Family Focus Programs & News | June 2020

We Want Your Input!

It has been great to connect with parents and grandparents in our virtual groups over the past few months, and we are hoping to see you in person in the not too distant future. We are working on developing a plan to offer parenting classes/groups at one or both of our health centers, and we would appreciate your input. If and when we do re-open for in-person groups and classes, we will be following all of the state safety guidelines for screening and social distancing for adults and children. Thank you for completing this brief survey!

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Parent Recharge is Virtual on Thursday Mornings

Virtual Parent Recharge Thursdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/334557303 Meeting ID: 334 557 303 June 4 : Talking Back to Worry Visit Dawn Huebner’s website for a one-page tip sheet about this strategy and how we can use it with our kids (and ourselves). June 11: Transition to Summer 2020 School is ending and summer plans may be on hold. This transition can be tricky! We will explore strategies to create a healthy, happy summer for yourself and your kids. June 18: Let's Play! We can all use a little inspiration to find new ways to have fun together this summer. We will discuss games, activities and projects for kids of all ages. June 25: Raising Resilient Kids Listen to this great conversation about emotional intelligence from the podcast Unruffled. We will discuss the ideas for helping kids understand and navigate their difficult emotions. Our Virtual Parent Recharge group is for parents and caregivers to connect, share ideas, vent frustrations, ask questions and get support as we navigate this challenging time together. You are welcome to pop into the meeting at any time during the hour we are together on Zoom. And if things get busy or hectic at your house during the meeting, you can put yourself on mute and do whatever you need to do….and join back in when you are ready. We look forward to seeing you at a group soon. Feel free to email Patrice if you have any questions. You can also visit our private Parents Connect Facebook group for parenting resources and inspiration. PARENTS CONNECT | facebook

Talking With Kids About Hard Things

Check out Dr. Dawn Huebner's new book, Something Bad Happened . She reads it aloud on her website in a 39-minute video that parents and children (ages 6-12) can watch together. The book aims to help parents and kids "feel stronger and more connected to the good that exists in the world."

Support for Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers

Here is what Terry shared about the virtual Relative Caregiver Recharge group: "Being able to talk out everything that is going on in a place that is understanding and non-judgmental has been so helpful. I hear something in someone else's story, and I can relate, and learn..."

Across NH there are thousands of relative caregivers and grandparents who are raising children in the absence of the children's biological parents. Whether this arrangement is informal or it involves guardianship, adoptive or foster parenting there is help and support available. Our Kinship Navigator Program helps link kinship families to services and supports specific to their family's needs . Email Joann for more information. The Relative Caregiver Recharge group meets weekly on Zoom. (We are hoping to add in-person meetings soon.) This Grandfamily Resource Guide has information about resources available to grandparents and relative caregivers. Step Up Parent s is a local non-profit offering financial assistance to kinship caregivers in New Hampshire who are raising the children of parents with substance use disorder.

Literacy Tip of the Month: Prevent the Summer Slide

Kids who keep reading, keep learning! Reading to your kids and talking with them about their books are some of the best things you can do to prevent the learning loss that often happens over the summer months. Read these 7 tips to help keep children reading: Access to books, encouraging choice, talking about books, reading routines, and reading role models can make a difference. For more ideas to launch a summer full of reading and learning visit your town library's website or check out StartWithABook.org

startwithabook.org

Greater Seacoast Community Health

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