April 2021

By Treva Lind, The Spokesman-Reveiw, April 19, 2021 Lessons learned in the garden can grow immeasurably for children as a portal into the natural world. Take it from a Spokane gardener who has helped kids harvest plant-based knowledge for 15 years. Sue Malm, a WSU Master Gardener since 2006, leads the program’s youth committee. She’s visited many school gardens, science fairs and classrooms, gaining tips on how to lead children toward a love of gardening. And she’s witnessed much learning...

By Jennifer Hays-Grudo and Amanda Sheffield Morris, The Good Men Project, April 19, 2021 Adversity, such as abuse, neglect, and poverty, damages children. But protective experiences can build resilience against adversity and promote positive development. We identified 10 relationships and resources proven to counter the impact of adverse experiences. They have hidden magic that can transform an otherwise miserable childhood. Perhaps a child has been abused and has an alcoholic or depressed...

By Richard E. Besser and Julie Morita, USA TODAY, April 19, 2021 Americans face a challenge of our own making on the path to herd immunity: our failure to properly consider the needs of children. While we can celebrate the fact that more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S., few of them, outside of clinical trials, have gone into the arms of children younger than 16. That’s why we need to recalibrate our expectations — and redouble our efforts — so...

Military children are faced with many challenges, including but not limited to extended separations, deployments, frequent moves, and loss. The relationship with a parent or primary caregiver is critical to a child’s sense of self, safety, and trust. While many military children adjust well after a death, other children have ongoing difficulties that interfere with everyday life and make it difficult to recall positive memories of their loved ones. A child may have a traumatic reaction after...

By David L. Kirp, The New York Times, April 25, 2021 The boy I’ll call Jackson is the kind of youngster who drives a preschool teacher around the bend. The 4-year-old bites and hits other children, and curses out his teacher, Mariana Lopez. During circle time, when the class is supposed to cluster around and listen to one another, he is a hellion, and nap time turns into a pitched battle. Preschool teachers rely on parents to relate what’s happening on the home front, but Jackson’s mom...

Hi Folks, The latest edition of the Surviving Spirit Newsletter is posted at the website - http://newsletters.survivingspirit.com/index.php Once again I've tried to create a mix of articles, videos, music, books, podcasts, resources, etc, that offer Hope, Healing & Help. As the saying goes, “ Take what you like and leave the rest. ” or here's the PDF - http://newsletters.survivingspirit.com/pdfs/2021-04-The_Surviving_Spirit_Newsletter_April_2021.pdf To sign up for an e-mail copy, please...

We welcome you to join our free workshop on April 28th at 6:30 PM PST Your family will be able to learn more about intuitive eating, how to beat screen addiction, and how to practice fitness at home. After the workshop, your child will have the tools for improving self-esteem, their positive body image, and they’ll know how to reduce their anxiety and screen time Sign up for our workshop by following this link tinyurl.com/ks0428

The Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) in partnership with T he Child Abuse Prevention Center (CAPC) invite you in honoring parent awardees at the 4th Annual Parent Leadership Awards on April 26th at 11:00AM--1:00PM. The parent awardees, along with PPAC (Parent Partner Advisory Committee) guests, will participate in a virtual panel to discuss their lived experiences as both parents and leaders in their communities. This event will include virtual group activities and an awards ceremony...

Join the Children’s Bureau on Tuesday April 27, 2021 at 2-3:30 p.m., as they recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Meet the new Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha Schomburg and hear her vision for the Children’s Bureau’s prevention agenda. This will include a dialogue with practitioners at the national, state, and local level about how we can concretely bring a race equity lens to our prevention work. For more information and to register, please follow this link.

The Rev. Darrell Armstrong, pastor of the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey, is an accomplished man. He graduated from Stanford University in public policy and went on to get his master’s degree in divinity studies at Princeton. As a former director in the New Jersey Department of Human Services, he was responsible for New Jersey’s statewide strategy for preventing child abuse and neglect. Armstrong has also worked as an entrepreneur, workshop facilitator, and radio host.

Spread the news to families in your community: even if they've never filed taxes, even if they have little or no income, they may be eligible for the 2021 Refundable Child Tax Credit. They have until May 17, 2021 to file with the IRS to receive this credit: $3600 for each child ages 0-6; $3000 for children 6-17.

It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic changed life as we knew it. Many families across the country have been living in “survival mode.” Tweens and teens continue to experience a range of emotions , including sadness, anger, and fear. If left unresolved, these feelings can take a toll on health and well-being. When it comes to teens’ emotional and mental health, they are experiencing a crisis, says Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez , a primary care pediatrician and assistant professor...