ANWSD is excited to announce Mental Health Matters, on January 26th at 6 p.m., an upcoming opportunity for families with students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade and community members to learn more about how to support their students with mental health needs, healthy transitions, managing anxiety, social media safety and so much more. Given the rise in COVID cases, we have made the decision to move this event to the online Zoom platform. If you plan to attend, please register below. We ask that each participant fill in a registration form. Raffle prizes (gift cards to local businesses, art kits, yoga mats, and more!) will be offered with attendance!!!
In the registration form, please find the workshop descriptions. Each participant will be able to attend two workshops. We look forward to learning alongside you all!
Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz0w6q2E4a1QvRmJ-7EvA1yTce0bCxbUNRTI5AmJHBF3KnZA/viewform
Workshop Descriptions:
Parenting Youth with Anxiety: We'll discuss sources of anxiety and identify it in your child. We'll also explore useful tools and strategies to help support your anxious child with managing the symptoms of anxiety.
Keeping Your Parental Wit: As if parenting isn't hard enough, parents today are grappling with not knowing if they are doing "enough" to love, nurture, and grow their children. With this comes a flurry of anxiety, comparing, judging, and parent guilt. We are a generation of parents stuck in the flux of new social norms and social media, in which we have essentially recreated the parent/child relationship. In this workshop, learn how to find balance, acknowledge that you are doing a good job and take a deep breath when it comes to what might be the most important job of your existence.
Risky Behavior Prevention: Join United Way's Jesse Brooks for a discussion about youth substance prevention. While it may not seem like it at times, parents are a child's number one influence. We will discuss how to address the tough topic of substance use with your kids, how to listen and keep the line of communication open, and learn the warning signs of substance misuse.
KidPower Digital Citizenship Contract: A Tool to Stay Involved in Your Child's Online Life: Young people need tech skills, social-emotional safety skills, AND caring adults involved in their online lives. Kidpower's Digital Citizenship Contract is a tool you can use right away to help you be involved. You will leave this workshop empowered to use this contract in a way that works for your own families. Our goal is to help you guide your kids for a lifetime of online safety.
Supporting Your Student in Post-Secondary Life: Supporting your student as they make the transition to post-secondary life (whether that's more education, work or service) can be a challenge for students and families. Join this workshop to get a better understanding of how you can be supportive and help them to gain more independence in their new community. Anyone who joins will get information, resources, and strategies for making this transition as smooth as possible!
Supporting BIPOC Youth in Vermont: This breakout session intends to create a transparent and safe environment to discuss race and BIPOC's experiences in Vermont. The session's outcome is to provide BIPOC families with resources and hopefully foster more diverse conversations around race and inclusion.
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth in Vermont: Come meet V, Director of Organizing at Outright Vermont. Outright is a 30+ year organization working to build hope, equity, and power with LGBTQ+ youth across Vermont. Come ask questions, hear about why your support matters, and meet the gender unicorn!
How to Support Healthy Decisions around Youth Vaping: A Conversation with a Pediatric Lung Specialist: Youth vaping is a rapidly evolving concern. Vape products contain anything from flavors, nicotine, cannabis, or even herbal extracts. While some may think vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, vaping contains a unique set of risks for young people. Join Dr. L.E. Faricy, a pediatric lung specialist at University of Vermont Children's Hospital, for an interactive discussion about youth vaping. You will have an opportunity to share your own questions and concerns, in addition to the questions above.
Becoming An Askable Adult: Talk with WomenSafe Educators & Advocates about How to Become Someone Who is a Trusted and Safe Person to Talk with About issues Relating to Relationships & Sexuality with the Young People in Your Life
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