Parent Resource Guide by Abby Forsythe

Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Breathe in slowly through your nose like you are smelling a flower, then breathe out slowly through your mouth like you are blowing a leaf. Repeat at least three times!

Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Take a look at these calming activities for your child. These wellness activities can help your child self-regulate and calm their bodies.

Mindfulness for Adults

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Mindfulness for Adults

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Mindfulness for Adults

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Self care is not selfish! It is essential to your wellbeing. Your mental health matters just as much as your child's. In fact, you will be at your best to help your child through their needs when you are doing well mentally. These resources will give you tips on how to spend some time putting your needs first. Even if you only have 5 minutes a day, you can practice mindfulness.

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Here is a link to find the right therapist for you and/or your child in your area. A therapist can work with you and your child to work on coping skills and help get you through tough times. It is okay to reach out for help!

Trauma and its Effects

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We have all experienced trauma in some form. Provided are resources to help you better understand how trauma affects the body, both physically and mentally. Please remember that your experiences do not define you and you can overcome any obstacles in your way with the right tools. You are resilient!

Trauma and its Effects-Trigger Warning: please read below the link before clicking!

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Within this link is an ACE quiz. ACE means Adverse Childhood Experiences, or trauma you may or may not have experienced as a child. The quiz will help you better understand how the trauma you have experienced as a child has affected you as an adult, and how the trauma your child may or may not have faced is currently affecting them. This resource is included because it is important to understand how your trauma has affected you and in turn can help you understand how to help your child. However, this quiz requires you to reflect on potentially traumatic events you have faced in your life. Please take the quiz only if you feel you are in a good mental state to reflect on your own experiences. This can understandably be very hard to do.

Trauma and its Effects

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Trauma and its Effects

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Trauma and its Effects

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Early Intervention Services in Illinois

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Early Intervention

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Early Intervention can be crucial to your child's development. Early Intervention is for children birth to three who may be exhibiting signs delay in different areas such as cognitive, speech, social/emotional development, among many others. This does not mean that something is "wrong" with your child. Early Intervention helps provide services for your child as early as possible to help better develop these skills. It is a great resource!

Early Intervention

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Early Intervention-Social/Emotional Developmental Milestones

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Childhood Mental Health

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Depression in Children

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Anxiety in Children

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Social Anxiety in Children

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children

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Schizophrenia in Children

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ADHD in Children

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Autism in Children

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children

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Substance Use in Children

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Mental Health Concerns

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Provided in this section is information about different types of mental health concerns and how these present in children, as well as treatment options if your child is experiencing a mental health concern.

Therapies Used with Children

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Collaborating with Schools-IEP and 504 Plans

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Collaborating with Schools-Trauma-Informed Practices

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Collaborating with Schools

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Collaborating with Schools

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It can be tough for both teachers and parents to communicate behavior and mental health concerns with each other. It is important to remember that all parties involved with your child just want the very best for them. This section will help you understand your rights and your child's rights within the school, the importance of open communication with your child's teacher, and how to have tough conversations in a respectful manner.

Trauma and its Effects

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Early Intervention- How to Help Develop your Child's Brain

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Early Intervention

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Truly a must watch.

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Mindfulness Activities for Children

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Applied Neuroscience

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Below are resources discussing the Polyvagal Theory, Neuroplasticity, the role of our Parasympathetic Nervous System, guided mindfulness activities to engage the Parasympathetic Nervous System, the importance of co-regulation and attachment, the effects of loneliness, and the effects of racial trauma and ways to cope.

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The Polyvagal Theory

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The Polyvagal Theory discusses our brain and body states when we feel safe and connected, when we move into fight or flight mode, and when we are in survival mode. We flow through each of these states nearly every day, whether we realize it or not. However, some people who have experienced trauma may not flow through these states as easily, as they may feel unsafe more often. Take a look at these resources to help you recognize when and why a person is in each state, then look at the resources below to learn how to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System through mindfulness to help regulate the nervous system of yourself and others.

Neuroplasticity

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We are resilient! Our brains can and want to heal from trauma and past experiences. Here are some resources to help you learn to retrain your brain and create healthy habits and a more positive outlook.

Guided Mindfulness and Parasympathetic Nervous System Activation Strategies

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Above, in the "Mindfulness for Adults" section of the resource guide, I added resources to explain the benefits of mindfulness activities and some ideas to help you start practicing mindfulness. In this section, I have included resources to dive deeper into how activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System regulates our body and mind, a few guided wellness activities to try out to help you figure out which ones are best for you and your self-regulation strategies.

Loneliness, Self- Regulation, Co-Regulation, and Attachment

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Humans need other humans for the sake of our well-being. In this section, I have included resources to discuss the effects of loneliness, how to overcome loneliness, the essential need for secure attachment and co-regulation, as well as self-regulation strategies for children. Self-regulation begins with co-regulation!

Effects of Racial Trauma and ways to Cope

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Racial trauma is a very real and under-discussed topic. Though I do not know how it feels to experience this kind of trauma, and this section only touches the surface of this topic, I have provided a few trusted resources to help those who have experienced racial trauma and ways to protect their well-being.

Child Welfare

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Below are a list of resources regarding types of child maltreatment, local child and family advocacy centers and resources, Information on preventing child maltreatment, federal laws that protect children who have entered into Child Protective Services (CPS), information on how to navigate the child welfare system, and information on how to become involved in foster care. Please be advised that many of these resources discuss sensitive subjects such as child abuse and neglect and their impact, as well as the removal of children from the home.

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Foster Care Information

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Listed are several local resources and information on getting involved in foster care.

Child and Family Advocacy Centers and Resources

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Here are a list of local child and family advocacy resources. Within these resources, you will find information on counseling services for children and families, assistance with childcare and other resources, parent education classes, list of parent/child activities, foster care, post-adoption services, help with navigating the Child Protective Service process, among so much more.

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Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

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It takes a village to prevent child abuse and neglect. Here is information on risk factors in child abuse and neglect, as well as information and resources for how to prevent child maltreatment.

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Mandated Reporter Information

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Many professions require those within their workforce to be mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, but anyone can report child abuse and neglect. Here is the link for the mandated reporter training in Illinois, as well as information on how to report maltreatment and what signs and symptoms to look out for.

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Your Rights as a Parent in a CPS Investigation

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Navigating the child welfare system can be difficult, especially when there is so much emotion involved. If you find yourself a subject of a Child Protective Services investigation, here is some information on how to navigate the system and what your rights are as a parent.

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Child Welfare Laws

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Here is a list of just a few Child Welfare Laws. These resources will give you information on what happens when a child is removed from the home and how the child is protected by federal law after removal.

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Child Maltreatment Information

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Here is a general overview on the types of Child abuse and Child Neglect

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Mental Health Informed Practice In Education

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Mental health is at the foundation of student success, for both students and school staff alike. Below are resources for preventing, supporting, and improving mental health concerns in students of various backgrounds, ways to get help in a mental health crisis, how to advocate for accommodations for students experiencing mental health concerns, and a few resources for the improvement of mental health in school staff.

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Get Help

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Provided are resources for yourself or someone you care about when additional or emergency support is needed during a mental health concern or crisis.

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Developing Executive Functioning Skills

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Developing executive functioning schools in children allows the students to learn self-regulation skills and cope with their stressors in a healthy way. Provided are ways to help children develop these skills and set the foundation for their ability to focus on academics by implementing social/emotional coping strategies.

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Mental Health in Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and 504 Plans

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Accommodations for mental health concerns are available within schools. Provided is information on how to advocate for your child or a child you care for experiencing mental health concerns to help them succeed in the classroom when additional support is needed.

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Roles of Schools in Mental Health and School-Based Mental Health Programs

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Schools employ various staff members to help support students experiencing mental health concerns. Each staff member in the school should have a role in addressing mental health concerns. Provided are more information on the roles in various employees within the school setting, as well as positive school-based mental health programs and practices proven to have positive outcomes on behavior and mental health.

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Supporting Students with Mental Health Concerns

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Provided in this section are resources for school staff on ways to support students in the school experiencing mental health concerns, as well as the importance of why mental health services and supports for students are necessary.

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Supporting Minorities and Underrepresented Students in Schools

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Minority and other underrepresented groups in schools often face additional hardships regarding mental health concerns. Provided are resources for school staff members to properly support minority or underrepresented students.

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Supporting Mental Health Concerns of School Staff

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The mental health of school staff is as important as the mental health of the children in the schools. Provided are resources explaining the stressors behind mental health concerns in schools and ways to support school staff in improving their mental health and wellbeing.

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Home, School, and Community Partnerships

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It is imperative to work together as a community to support the needs of all. Provided are a list of resources to support the needs of families within our community, local daycare and financial support opportunities for childcare, a list of local businesses who are always more than willing to collaborate, as well as resources for teachers to properly support ourselves, our students, their families, and the community as a whole.

Local Resources to Support Families

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Provided are a list of local resources in our community and around our district.

Local Daycares and Childcare Assistance

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Here are just a few childcare centers around our area, as well as information to help with the cost of childcare in our area.

Local Community Partnerships

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These are just some of the wonderful businesses and organizations in our area that are great resources for collaboration with different projects and events within the school and the community.

Teacher/School Staff Partnerships and Resources

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Provided are a list of resources that provide trainings and other information to support a variety of students and their families in and around Central Illinois.

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