This Is Not What I Was Expecting

If you've ever lost it because you had to ask your child 14 times to bring their laundry down from their room or felt like a bad parent because you medicated your child or didn't medicate your child, you're not alone. As parents of children with mental health or behavioral challenges we can find a lot to beat ourselves up over. Join Melissa, Tracy and Christina as they tackle parent guilt and share some ideas on how to let it go. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

It school break and while our kiddos may be thrilled as working parents break time means double duty for us. If you feel like your world is absolute chaos you're not alone! Join Chrissy, Jill, Melissa and Christina as we wade through the sea of anarchy together. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

It's not unusual for parents to be told that their health insurance won't pay for their child's mental health treatment. That can leave a parent in a tough spot trying to cover the costs out of pocket or even worse forgoing the necessary treatment. No need to panic! Today we're talking about how you can get insurance that will cover the therapies your child needs at no cost to you, no matter your income. That's right, we're talking about PH 95! Join Melissa and Christina to get the information you need to get your application started!https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Children come with so much stuff! We're tempted to organize but one Parent Alliance team member has a good reason to not get organized. This week we share some tips on organizing, ideas for helping your child break down large tasks and a surprising downside and we chat a bit about chores. Have a topic you want us to address? Reach out to us at [email protected] For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

When your child suddenly starts acting out at school it can really throw you for a loop. The goal is to figure out what's going on and get them back on track as quickly as possible but the process is so slow. Additionally it really takes a toll on us, a parents. We question everything we're doing. This week we unpack not only ideas on how to help our kiddos but also how to help each other as parents in the thick of things, raising children with behavior and mental health challenges.Melissa shared a resource from our friends at DBSA to help your child understand and express their feelings. Check out the mood crew here: https://www.dbsalliance.org/mood-crew/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We're never quite sure if we're doing too much or too little for our children. When you're raising a child with a mental health challenge it's even harder to know. Join us for this week's episode when Tracy, Chrissy and Christina share tips they've learned for walking that line between helicopter parent and hands off parenting. We'd love to hear what challenges you're facing. Feel free to reach out at [email protected] Maybe we'll talk about your challenge next! For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

In this episode of This Is Not What I Was Expecting we dive into the challenges of parenting that you won't find addressed in parenting books. From food challenges to sensory processing disorders, we discuss our children's struggles and share our experiences. Tune in to hear our tips and advice for navigating these all to frequent tricky situations. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help Find out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donation To access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresources To be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Sometimes we wonder if anyone understands just how hard it is ... to be a parent, to be a parent of a child with a mental health challenge, to BE the child with the mental health challenge. Join Melissa, Tracy and Christina to check in and and chat about how this time of the year can be a little disheartening. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help Find out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donation To access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresources To be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

The Parent Alliance offers one on one support to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges no matter their age! Yes, you can give us a call and talk to a Family Support Partner at no cost even if your child is over 18 because, we get it. Our job as parent doesn't end just because our child becomes a legal adult. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

As always the team at PaTTAN has excellent resources to help us understand this service. Check them out here: https://www.pattan.net/publications/teachers-desk-reference-extended-school-year-esy/ https://www.pattan.net/videos/extended-school-year-esy/Questions an IEP team could consider regarding the need for ESY:Documented problems with working memory from assessmentsDemonstrated need for constant reinforcement over time, even during the regular instructional day/yearHistory from a previous year of losing skills and struggling to regain them after a school breakNeed for constant reinforcement of a behavior support program when a student is at risk of being moved to a more restrictive environment without substantial progress around behavior For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

The holiday break has started and we're already out of things to do to keep our kiddos busy! We're looking for any ideas we can find to avoid hearing the dreaded "I'm bored." Join us as we troubleshoot ideas and inspiration to help everyone enjoy winter break. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

When you're raising a child who struggles with their behavior or mental health, changes in schedules, large noisy events and activities with lots of pressure are ticking timebombs. Unfortunately all those things come together to make the holiday season the most joyful and hectic time of the year. Join our team as we talk about some of the challenges we face raising our own kiddos who struggle. We'll share how we manage and hopefully give you a few ideas to try out.How do you manage over the holidays? We'd love to hear! For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

In the real world the holidays don't always go as planned. In the moment things can feel like a disaster but so often looking back they're some of our favorite memories. In today's podcast the Parent Alliance team shares some of their favorite mishaps and ideas for managing those holiday expectations.Help your child prepare for holiday socialization with ideas from the Understanding your child's social battery tip sheet: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/understanding-social-batteriesWhat are your favorite holiday mishaps? We'd love to hear! For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

It's never easy to talk with your child about topics that are scary, awkward or safety focused. But when your child has anxiety, depression or any mental health challenge you, as a parent, can feel like you're walking a tightrope between giving them the information they need and not needlessly upsetting them. Join Melissa, Perl and Chrissy to hear how they navigate those tough parenting conversations.If you're concerned about your child's mental well being here's a tip sheet on How To Talk To Your Child About Suicide https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/talkaboutsuicide For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

This fall the Parent Alliance team held a youth, young adult and parents conference. We learned so much we wanted to share the highlights with those who couldn't make it. Join us to catch up without having to leave your house.We won't be posting next week since it's Thanksgiving but we hope you have a nice day filled with love and peace. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We shared the Parent Alliance's tip sheet for Understanding your Child's Social Battery: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/understanding-social-batteriesWe're always here to provide one on one parent peer support to parents living in PA at no cost: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We shared the Emotional Safety Planning tip sheet. There's versions for parents, kiddos and we didn't leave out our Spanish speaking parents! There's a version for you as well. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/emotional-safety-planIt's also never too early or too late to help our children learn some mindfulness exercises. Check out those along with morning affirmations and other quick tips for your kiddos and yourself! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xbcaVtrY2jMYou can also check out the Mindfulness webinar Awaken Pittsburgh did for us: https://youtu.be/ih-VSk-a4gs For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

As the school year loses it's shine of newness a few of us got together to talk about how it's going, how we're holding up and how we hold it together. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help Find out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donation To access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresources To be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

If you live in Pennsylvania and would like to work one on one with a Parent Alliance teammate reach out to us here: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We talked about and shared the following resources today: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/bullying-prevention For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We talked about a lot of resources available on our website. Check out our Juvenile Justice eBook https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/juvenile-justice-ebookOther tip sheets we talked about, like the Social Battery tip sheet can be found here: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/tip-sheetsWe're still putting the finishing touches on the Friendship eBook. Visit our What's New page to see it as soon as it's published: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/what-s-new For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

This week we really rely on the excellent information from the PA Education Law Center (ELC) and their truancy resources: https://www.elc-pa.org/truancy/Check out the webinar the ELC did for us on the topic of Truancy. Attorney Wakelin did an excellent job of breaking down each important section of the law and clearly spelling out how schools should be working with Pennsylvania parents to help their children attend rather than punish them for missing. https://youtu.be/lzT5OVYS9aYIf you'd like to talk with a Family Support Partner about your specific challenges reach out to us and schedule a free one on one appointment https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpWe understand because we've been there. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Struggling to find the right medication for your child with ADHD? You're not alone. Medication shortages can have a significant impact on our children, but there are ways to manage the fallout and support them effectively. It's essential to champion the cause of children with ADHD and seek professional assistance. We share tips on how to advocate for our kiddos effectively. Now, here's where we need YOUR help! If you found these insights helpful, I would love for you to share this post with other parents who may be facing similar challenges. Together, we can create a supportive community and navigate the difficulties of medication shortages for children with ADHD. And if you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, please don't hesitate to reach out. Your feedback and stories are invaluable. We're here to support you every step of the way. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help Find out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donation To access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresources To be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Christina shared one of her favorite resources from Wright's Law, the Letter to a Stranger. Find it and the theory behind how it works here: https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/Letter_to_Stranger.html For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Melissa shared a Mental Health Crisis Plan app, empowering anyone who has a serious mental illness to help guide their treatment preferences during a mental health crisis. https://smiadviser.org/mymhcpTeresa shared an article on FERPA: What parents of college students should know: https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/ferpa-what-parents-of-college-students-should-knowAnd A Parent's Guide to College Student Mental Health from McLean Hospital: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/parents-guide-college-student-mental-health For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Does your child have an IEP? Sign up for our 21 day IEP bootcamp. We'll send you 1 tip everyday to help get your child's IEP into great shape! https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/256643/76927333143938394/shareIf you live anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania feel free to reach out to us and we'll connect you with a Family Support Partner (FSP). An FSP is a parent just like yourself who is also raising a child with mental health challenges. They understand how challenging things can be and they're available to help you figure out how to best help and advocate for your child. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpListeners anywhere in the country are welcome to join the Parent Connections meetings. Held twice a week, once in the evening and once at lunch time, parents from all over get together and talk about whatever is on their mind and share tips to make life easier. For more information, follow this link: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/supportgroup For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We talked about a few resources today. Here they are:What are the physical symptoms of anxiety? Find out in our blog. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/post/the-physical-symptoms-of-anxietyCreate an Emotional Safety Plan for yourself and then have your children create one for themselves. It can be a great way to start a conversation about mental health days. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/emotional-safety-planWant to create a calm room at your child's school? Here's some tips https://smithsystem.com/smithfiles/stress-less-create-a-school-calm-room-students-want-to-visit/If your school offers calm rooms, let us know! For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

If you'd like to talk with a Family Support Partner (FSP) connect with us here: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help We'll be talking about back to school challenges in our Parent Connections meetings until the end of September. Join us Monday night at 7 pm (ET) or Friday afternoon at noon (ET). https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/supportgroup And if you child has an IEP now's the time to prepare for the school year. Check out our IEP Bootcamp https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/256643/76927333143938394/share For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We want to give a big thank you to Brewer who spent his internship with us as our Podcast Producer. His help was so valuable in helping us figure out how to get started and find our feet. Check out Dave's blog about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and the impact it had on his life: paparentandfamilyalliance.org/post/getting-an-adhd-diagnosis-in-your-30-s-parents-mental-health-matters-too-1Christina mentioned KC Davis check her out here: https://www.strugglecare.com/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Music: Dancehall Lush by Spice Originals. Here's some guidance from the PA Department of Education on admission to kindergarten: https://www.education.pa.gov/Policy-Funding/BECS/Purdons/Pages/AdmissionKindergartenBeginners.aspx Be sure to look for your local school district's website for rules and tips specific to your local area. If you have trouble enrolling your child in school or want to talk one on on to a family support partner because you're worried about your child's behavior in school or mental wellness reach out to us here: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

If you're not sure if your child is ready for kindergarten or not, the Parent Alliance, Family Support Partners are always available to listen and help you make a plan no matter your decision. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help If you live in Pennsylvania we're available to help at no cost to you. Parents from anywhere are welcome to join our support groups, webinars and utilize our resources. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Act 65 of 2020 is a mental health consent law introduced by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. This law "determines who can provide consent for voluntary mental health treatment of minors, in both inpatient and outpatient settings." The original goal of this law and the actual outcome have become blurred and have since negatively affected many families who are unaware of the real meaning behind the law. Listen to today's episode and check out these links below to get a better understanding of this mental health consent law. Enjoy!Find all of our Mental Health Consent resources here: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/mental-health-faq For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

On this week's episode Melissa, Tracy, and Brewer talk about all the different things happening at this point in life. School is ending, people are graduating, and pool parties are becoming the norm. For many children and young adults, this is a scary sight. At a time when you should be in relaxation mode, you are faced with a rush of anxiety and insecurities. This can be especially hard for our children that face challenges. In the end, Melissa and Tracy give great insight into combating these sunny day struggles. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Talking to your child about mental health can be challenging, especially when you are talking about their own challenges. Children and young adults may look at all of these myths and stigmas we talked about last week, and become insecure about their own challenges. This ultimately results in an insecure and defensive situation when you or another trusted individual try and talk to your child about mental health. In the end, open communication is key when it comes to your child and their challenges, but sometimes it is difficult to achieve without problems. In this episode, our crew talks about their relationship with this phenomenon and how they were able to navigate through it. Enjoy! For more information visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

50 years ago things such as depression and anxiety may have been considered taboo, or not even considered at all. Today, we live in a world where myths and stigmas about youth mental health are constantly represented in schools, social media, and much more. As a young child or teenager, it may be difficult to admit that you may be going through hard times, and these myths and stigmatism do nothing but hurt the situation. If we can normalize before we stigmatize then we can create a socially comfortable space for our kiddos to express themselves in the fullest form. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Sometimes, as a parent, we are forced to give more time and attention to our children that need it more. As young teens/children, these more self-sufficient may not fully understand why they are receiving less than their siblings. Although the love never changes from child to child, sometimes our care does and this stirs up a whole lot of sibling resentment. At the end of the day, no one is to fault but by lending an ear to this episode you may be able to navigate around the issue as a whole. As always, enjoy, and if you have any comments, questions, or concerns please visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

This week we are picking up where we left off with the second part of our 'Summer Series'. In this week's episode, you will hear our moms share some of their favorite summer memories with their kids as well as some of the tips and tricks they picked up along the way. Navigating Summer break can seem expensive and stressful, but we promise that some cheap supplies and an enthusiastic attitude will do just fine. And of course, don't forget to drop your kids off at Cheryl's!For more information visit us @: paparentandfamilyalliance.org For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer and we all know what that means. Yes, the kids are coming back from school and parents gotta figure it out! Whether you work on-site, remotely, or are a stay-at-home parent you are going to need to find your child some time to kill and yourself some time to work. For our kiddos with challenges we also want to try and find them some beneficial programs and our moms get into this by chatting about the logistics of their Extended School Year programs. Although the Summer can be tricky, our moms got your back in this first part of our two-episode Summer series. Tune in next week to hear the second part where our moms chat more about the fun activities that allow them to enjoy the warm days with their families. For more information visit us @:paparentandfamilyalliance.org For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

This time of year always seems like the right time for a little recharge. Whether the time is best filled with family, friends, or our favorite, by yourself it always is nice to get a break from regular life. In this episode, you will get to hear how some of our moms find these little 'recharge' moments throughout their busy days. It is always important to remember to give some time and effort back to yourself as the best you can be as a parent is when you are the best to yourself. For more information visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Act 65 of 2020 is a mental health consent law introduced by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. This law "determines who can provide consent for voluntary mental health treatment of minors, in both inpatient and outpatient settings." The original goal of this law and the actual outcome have become blurred and have since negatively affected many families who are unaware of the real meaning behind the law. Listen to today's episode and check out these links below to get a better understanding of this mental health consent law. Enjoy!More information on the law from the PA Dept. of Human Services:https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Mental-Health-In-PA/Documents/updated%20Act%2065%20PowerPoint.pdfOur website: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

We went back to basics with our episode today and decided to offer you guys some tips and tricks to help you navigate through this challenging journey as a parent. Sometimes the simplest tasks like getting up and out of the house can be so difficult, but with some helpful hints, you and your family may be able to tackle the morning better than you ever have. Whether you have the latest technology or traditional, we got you covered in this episode. Enjoy! For more information visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Growing up, I'm sure you had experiences where you found it difficult to fit in, find a hobby or group which you enjoyed, and every other possible experience when your main goal was to just feel normal. These experiences are the ones that make you so adamant about finding and utilizing your own child's special interest. Although it may be difficult to get this goal, the outcome is so special that we as parents would do whatever we can to achieve it. Hopefully, our episode here makes that journey an easier one. Enjoy!For more information visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

In this week's episode, the original crew of Melissa, Christina, Tracy, and Brewer discuss certain resources that can be useful when you feel like you are either stuck in a waiting line, between specialists, dealing with school difficulties, etc. You have probably heard our members mention certain ideas like PH95 and the Student Assistance Program (SAP) but you may not be fully aware of all the behind-the-scenes information when it comes to utilizing these tools. In this episode, you will hear our amazing moms' first-hand experiences when working with these resources. Learn more about SAP here https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/post/what-is-sap-and-how-can-they-helpFor more information on PH95 reach out to our Family Support Partners @ https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFor more information visit us @:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

In today's episode, we get into a sadly common phenomenon of bullying. Members of our crew give us their own life examples to further their points of view on the matter. At the end of the day, bullying is becoming more intricate and prominent with the advancement of social media and other communication platforms. As a parent, it is hard to resolve the bullying challenges when most of it is happening over technology, but we hope some resources here may be able to help. Resources:Website: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/NBC News Article: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/teen-mental-health-cdc-girls-sadness-violence-rcna69964Bullying Tip Sheet: https://simplebooklet.com/publish.php?wpKey=OYAoqQ6HyZPFlHCCopxzL8 For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

For more information visit us @:paparentandfamilliyalliance.org For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Read about one family's challenges with sibling resentment: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/post/dealing-with-sibling-resentmentFor more information please visit us @: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

For more information visit our website:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/Additional information can also be found on our blog:https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/blog Important Quote:"Do not let perfection get in the way of you completing something" For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

For more information visit us @ https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/ For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Listen to Melissa, Tracy, Christina, and Brewer chat about their experience with navigating a child's interest. Throughout this episode, our crew gives perspectives from both a parental point of view and from the point of view of being a child themselves. Your child's interests can lead to many opportunities both socially and internally, so why not start your exploration with us? For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-help Find out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donation To access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresources To be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

Learn more about your rights as a parent when it comes to your child and truancy. https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/truancySee an example of a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) and hear from our friends at the PA Education Law Center about your rights. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/helpfulresourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community