Let's Catch-up: January 2023

Our mission is to empower families to foster resilience and prioritize mental health and emotional wellness in their children through educational programming, access to resources, and peer support.

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Would you recognize an eating disorder in your child? Did you even know it's a mental illness? We're starting our 2023 Lunch & Learn series with a conversation on this important topic. Keep reading for more details and a link to register. You'll also find out about mental health treatment options when the weekly session is not enough, a new trauma resource from CATCH, and a Daily Herald article highlighting support available in our community. (Thank you to the Daily Herald for including CATCH.) Make sure to scroll to the bottom for a heart warming reminder from Dinos and Comics, a comic about depressed dinosaurs who find hope in each other. It's one of our our new favorites and we are happy to share it! -The CATCH Team

In this Issue Lunch & Learn Eating Disorders Friend/Social Drama Learn from Experts: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Trauma Kits Parent Support Network Parents Connect: Join a Group Mental Health in the News... featuring CATCH! Dinos and Comics

Lunch & Learn

Does an Eating Disorder Live in Our Home? Tuesday, January 24, 2023 @ Noon Eating disorders are on the rise, they don't discriminate, and they aren't always obvious.

Join us via Zoom and learn about the warning signs, underlying mental health symptoms, and treatment and support options. Speaker: Kristen Anderson, LCSW, Chicago Center for Evidenced Based Treatment. Register

For more information related to eating disorders, check out this webinar: Be Their Valentine: Fostering Self-Love in Youth of All Sizes Tuesday, February 14 @ 12pm via Zoom Learn to help kids cultivate positive self-worth and combat the messages that lead to a lifetime of body dissatisfaction, a poor relationship with food, and potentially disordered eating, during a presentation by Rogers Behavioral Health and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Register

Also on the Lunch & Learn calendar... Social & Friend Drama: How to Support Your Child Tuesday, February 21, 2023 @ Noon More than ever, our kids are navigating drama amongst peers and friends. It's difficult to escape due to technology and social media, and it can have a significant impact on their mental health. These struggles are challenging for parents too. Join us and learn how to help your child navigate different scenarios, when to step up, and when to step back. Speaker: Kate Stewart, MA, LCPC, Affiliates in Counseling Register

Recordings of previous Lunch and Learn programs are available on the CATCH YouTube Channel.

CATCH Lunch & Learn programs are supported by a generous grant from the Northbrook Woman's Club.

Learn from Experts: IOP

Intensive Outpatient Program When a child is struggling with their mental health, weekly therapy may not be enough. What's the next step? In some cases, an intensive outpatient program known as an IOP is a great option. In these latest videos from CATCH's Learn from Experts series, Dan Mortenson, PhD, Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center, LLC, explains what to expect from an IOP, indications a child may need this level of treatment, and a parent's role.

Watch

Local IOP Programs Plena Mind Center Compass Health Center Josselyn Simply Bee Counseling

Looking for additional advice from experts? Visit CATCH's YouTube Channel for 2-minute videos on these topics and more: School Refusal Social Anxiety Eating Disorders Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Trauma Kits

A New CATCH Resource for Local Youth in Crisis When a young person in our community is working through trauma this winter, they'll have new tools and resources to support them in that moment of crisis and throughout the healing process. Following last summer's shooting in Highland Park, CATCH volunteers began working closely with trauma trained professionals to design a youth trauma kit. It contains items to help someone self-soothe, understand and regulate difficult emotions, and reach out for support when needed. Some local schools, emergency response personnel, and social service agencies have the kits on hand. These kits complement the CATCH Coping Kits which provide proactive tools to elementary, junior high, and high school students, enabling them to better identify their emotions and regulate their body's response to them.

Parent Support Network

Parenting is hard, but it can feel more manageable when we support one another. And that's why we created the Parent Support Network. It offers parents and caregivers access to personalized resources as well as opportunities to connect with other parents and learn from peers in small, confidential groups. Join Parents Connect (details below), visit our website for resources, or reach out for individual help. We are here for you.

Parents Connect If you're asking, What else can I do to help my child with their mental health issues? The answer is: Find support for yourself! Parents Connect groups are made up of 4 to 8 adults who are caring for children of similar ages. We meet weekly to provide a place where people can share their experiences in a confidential setting. Learn more.

Register: Parents Connect

Mental Health in the News

Did you catch CATCH in the news? The Daily Herald reported on how local mental health experts are helping kids, families, featuring advice from CATCH Board President Rachel Tzinberg. 22 Lessons on Life, Love, and Choosing What Matters Most (Medium)

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Are you following CATCH on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram? Stay up-to-date on all things CATCH and mental health in our community.

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