems use mindfulness and self-compassion to support their providers and the families and communities they serve. Participants will learn about the approaches diverse early childhood organizations are taking to adapt and integrate mindfulness and compassion to deeply inform organizational culture and systems change. More Information For more information, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website. For more courses, visit our Course page. *Information provided by the Brazelton Touchpoints Center
Mindful Self-Compassion | Webinar Series Join the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, the Center for Child and Family Well-being at the University of Washington, and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion for their three-part webinar series, “Mindful Self-Compassion.” About the Series In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, the Center for Child and Family Well-being at the University of Washington, and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion have teamed up for a three-part webinar series that will introduce families and family-facing providers to mindful self-compassion (MSC) practices to help them care for themselves and each other. Available Webinars Co-creating Heart Skills in Early Childhood Programs and Systems | June 24, 2020 | 3 p.m. This third webinar will explore how early childhood programs and systems use mindfulness and self-compassion to support their providers and the families and communities they serve. Participants will learn about the approaches diverse early childhood organizations are taking to adapt and integrate mindfulness and compassion to deeply inform organizational culture and systems change. More Information For more information, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website. *Information provided by the Brazelton Touchpoints Center
September 16, 2019 Postpartum Depression Symposium Are you interested in gaining insight on the detection and diagnosis of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and on new and existing treatment options? Join Washington County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (BHDS) on October 30 for their free Postpartum Depression Symposium! About Guest speakers will include experts in the field as well as a video featuring local mothers who have been impacted by perinatal depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders. Resource tables will also be available. Lunch and snacks included. Rebecca J. Weinberg, PsyD Clinical Psychologist, Allegheny Health Network Dr. Priya Gopalan, MD University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine / UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital Robert Gallen, PhD, IMH-E® Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh Stephanie D. Wier, LPC, NCC, BSL Mental Health Therapist, Sprout Center for Emotional Growth and Development, LLC Co-Sponsors Trying Together will offer PQAS and Act 48 credits free to participants. California University of PA will offer CEU’s in Social Work & Psychology at the cost of $15 per participant. Registration To register, visit the symposium Eventbrite page! Learn More For questions, contact Washington County BHDS at 724.228.6832.
May 16, 2019 Foster Care Awareness and National Mental Health Month Did you know that May is Foster Care Awareness Month and National Mental Health Month? In recognition of these important subjects, Every Child Inc. has highlighted information and statistics for individuals to consider as we work to better support Pennsylvania’s children, families, caregivers, and community members. Foster Care Facts Approximately 13,000 – 15,000 PA children are currently in foster care and part of the child welfare system. Between 400,000 – 500,000 children in the U.S. are in foster care each year. In 2013, more than 8,000 youth 13 and older lived in the foster care system in PA. One in four PA youth who “age out” of the system experience homelessness and/or struggle with mental health challenges such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, with nearly 1 in 4 youth having been arrested since leaving care. Young PA women in foster care are two and a half times more likely to become pregnant by 19 than young women were not in foster care. Mental Health Facts ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. Treatment rates vary among different mental disorders: Nearly 8 in 10 children (78.1%) aged 3-17 years with depression received treatment. 6 in 10 children (59.3%) aged 3-17 years with anxiety received treatment. More than 5 in 10 children (53.5%) aged 3-17 years with behavior disorders received treatment. Mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders begin in early childhood: 1 in 6 U.S. children aged 2–8 years (17.4%) had a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.
April 15, 2019 Sign-On to Support Families Impacted by Postpartum Depression Understanding the Need Postpartum depression can strike any new mother. Research shows that approximately 15 percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. In Pennsylvania, this means about 21,000 infants and moms are affected each year. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that when a mother suffers from postpartum depression, both mothers and babies experience negative effects, including: adverse effects on the baby’s brain and development, increased danger of child abuse and neglect, and increased medical care costs. Will you sign-on to support Pennsylvania’s mothers and infants? What is #StrongMomStrongBaby? #StrongMomStrongBaby is a statewide effort to amend the existing early intervention law (Act 212 of 1990) to add postpartum depression as an at-risk condition allowing infants to undergo assessments, parents to receive assistance in bonding with their babies, and if needed, Early Intervention services to ensure moms and babies have the best start together. To learn more and stay up-to-date, follow the campaign’s Facebook page. Take Action Show your support for Pennsylvania’s mothers and infants by adding your name to the #StrongMomStrongBaby petition.
