Child Advocacy: The Impact So Far in 2024
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1w ago
With your continuous support and advocacy, we have begun a new chapter at Kids’ Minds Matter to address the growing need for mental and behavioral health care in Southwest Florida. Our community outreach initiatives have yielded positive results over the recent months, connecting families with resources and education and fostering valuable conversations about mental health. Here are some examples of the impact we have made so far, this year: 3 Parenting the Exceptional Child classes with 27 participants 4 Mental Health First Aid classes with 47 participants 10 presentations promoting Mental ..read more
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A Champion for Children & Families: Valerie Telemaque’s Role as a Mental Health Navigator
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1w ago
Valerie Telemaque is a dedicated Mental Health Navigator at Golisano Children’s Hospital. She focuses on assisting families with obtaining the necessary resources to help overcome life’s inevitable challenges, particularly those related to mental health. An experienced expert, Valerie is an invaluable, compassionate advocate for struggling families in our community. A proud graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Valerie earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Passionate about helping families that have experienced abuse and had children suffering from serious mental ..read more
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Self-Harm in Teens
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
Self-injury often starts in the preteen or early teen years. About 17% of teenagers engage in harm themselves at least once, according to the American Psychological Association. Child and Adolescent Mental Health reports family problems, school or job challenges and struggling relationships with friends as contributing factors to those who have injured themselves. What is Self-Harm? Self-harm is the act of deliberately inflicting pain to yourself through methods such as cutting, scratching, hitting, burning, biting, etc. Self-injury is a harmful coping mechanism for those facing emotional ..read more
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Patient Awareness: Cultural Disparities in Health Care
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
By Jean Claude Sime, Mental Health Navigator Cultural disparities in health care can be a barrier to quality care. Providing quality healthcare to everyone is more than just having access to doctors and services. Health care is most effective when it delivers services that meet the social, cultural and linguistic needs of patients. Awareness of a patient’s culture helps promote trust and better health care and can lead to a higher acceptance of diagnoses and improve treatment adherence. Why is Health Care Accessibility Important? Mental wellness is universal. Behavioral and mental health ..read more
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Passion to Child Advocate Educator: MaKenna Anderson’s Calling to Support Children
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
MaKenna Anderson’s unwavering commitment to advocating and promoting child safety and development has been a driving force throughout her academic and professional career. She pursued this passion at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she earned a double major in psychology and communication with a focus on child development. Her extensive knowledge has been instrumental in her work as a Child Advocate Educator at Kids’ Minds Matter, where she continues to positively impact the lives of children and their families. After graduation, MaKenna embarked on a successful career that spanned severa ..read more
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Ella’s Story: A Family Finds Hope and Healing
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
Our country is facing a mental health epidemic that is growing each day, including right here in Southwest Florida, where it is impacting many children and families. Since 2016, Kids’ Minds Matter has made remarkable progress in addressing pediatric mental health and behavioral needs in our community, but there is still work to be done. There are countless stories of struggle and transformation to be told; this is Ella’s story. Ella was grappling with overwhelming anxiety, especially a challenging battle with separation anxiety, and found herself in a constant state of nervousness. Soon, the ..read more
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The Benefits of Teen Support Groups
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
Teen support groups let us know that anything is possible with a little help from our friends. These groups use the power of peers. Peer groups consist of same-aged individuals who share similar interests. They can be very influential on childhood and adolescent social development, with peer group influence being at its highest during adolescence. Participating in a group provides an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and to understand one another. Teen peer support groups are not the same as group therapy sessions. Group therapy is a specific type of menta ..read more
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Gratitude and Mental Health are Connected
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
1M ago
Gratitude and mental health are linked, and not just at Thanksgiving. Practicing gratitude can benefit kids’ mental health. Gratitude is the act of being thankful or acknowledging the good things in your life. It means taking the time to reflect and highlight the positive. It is the opposite of focusing on what you do not have, do not like or challenges. Gratitude and Mental Health: Reducing Stress and Anxiety Grateful people are more optimistic, feel more positive emotions, enjoy and remember good experiences, deal with adversity, build strong relationships with others, and most important ..read more
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Preventing Back-to-School Anxiety
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
2M ago
Back-to-school anxiety is common after families spend time together at home during a break from school. The time off can cause an abrupt transition, leading to a “let down” and “post-holiday break” in children. Children and teens, as opposed to adults, are more likely to express their feelings and emotions through behaviors rather than words, such as being more irritable, spending more time alone and not wanting to go to school. School refusal is quite common after school breaks and can be a sign of back-to-school anxiety. For some kids and teens, school is a place that causes stress and anx ..read more
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Building Bridges & Empowering Families: Shelby Foit’s Approach as a Mental Health Navigator
Kids' Minds Matter
by Webmaster
2M ago
As a Mental Health Navigator at Kids’ Minds Matter, Shelby Foit is dedicated to connecting families with available mental health resources to promote healing and empowerment. Shelby’s extensive expertise and compassionate guidance help residents in our community navigate the complex world of mental health. A graduate of Michigan State University, Shelby earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, preparing her for a life-long career committed to the mind, its behaviors, and the multifaceted dynamics of human relationships. After graduation, she embarked on a fulfilling career journey where she s ..read more
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