Top Ten Children’s Books with Mental & Behavioral Health Benefits

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A recently published Ipsos research report on parenting, “What the Future: Parenting,” finds that mental health is now the top concern parents have as they’re raising children. Kate MacArthur, a research editor at Ipsos says, “Thinking about all the things that parents could worry about for their children, seeing that 40% of parents indicating that they are extremely or very worried their children will struggle with anxiety or depression is a key finding.”

At Children’s Institute (CII), the therapists that work with children are aware of the importance of addressing mental and behavioral health issues from an early age. Children are growing up in a time defined by one global crisis after another, on top of the everyday struggles of trying to be a kid navigating the world around them, which can magnify existing mental health issues.

Children’s Institute serves children that experience this in addition to having to cope with community violence and economic hardship. It may not be easy to talk about difficult emotions with children but there are books and resources that facilitate these conversations in safe, accessible ways.

The therapists, teachers and staff at Children’s Institute came up with a list of resources and books that facilitate these types of conversations between parent and child. Here are their recommendations.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

The Invisible String is a great book as it helps children cope with separation anxiety, loss and grief. The book can help a child when they experience the death of a family member and even in class, when they need support while missing home.

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek

This book helps children talk about their emotions and the issues they hold in their hearts. During the pandemic, I used this book to help kids verbalize their worries and anxieties, which helped facilitate those conversations.

Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee MacLean

The child in this book has a very bad day and his uncle, who is a sensei, teaches him about regulating his feelings. The book has important lessons to hold onto and it even includes a children’s activity to make a calming jar.

Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud

This book helps children develop empathy and kindness. My daughter’s school read this book and it became the basis for their school-wide program to help students empathize with their classmates.

El Libro de los Sentimientos (The Feelings Book) by Todd Parr

This beginner’s book illustrates the wide range of emotions humans – including children, can experience through the use of simple vocabulary and eye-catching illustrations. Instead of children bottling up their emotions, this book creates opportunities for your child to open up.

B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd

This book uses the ABCs in a way that helps children with coping skills to help manage their fussy and frustrating feelings. The story has fun illustrations which helps promote positive behaviors and self-regulating skills for children 2-5.

The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas

This story focuses on investigating feelings and introduces a method to help children identify their emotions. Children learn to identify their emotions by associating them with colors, helping them share how they are feeling.

The Bad Seed by Jory John

The Bad Seed introduces the concept of trauma and how it affects the way children think about themselves, behave and perceive others. Children can learn that positive changes are possible for each and every one of us.

The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr

This book is helpful when children deal with heavy emotions such as grief and anguish. It’s a touching story that discusses loss and how it is okay to not know how to feel in those times while establishing a feeling of safety and support.

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

This Dr. Seuss book utilizes colors and animals to describe different moods and emotions. Reading this book helps children validate their emotional experiences and get back to their baseline.

 

Additional Resources for Caregivers:

Conscious Discipline

Social Stories – ABA Resources 

The Best Behavior Series

NASP’s Book List for Children Dealing with Trauma and Loss

 

*Many thanks to Dr. Brandi Eichstedt, Dr. Diane Elias, Odalys DeLeon, Ingrid Mürrle and Riley Solorzano for contributing to this list of books & resources.

Deskside Chat with the Board: Ariff Sidi

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We had the privilege of sitting down with one of our newest Board members, Ariff Sidi, former GM & Chief Product Officer at Edgecast, a division of Verizon Media. During our conversation, Sidi shared some of his major career accomplishments and his convictions as a father and how these experiences led him to join the Board at Children’s Institute.

Ariff, you’ve had quite an impressive career – from engineering to product management to media and tech! Could you walk us through your professional journey, highlighting some of your achievements?

I started off in software engineering at Qualcomm, having graduated from the University of California, San Diego. In the beginning, my work was hands-on, writing code. While it was intellectually challenging, it was also a bit removed from the consumer experience, and I wanted to create products that touched people’s lives more directly. That led me to Disney, where I began migrating from engineering to product management.

During my 12-year tenure at Disney, I built a variety of products and technology that people were using and enjoying daily, which I loved. I also played a central role in the development of ABC’s industry-first video streaming platform, which my team built in only 62 days, and kicked off an entire industry transformation that is still ongoing today! In the process, I filed 10 patents, won an Emmy award and two additional Emmy nominations. I also earned an MBA from UCLA during this time.

After my time at Disney, FOX and a couple of start-ups, I went on to become the Chief Product Officer at a division of Verizon During my time at Verizon, I led the business through two private equity transactions, after which I decided to take some time out to spend with my family.

 Wow, what an incredible impact you’ve made across multiple industries! It must’ve been a rollercoaster of an adventure to be part of an unprecedented transition from traditional media to streaming, and congrats to you!

Can you share about what motivated you to join Children’s Institute’s Board of Trustees?

Ultimately, being a father of two young kids in the same age range as Children’s Institute’s children is what motivated me to join and why Children’s Institute’s mission and work resonates with me personally.  I recognize that a stable and healthy childhood makes a huge difference in launching young people into successful and happy adults. If I were to think of my own kids in anything but the best conditions – not being cared for, not having access to education, feeling unsafe, not having the opportunities they currently have, not having their dad around, etc. – it’s heartbreaking.

Knowing that not all children are afforded these opportunities, and that Children’s Institute is pushing hard to change that is the source of my motivation to get involved. I’m hoping that I can use my skills as a technologist, business leader, and dad to support Children’s Institute and the great work it does.

That’s wonderful to hear and thank you for your incredibly big heart and desire to help the children of Los Angeles, particularly those who are consistently marginalized and underserved. Children’s Institute’s North Star states that all children and families can achieve educational success and emotional wellbeing to build lasting pathways to lifelong health and economic mobility. Can you share what specifically connects you to Children’s Institute’s North Star?

I want to start off by sharing a quote by Martin Luther King Jr, from his book, “Why We Can’t Wait.”

It is obvious that if a man is entered at the starting line of a race 300 years after another man, the first would have to perform some impossible feat in order to catch up.

While this quote is specifically about racial inequality and reflects the challenges that many African Americans face today, I think it is has quite a lot of relevance to the work of Children’s Institute. It is difficult to compete if your starting line is so far behind your peers. That’s why the work of Children’s Institute and its work in early childhood education and head start programs is so important. How one starts their lives impacts their future and their early years in childhood carry forward into adulthood. I believe in a fair playing field, for kids most of all.

Let’s give these kids a better start to ensure better outcomes in the future.

What a powerful motivator. It’s true that to make a lasting impact, it often starts with the early stages of childhood. That relates to a statement that was recently made by a fellow Board member, Sunil Gunderia, who said, “The most effective and efficient societal investments in education are those made in early childhood education.”

Now that you are a member of Children’s Institute’s Board, what is something you would like to accomplish in your work and advocacy through Children’s Institute?

There are three parts to what I’d like to accomplish as a Board member of Children’s Institute:

First, in an early meeting with Martine Singer and Catherine Atack, before I became a member of the Board, they had mentioned that Children’s Institute has been around for over a hundred years – since 1906, which is about the time LA Children’s Hospital was established. But a major difference is the level of public awareness between the two. I would like to help build awareness for Children’s Institute and its work through my efforts and connections.

Second, because of my background in tech, I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to drive and improve efficiencies to contribute to better outcomes internally.

And third, also related to technology, but more specifically as it relates to its externally facing products. I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to improve products and services delivered to CII’s children and families.

That’s wonderful! We’re so excited to have you onboard! On a personal level, can you share some of your hobbies?

I have a bunch of hobbies, most of which lean pretty technical. I enjoy photography; I also enjoy sailing and powerboating; I’ve always been big into cars and had an amateur racing license at one point; I do a lot of DIY from electrical to plumbing to carpentry to metal work; I do some content creation; and I’m building an AI home automation system. I’m probably forgetting something. One day I will get a private pilot license, but my wife has forbidden me to do that while we have young kids!

Are there any other interesting facts about yourself?

I mentioned I had several patents from my time at Disney. There’s a high likelihood, probably a certainty, that you have come across and experienced one of my patents if you’ve ever watched a streamed video with ads in it. If you’ve noticed the countdown timer during an ad or how you can’t skip the ads, you’ve come into contact with one of my patents!

Thank you so much for your time, Ariff. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Welcome to Children’s Institute!

(more…)

Alarming Suicide Rates Impacting Latino Youth – NBC News Featuring CII

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NBC News recently published an article reporting on the increase in youth suicide rates, featuring insights by Dr. Diane Elias, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Children’s Institute (CII). While the findings may not be surprising, especially to those familiar with recent mental and behavioral health trends, it serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of understanding and bringing awareness to this complex youth mental health crisis.

The rising rates of youth suicide and suicidal ideation can be seen locally in Los Angeles but also nationally, affecting rural, suburban, and urban areas, alike. What is interesting about the statistic is that not all groups are affected equally. According to NBC News, the suicide rate for Hispanic people in the United States has increased significantly over the past decade. Even elementary school-aged Hispanic children have tried to harm themselves or expressed suicidal thoughts.

The statistics show that the rise in youth suicide has been more pronounced in communities of color, including Latino communities, where there’s been a staggering 92.3% increase in suicide among Hispanic children 12 and younger from 2010 to 2019. There is a significant increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations among young people for risky behavior and suicidal thoughts. Children as young as eight have required hospitalization for attempting to harm themselves, said Dr. Elias.

What makes this issue even more complex is that often, there are multiple layers and contributing factors and no one-size-fits-all solution. Issues including anxiety, a sense of uncertainty, a lack of access to mental health resources, and underlying mental health issues can exacerbate the problem but there are other factors that are unique to certain ethnic and racial groups that act as obstacles including, but not limited to, cultural and language barriers, stigma surrounding mental health, and even societal and economic pressures attributed to one’s residency status. The article states that, about one in five Spanish-language calls ended with the scheduler hanging up or informing the caller that no one was available to assist in Spanish, further proving how mental health care is often difficult to access. It’s critical to note these cultural and language factors in providing the right access to care.

Children’s Institute is keenly aware of and considers these factors when developing specialized approaches to treatment. According to Dr. Elias, Children’s Institute’s approach includes the following methods & services:

  • Trauma-Informed Care: addresses underlying issues and appropriately responds to the impact of trauma on mental health.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): identifies and focuses on building coping skills and resilience.
  • Family Therapy: strengthens family support systems and communication within the family structure.
  • Crisis Intervention: provides immediate support and develops safety plans catered to the individual’s needs.
  • Collaborative Care: coordinates efforts with schools, other healthcare professionals, and community services for comprehensive care.
  • Holistic Approach: explores creative therapies, mindfulness, and self-care practices.
  • Culturally Competent Services: aligns with cultural sensitivities and beliefs held within different groups.

Additionally, Children’s Institute aims to support families and youth in reducing the risk of suicidal ideation by providing comprehensive mental health services. Individuals seeking help or those looking to support someone in need can benefit from Children’s Institute’s diverse and personalized approach to mental health and well-being. To start the process, you can call 213-260-7600.

It is critical to approach any warning sign seriously and with compassion. If you or someone you know is experiencing these signs, seek help immediately. Reach out to mental health professionals for support and guidance and if there is an immediate risk of harm, call emergency services or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideation, it’s crucial to seek immediate help.

Steps to Reduce the Risk of Suicidal Ideations and Suicide for Families and Youth:

Open Communication:

  1. Encourage open and honest communication within the family.
  2. Create a safe space for youth to express their feelings without judgment.

Establish Support Networks:

  1. Build strong support networks involving family, friends, and community.
  2. Foster connections that provide emotional support during difficult times.

Encourage Professional Help:

  1. Promote the importance of seeking professional help including counseling/therapeutic services.
  2. Find mental health professionals and organizations that can provide support.

Identify Warning Signs:

  1. Changes in behavior such as sudden withdrawal from friends, family, or activities previously enjoyed.
  2. Communicating a sense of hopelessness
  3. Engaging in reckless or impulsive behaviors without regard for consequences
  4. Avoiding social interactions and isolation
  5. Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or sudden unexplained mood swings

Additional Resources and Other Steps to Take:

Suicide Prevention | CDC

Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do

Rising Latino Suicide Rates Worry Community Leaders | NBC News

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for free and confidential support 24/7. This Lifeline provides crisis intervention and emotional support for people in distress or for those around them.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis. Help is available.

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 in the United States to connect with a trained crisis counselor. This service is available 24/7 and provides support via text message.

Emergency Services: If the situation is urgent or life-threatening, call emergency services (911 in the United States) immediately.

 

 

Back-to-School Advice for Parents and Caregivers

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For many parents, caregivers, and children alike, the back-to-school season is rarely synonymous with an easy time. Instead, this time often entails a transition from long summer days to structured school hours, which for many can be exciting, but also anxiety-inducing and even chaotic for some families. Understandably so, from as early as 0-5 years old, kids can have a hard time adjusting to new routines, which can add stress to family dynamics. Given this, we’d like to provide caregivers with information and advice on how to help ease their child and themselves during this time of year and beyond.

Beginning with the little ones, ages 0 to 5, the back-to-school transition is just as much a new experience for the kids as it is for the parents. Up until then, many of the kids haven’t left their caregiver’s side for extended periods of time, so this can be a jarring change for all parties involved. According to Odalys DeLeon, ASW, CII’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Specialist, it is important for parents to observe and note their child’s temperament and consider sharing this with their teacher. Are they easy going or slow to warm up? Are they receptive to new experiences or do they take time to adapt? What is their frustration tolerance? These are all great questions Ms. DeLeon recommends you keep in mind during this time of year.

In some cases, little kids can start off very excited for the new year and new experiences, but as the year progresses and they settle into the routine, they may become increasingly dysregulated both at school and at home. Some warning signs include having a hard time with the morning routine and if there are tantrums before school and/or afterschool. These signs as far as one or two months into the school year should raise some alarms.

So, what can be done if a child is not adjusting that far into the school year? “Something to keep in mind,” Ms. DeLeon mentions, “is that consistency creates a sense of safety. Bedtime and morning routines can help with anxiety about school.” Creating a social story can allow a child to visualize these daily routines and ultimately feel grounded when they are doing their routines in real-time. To create a social story, first ensure that the child is in an emotionally regulated state. Then, allow the child to draw themselves during each stage of their daily routines and caption the images with a few words about what they are doing. Example, ask the child to draw a picture of themselves brushing their teeth and write “when I wake up, I brush my teeth.” Other helpful activities include exposing them to media which portrays school in a positive way, such as Bluey or Sesame Street, or allowing them to bring a small item or token with them to school that reminds them of their caregiver.

Though we can expect children to become more resilient as they grow older, it can still be hard for kids in higher grade levels to feel integrated, especially if they are starting at a new school. According to Dr. Karla Harness Brown, Inglewood Unified School District’s Child Welfare and Attendance Advisor, something to look out for in teens and pre-teens is “spill-over” from the school day into the evening time. This can look differently depending on the child, but some signs include withdrawal from social situations, wanting to stay in their room all the time, having negative conversations about school, and becoming heavily involved with the internet. Overall, the child is communicating that they had a hard time at school during the day.

Thankfully, it is possible to intervene when you sense that your child is struggling. Dr. Harness Brown recommends that caregivers use the window of time on the ride or walk home to naturally ask “What did you like about school today?” Even if it was just what they had for lunch, this is a good way to help the child feel safe to talk about their day to their caregiver. Also, it is still advised to reach out to their teachers. “Talk to the teacher. It’s okay to do that,” says Dr. Harness Brown, “In the beginning teachers are doing ice breaker activities that help build bonds between students. During this time of year, teachers can also set up a buddy system for recess and lunch.” If the child is a bit older, you can also encourage them to join clubs and school activities to help them integrate. “It’s hard for new students when their classmates have attended the same schools overtime.  In this situation, a parent can also connect with other parents at their child’s school to help create a social network with their child,” says Dr. Harness Brown. Building a social network of parents can also be very beneficial for neurodivergent children who have a harder time in social situations. If needed, talking with a school counselor is also an option as they can act as the liaison between the parent and the teacher.

Though it may feel natural to stay focused on the child’s experience during this time, it is just as important to simultaneously practice self-care as a parent. Both Odalys DeLeon and Dr. Harness Brown recommend finding a mindfulness activity to help parents understand their own feelings and soothe their emotions. Meditation, deep breathing, prayer, and yoga are all great ways to begin this practice. In addition, understanding one’s own triggers is essential to help navigate stressful situations both at home and at school.

Though this time of year brings many changes, it also allows an opportunity for growth and development. As with any transitional period, moments of uncertainty are common. Though tantrums or mood swings are uncomfortable to bear, caregivers are encouraged to approach tough situations with curiosity and know that children may lack the maturity and language to communicate that they are having a hard time adjusting. It is great to know that there are ways to help students integrate and there is a community of adults, including teachers and school counselors, dedicated to helping the child succeed at school and beyond. CII wishes everyone a great 2023-2024 school year!

CII’s Home Visitation Program Changed My Son’s Life

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My name is Shirlys, and my son received life-changing services at Children’s Institute.

When I was seven months pregnant, I was visiting a friend while a CII staff member was there, and I loved the way she interacted with her two-year old daughter. I wanted that for my son, Sebastián. So, she put me in touch with Wendy from CII’s Home Visitation program.

Our team of home visitors were there for us every step of the way. They taught us what developmental milestones Sebastián needed to reach at six months, ten months and beyond. Everyone told us that it was normal for him to not be speaking at his age, that “boys just talk later than girls,” but not CII.

If it weren’t for our home visitors—Wendy, Mayra and Stephanie—Sebastián wouldn’t have been diagnosed with autism this early and he wouldn’t be receiving the help he is now, including language skills, paired with occupational and behavioral therapy. One of the most important things CII’s program has done is helping our son with his speech, giving him the confidence to use his voice.

Our greatest hope as parents is that this early diagnosis, and the support he is receiving, leads to an understanding of his condition and the ability to adjust to society so he can lead a fulfilling life, not limited by his condition. We want what every parent wants: a healthy child with everything they need to reach their abundant potential—educational achievement and being able to participate in activities like sports and the arts.

I am eternally grateful to Children’s Institute for giving us the opportunity to help improve the quality of our son’s life.

Please consider making a gift to CII this holiday season so that more children across Los Angeles can have the same opportunities and success as Sebastián.

What You Missed at Our Trauma-Informed Care Conference

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On Wednesday, September 28, Children’s Institute held our annual Trauma Informed Care Conference, where we spoke with leading professionals about actionable insights for healing collective trauma. Nearly 600 participants heard from our brilliant keynote presenters Andrea Elliott and Michael D. Tubbs as well as our incredible panelists Dr. Angela Venegas-Murillo and Alain Datcher. As a leader in trauma-informed care and evidence-based clinical treatment, Children’s Institute trains thousands of professionals and caregivers each year—including our own teachers, therapists, care coordinators and others. This annual conference is central to that work, because it challenges us to bring the most innovative thinkers together with the front-line professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and caregivers who experience trauma, violence and adversity.

This year, teachers, healthcare workers, mental health workers, and other frontline professionals heard about what lived experience can teach us in moments of compassion fatigue and persistence in fighting for social justice. Children’s Institute’s very own Behavioral Health and Wellness Manager for our Head Start Program, Dr. Brandi Eichstedt, led us through a conversation with Pulitzer Prizing winning journalist, author, and keynote speaker Andrea Elliott, who spoke on her long-term immersion work following an impoverished family in New York City.

Andrea shared her journey following Dasani, the eldest of her 7 brothers and sisters, her parents Chanel and Supreme and their heartbreaking and inspiring experience with homeless shelters in New York city. She highlighted the patterns of trauma and systemic racism contributing to the cycle of poverty the family faced. Andera reflected, “when you are too busy surviving, you cannot thrive,” which was painfully true for Dasani’s family. Despite disheartening stories of loss and struggle, Andrea also highlighted all of the power and strength she witnessed in Dasani, providing a more complete and compassionate portrait of a family that otherwise may have remained invisible in a society that devalues and dehumanizes the poor. Andrea reflected, “People often talk about the cycle of poverty. I also see the family story as the cycle of power. The cycle of resilience.” Brandi and Andrea discussed this resilience present in less privileged families and spoke about what types of resources, services, and system reformation we can work towards to ensure equity for all families.

Brandi and Andrea then joined panelists Dr. Angela Venegas-Murillo, Assistant Professor and General Pediatrician in the Department of Pediatrics and Urban Health Institute at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and Alain Datcher, former executive director of the Los Angeles County Youth Commission. Together, the panel discussed the dynamic between the family and the systems we currently have in place to support families and children. Alain continued to touch on Dasani’s story, noting that “how the system interacted with [her] family is also part of the trauma. That cannot be overstated.” Angela agreed in that we are already working towards empowered communities, but “the justice side is what we need to work on.” All of our experts shared their experiences in working with populations who have collective trauma, and agreed that we must continue to meet families where they are, every day, if we want to make sustainable change. As learners and educators, their discussion armed front-line professionals with new ways to frame challenges and opportunities in their everyday advocacy for system-involved children and families.

In our final keynote presentation, former Mayor of Stockton, CA and youngest Mayor of any major city in American history, Michael D. Tubbs utilized parables, personal experience and policy perspective to demonstrate the critical need to shift to a human-centered response to poverty and trauma. Mayor Tubbs shared his lived experience growing up in poverty and why he eventually went on to create the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the US. He spoke to the core issue of perpetuating cycles of injustice, to which he commented, “part of the Good Samaritan impulse is to have pity for people…it can lead us to think that the people are the problem.” Mayor Tubbs reminded us that at the center of systems and services are people. He said, “the best way to respond to trauma is to see folks as fully human, particularly because we know trauma is dehumanizing.” CII President and CEO Martine Singer and Mayor Tubbs finished the conference by speaking to the empathy and compassion it takes for everyone on the frontlines to do the work we do.

We want to thank everyone for coming to this year’s conference, and we hope to see you again next year!

Fun Science Experiments for Families

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August is a time of preparing to go back to school and reconnecting with friends and loved ones. We want to encourage family bonding and enrichment by celebrating all the different ways you and your family can have fun in your own home!

Have you ever tried an at-home science experiment? It’s a lot easier than it sounds and you don’t need many extra materials or ingredients. Check out a few recipes below.

Erupting Volcano
Skills Level: Basic
Messiness Level: High
Skill Practiced: Chemical reactions

What you’ll Need:
* 2 Liter bottle of coke
* Packet of Mentos
OR
* Warm water
* Dishwashing detergent
* Baking soda
* Vinegar
* Empty soda bottle

If using the Mentos method, all you’ll need to do is drop one tablet into the 2 liter soda bottle. Make sure to do this outside and keep your children at a safe distance. If using the baking soda method, place an empty container on a tray and use play dough or foil to create the “volcano” base around it (so the opening of the container is the top of the volcano). Drop remaining ingredients into container and watch it erupt! See here for more info.

Sink or Float
Skills Level: Beginner
Messiness Level: Low
Skill Practiced: Water density

What You’ll Need:
* Sink, bathtub, or large container of water
* Objects of various densities and size (ball, coin, empty bottle, rock, etc.)

This game is best for young toddlers and infants. While bathing your child, give them a variety of objects to try and sink. Let them observe which objects sink (more dense objects) and which objects float (more hollow objects).

DIY Lava Lamp
Skills Level: Easy
Messiness Level: Medium
Skill Practiced: Chemical reactions

What You’ll Need:
* Vegetable oil
* Water
* Empty container (ex. empty water bottle)
* Antacid tablet (ex. Alka-Seltzer)
* Food coloring

Mix water with desired food flooring. Break up the antacid tablets into a few pieces and drop into water. Add vegetable oil and watch the liquids and oil separate into fun globs! See here for more info.

Potion by Steve Jurvetson

Solar Oven
Skills Level: Difficult
Messiness Level: Medium
Skill Practiced: Solar energy

What You’ll Need
* Carboard box (ex. Pizza box or shoe box)
* Aluminum foil
* Plastic wrap
* Food to cook (we recommend s’mores)
Optional:
* Wooden Skewer or stick
* Plastic wrap

The most basic solar oven can be made with just a box and foil. Simply wrap the box in the foil and set your desired food inside. Then, place the box in the sun for a few hours and watch your food cook (or melt!). For more precision and faster cooking, prop the pizza box up with a stick or skewer and place the food on the base of the box. Cover the bottom part of the box with plastic wrap. The foil from the top of the box will reflect down into the bottom, melting the food faster. See here for more info.

Dinosaur Bones
Skills Level: Medium
Messiness Level: Medium
Skill Practiced: Paleontology

What You’ll Need:
* Flour
* Salt
* Water
* Images of dinosaur bones
* Oven

Mix the flour, water, and salt until you get a thick dough. Shape your dough into different bone shapes. You can leave the bones as clay material to reshape, or you can bake them at 250 degrees for 3 hours to achieve a hard bone-like texture. See here for more info.

Egg Drop
Skills Level: Easy
Messiness Level: High
Skill Practiced: Gravity
What You’ll Need:
* A few eggs (varies on how many you want to use)
* Various objects to wrap/store eggs in (ex. felt, plastic wrap, foil, leftover container, blanket)

Find a high point (such as stairs or a landing) to drop the eggs from. Using the materials gathered, create structure to protect egg from cracking when dropped. Drop protected egg from high point to see if it stays together or breaks!

July is National Minority Mental Health Month, but What Does That Really Mean?

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The Department of Health and Human Services officially recognizes this month as a time to bring awareness to the stigma and barriers racial and ethnic minorities face in accessing and utilizing mental health services. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) states that while most minority groups have similar or fewer mental disorders than whites, “the consequences of mental illness in minorities may be long lasting.” This is due to a lack of access to primary healthcare, insurance, and mental health education. Additionally, racial minority groups are often treated with cultural insensitivity by healthcare and mental health professionals. According to the APA, many patients in minority groups are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and factors that contribute to this include “language differences between patient and provider, stigma of mental illness among minority groups, and cultural presentation of symptoms.”

Our mental health and wellness providers at CII are acutely aware of these issues, which is why a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach is the foundation of their work. We asked a few of our staff why specifically recognizing minority mental health is crucial. Here’s what they shared:

“Mental health in our communities is still a hard thing to sell, especially in lower income communities. Our communities have a hard time trusting systems, and this has created a barrier. Breaking down this barrier has been an amazing process for me, specifically.”

– Jessie E Gonzalez. Clinical Supervisor

“It is important to recognize minority mental health, because mental illness does not have a specific race/ethnicity, and it can affect anyone regardless of their race. However, not everyone is able to get the support needed due to mental health being stigmatized in many minority groups. It is very important that mental illness gets treated in all minority groups.”

– Elizabeth Magana, Child and Family Specialist

“I feel that it’s important because I am aware that racial and sexual minority groups experience higher levels of anxiety and other challenges.”

– Anna Maria Guerra, Therapist

“In mental health particularly, it is important to provide the services necessary to restore trust and mend what has been broken by systems that have marginalized, exploited, and forgotten communities of color for centuries.”

-Karen Luna Gonzalez, Therapist

“Recognizing minority mental health is very important as it helps our community become better in a sense that people can learn to be more understanding and help reach those that need assistance but may not have the resources.”

– Ashley Ramirez, Intensive Care Coordinator

“Coming from a Latino family and community, mental health is considered a myth. Therapists and medication are for ‘crazy people’ or ‘the weak minded’. It’s important to educate our communities and let them know that it is okay to speak about trauma. It is okay to seek help without having to fear what people will think of you or how they will perceive you. It took me a while to be able to seek help myself, because I did not want my family to see me as a ‘weak’ person. I’m thankful that I was able to connect with a therapist of my own and also educate my family on the importance of mental health to break the stigma.”

– Sofia Manzo, Parent Partner

The Office of Minority Health has put together an abundance of resources for anyone looking to seek care or learn more about how to advocate for minority mental health equity. For an extensive list of information on coping with stress, trauma, violence, substance use, diagnoses, and treatment, head to: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month — Resources and Publications (hhs.gov)

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, or any other mental health crisis, call or text 988 to get connected to a free crisis counselor.

Healing Childhood Trauma From Gun Violence in Watts

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At just two square miles, Watts is one of Los Angeles’ smallest neighborhoods – showing up as a blip on the sprawling 500 square mile footprint of the city. Yet with a median annual income of $25,000 and five large housing developments, Watts is a small community dealing with large issues when it comes to violence and trauma.

Watts has dealt with decades of high crime rates and frequent gun violence. Multiple generations have grown up in a neighborhood where the rattling bang of a gunshot has been a regular occurrence and the risk of a family member or friend being targeted or hit by a stray bullet is a real threat. During the span of one week in late March 2019, a total of 26 shootings with 10 fatalities took place across Los Angeles, with multiple incidents in Watts.

Minimizing the impact of gun violence is what a new initiative at Children’s Institute is working toward. Known as The REACH TEAM, CII is partnering with the LA City Attorney’s Office and LAPD to respond to gun violence by expanding access to crucial intervention and counseling services for children in Watts.

“Gun violence is so present in these neighborhoods,” said Eztli Herrera, Care Coordinator on The REACH TEAM. “We don’t want to minimize how traumatic this is and act like it’s normal.”

Residents in Watts have endured decades of gun violence that has caused generational trauma and toxic stress.

Prior to joining CII, Herrera worked in schools around South LA. She said she saw a lot of nervousness and anxiety tied to gun violence whenever the topic came up around students.

At one point, she remembers a group of students swapping details about a time they had a gun pulled on them after school. Other times they talked about having few options for walking home safely where there would be a lower potential of encountering somebody with a gun.

Deputy City Attorney Lara Drino said that in environments where gun violence is prevalent, children are likelier to intersect with violent crimes as adults. After hearing about these outcomes at the Watts Gang Task Force meetings in and around Watts, Drino said she saw an opportunity to increase mental health resources as a way to help children in Watts heal from trauma.

Without counseling services, exposure to gun violence can have damaging results that last throughout adulthood. Viewed as a toxic stress, children can develop symptoms like post-traumatic stress disorder that impact brain development and physical health. Academic achievement, professional success and family stability are all negatively impacted as well.

Watch the Spectrum News story on The REACH TEAM

It is essential that children who have already experienced gun violence have access to counseling and support services. These services can help them heal from past trauma and give them the tools and resources to navigate future dangers. Drino said she also sees The REACH TEAM connecting kids with other community-based initiatives like after-school programs that keep children away from gang activity.

“If we can intervene in these kids’ lives early and get them on a different trajectory with positive mental health, hopefully we can keep them out of the criminal justice system as either a victim or a suspect,” Drino said.

The REACH TEAM wouldn’t be complete without LAPD who provides background on neighborhood dynamics around housing developments while also sharing immediate updates whenever there are reports of shots being fired in Watts. This work is overseen by Lieutenant Gena Brooks of LAPD, who is also on CII’s Board of Trustees.

CII’s Clinical Program Manager Ginger Lavender-Wilkerson with The REACH TEAM members Deputy City Attorney Lara Drino and LAPD Lieutenant Gena Brooks.

“Normally when we respond, we’re looking for the victim to take care of, for the suspect, to take them in to custody, and we’re walking by all these little casualties of war who have seen it, and what we realize now is that hurt people hurt others,” Lt. Brooks said.

While Herrera handles the day-to-day work of implementing the strategies of the program, Clinical Program Manager Ginger Lavender-Wilkerson, LMFT, oversees the team along with Maria Reyes, who provides counseling and therapy and helps with outreach.

Based out of CII’s Watts Campus, The REACH TEAM goes out into the community and responds when shots are fired. Whenever LAPD informs The REACH TEAM of a shooting, the group moves into the area to find kids who may have seen or heard the gun shots. They talk to community leaders and neighbors to understand who exactly has been affected.

When they learn about a child who has witnessed gun violence, they reach out to the family with a care package that includes a teddy bear and other items designed to help a child relax. The team then works with the family to set up short-term counseling. As children access services, assessments are made around longer-term therapy and support groups. In some cases, it may take more than a month for the signs of trauma to appear so the team checks back in with families who may have initially declined services.

If we can intervene in these kids’ lives early and get them on a different trajectory with positive mental health, hopefully we can keep them out of the criminal justice system as either a victim or a suspect.

–  Lara Drino, Deputy City Attorney

Reyes said children have shared with her that it feels good to know they now have a place to go if they need support.

“The REACH TEAM has helped kids understand it’s okay to talk about how they’re feeling or what they’re going through,” Reyes said. “This work is going to dictate the health of the next generation in Watts.”

When designing The REACH TEAM, Lavender-Wilkerson said it was crucial for them to go out and meet residents to better understand their needs. She said mental health resources can carry a stigma in Watts where people most likely won’t utilize these services unless the team was knocking at their door and following up with them. She said this is a unique and proactive approach that is time-intensive, but will likely determine the initiative’s eventual success.

CII's initiative to prevent trauma from gun violenceThe REACH TEAM at CII includes Maria Reyes, Yvette Martinez, Eztli Herrera, and Ginger Lavender-Wilkerson.

“While counseling is focused on children, she said the team’s outreach is geared toward helping the whole family. In most cases, she said parents and other family members have also grown up around gun violence and deal with these dangers on a daily basis. They too have experienced trauma and need outlets to heal.

“Parents are affected by this as well,” she said. “Many don’t recognize their own trauma, because they’ve accepted gun violence as a regular thing.”

The REACH TEAM is focused on partnership at all levels of the community and refers adults to free mental health counselors or support groups like Mothers of Murdered Children. Lavender-Wilkerson said it is essential that the whole family heals from gun violence, not just the children.

The REACH TEAM has helped kids understand it’s okay to talk about how they’re feeling or what they’re going through. This work is going to dictate the health of the next generation in Watts.

– Maria Reyes, Therapist

When The REACH TEAM isn’t working directly with families affected by a recent shooting, they are out in the community educating groups on the importance of counseling and ways to stay safe in their neighborhood.

Herrera estimates the team attended upwards of 30 meetings in the last few months with different community groups at housing developments, schools and churches. She is frequently picking up the phone or meeting in-person with community leaders.

She said it is important for The REACH TEAM to be an active part of the Watts community. She wants residents to know she and her team members are a resource, whether it is a question about the best route home from school or the benefits of accessing counseling after a traumatic event.

Herrera said it is important to let people know they aren’t alone. They have a whole network of people here to help them.

While the program has only been in place since September 2018, Drino said she is already seeing results that point to this being an essential program to helping Watts heal from decades of gun violence. If this program is successful, Drino said she can see it expanding to other parts of South LA that face similar challenges.

Last month, The REACH TEAM held the first workshop in what will be a series of courses designed to give kids important tools for avoiding gun-related traumas. A group of 20-plus kids listened intently as the team went over the long-term effects of trauma and how counseling can help. The kids were appreciative and optimistic about the guidance they were receiving.

For Herrera, this was another reminder that The REACH TEAM is approaching gun violence in a unique way. Classes like these, in addition to the other work being implemented, highlight the evolution of community support and trauma that differed from when she first started in the neighborhood. The last few months have been a positive first step in what will hopefully be a successful campaign to heal Watts after decades of struggling against gun violence.

“We want to continue a dialogue and start the healing process,” Herrera said. “We’re reaching out and we’re really trying to make a difference.”

CII is working to help children affected by gun violence

The Gift of Possibilities

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My name is LaRae and I’m a working mother of four children. I survived years of living in a violent household, as a child and into my adulthood. I have fought to keep my children safe, because they are the most precious and important people in my life. Our family has experienced significant trauma, including multiple incidents of gun violence, personal injury, murder and homelessness.

I grew up in the projects in South LA where I learned very fast that I had to get tough, even though I was a child who didn’t like violence. One day, my dad sat me in a folding chair and invited all the neighborhood kids to hit and kick me. Afterwards, he said, “Now are you mad enough to go and fight?”

Throughout my life, I was also struggling with my own internal battle. I was constantly under the pressure of thoughts that the world and I just didn’t fit. I lived over 20 years of my life suicidal and it reached a point where I couldn’t take care of my children. This is when I was introduced to Children’s Institute. I didn’t know much about myself at that time. The therapist would say, “We are going to explore how to identify our feelings,” and I would start to release every secret I’d been holding throughout my life that I’d been ashamed of, or had weighed me down. I told it all — I got free.

Children’s Institute has been a part of my journey from contemplating the worst to accomplishing the best. From teaching me how to create a new vision for my life that is centered on purposeful living and stability, to attending conferences to help me transition back into work.

All four of my children benefited from Children’s Institute’s therapeutic programs teaching us to work together as a family, learning how to build healthy relationships with ourselves, with one another, and also with our community.

Today, my family is doing great, and we are exactly where we are supposed to be — happy, healthy and safe.

Happy Holidays,

 

 

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