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We are announcing new training opportunities for May and early June.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Tuesday, May 4, 9 am – 3 pm
Monday, May 17, 9 am – 3pm
Wednesday, June 2nd, 9am to 3 pm
Adult Mental Health First Aid
Saturday, May 15th, 9am – 3pm
Virtual Mental Health First Aid is a two-part, eight-hour class that involves:
1.Two-hour, self-paced, online prework on Mental Health First aid topics and brief training on the online Zoom platform, which is used to host the live part of the class.
2. Six hour, instructor-lead, live training on Zoom.
Please note that you will need to complete the two-hour pre-work BEFORE the live portion of the class. Mental Health First Aid is a certification course valued at $170 per person. The Cambridge Health Alliance is able to generously offer it free to members of our community as a result of federal funding from SAMHSA.
Our trainings have limited capacity and a large waiting list. If you need to reschedule or cancel we request that you communicate in advance or we may not be able to accommodate your enrollment in a future course.
Advanced Registration is required. To register, please click on the link below.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring adults how to help someone who is developing a mental health or substance use problem or crisis.
Adult Mental Health First Aid helps community members learn about risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, and gives them skills and strategies to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Registration preference is given for those in the Cambridge Health Alliance’s service areas including Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Medford, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop. Registration is provided on a first come, first served basis.
For all registration questions and inquiries please contact Kerry Mello: kmello@challiance.org
Bunker Hill Community College
HSI Kickoff | Virtual Celebration
April 16, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Please join our VIRTUAL celebration through the link below:
HSI Kickoff Virtual Celebration Link
Keynote Address:
Dr. Alberto Ledesma, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Equity at UC Berkley
Author: Diary of a Reluctant Dreamer: Undocumented Vignettes from a Pre-American Life (Latinographix)
Why should you attend?
Celebrate our recognition as an HSI. Be inspired by the pathways of Latinx and BHCC community members. Learn about ways you can contribute to and benefit from our grant.
Current Students: This is a paid networking opportunity RSVP below to qualify.
Please feel free to share this invite with everyone in the BHCC community – faculty, staff, students and family and friends are welcome to join us.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON!
GRACIAS Y NOS VEMOS PRONTO!
If you have any questions please email: Maritza.Onodje@bhcc.edu
Posted in: Grade School, Parenting Concerns, Teenagers, You & Your Family
Topics: Child + Adolescent Development, Culture + Society, Relationships
“Are you out of your mind? You’re not old enough to go to a climate change demonstration. What do you even know about the climate? Besides, we’re in the middle a pandemic. Enough said!”
So says the parent, and turning to leave the room, we see the 13-year-old daughter’s eye-roll.
Does this “conversation” sound similar to one you might have experienced with a parent or guardian when you were growing up? It’s hardly a conversation – more of a harsh proclamation. But instances like this occur far too often.
In the last four years, all of us have experienced significant divisions in our nation and witnessed the most uncivilized arguments, and this has extended to families. Much of the fighting has been due to political divides, and it has been highly emotional, often with stand-alone, one-sided pronouncements like the one above, rather than being based on factual data by people who are clearly and calmly expressing their differences.
Sadly, this uncivilized process has invaded our homes – we all have been under siege. This kind of discourse has found a place in popular media, including very often in the news. Turn on any digital device, and what we hear is a lot of one-sided rants. In addition, due to the pandemic, many families have been living in close quarters with each other while at the same time enduring feelings of extraordinary isolation, laced with worry and uncertainty. For many families, all of this incredible stress has culminated in conversations that are far from civil.
How can we improve this situation, which clearly does not promote healthy growth and well-being for our kids? Like most things that influence development, sound behavior should start at home. Let’s look at what key elements make for healthy, collaborative communication.
First and foremost, think developmentally. We naturally will have different ways of talking with our pre-school, school-age, teenage, and young adult children, as well as with other caregivers at home.
1. Demonstrate Respect. Whatever the topic or issue is, begin with making it clear that everyone’s ideas and opinions are worthy. This is true for children of all ages. When we talk with each other, demonstrating respect and the value of the other person is vital. Even if we might think that their position is irrational, or that they are too young or inexperienced to understand the subject, give them the honor that they are worthy of expressing themselves. No civil conversation can begin if someone feels disparaged – even a young child.
As caregivers, a key part of showing respect, especially for younger kids, is being mindful of your non-verbal responses – scowling, sighing, rolling your eyes. And speaking of eyes, particularly with kids, speak to them at eye level, rather than standing over them, and maintain eye contact.
2. Listen and Try to Understand the Other Point of View. Listening is a skill and an art:
Don’t quickly dismiss something you disagree with, walk away, or make nasty comments about another’s position. We all take our ideas to heart, and dismissing someone else’s position as stupid, foolish, or unworthy of considering can inflame their emotions or cause feelings of worthlessness.
3. Beware of Attacking the Person. It is already common to take disagreements as personal, even when they are not. No civil conversation is helped by directly calling another family member foolish or ridiculous, or blaming or threatening them in the middle of a discussion. Focus your reactions on the topic at hand – not the person. Ask open ended questions to clarify their position. For example, say, “I really don’t understand what you mean. Can you tell me more about what you are thinking, and how you came to that conclusion?” Or, “How would you solve this problem?” If you or your child is out of line, or speaking in a hostile way, you might ask, “Can we try that again?” or say, “Wait, I was not being nice, let me start over.”
Our job with our kids, partners, and friends is to discuss ideas, positions, and solutions – not who the person is.
4. Use Empathy. This can be a tough one. But try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Try to feel and appreciate where they’re coming from. This may be feeling their emotions, or considering the path that brought them to a conclusion. While you may still disagree, you probably will find some common ground on most topics. And while your opinion or solutions may differ, if your child or teen senses you can understand why and how they are thinking, they are more likely to hang in and listen to your point of view – and maybe even use the same empathic skill to walk in your shoes.
5. Take Turns and Tell Stories. It can be easy for parents to talk over kids. Make a point to take turns when having conversations, without interrupting when your child talks. A great way of taking turns is by asking your child or teen (or them asking you) to tell a story from their life that captures their point of view. For example, if they are arguing for more screen time, let them tell you a narrative of how they have used screen time, even if it was playing a game, and what they got out of it. Narratives are harder to interrupt than proclamations.
6. Accept Being Wrong and Ask for Advice. In many hot conversations, it’s common to begin by thinking we are right. But if we keep an open mind, we just might learn something from our kids. For example, a teen might want to take a break from Zoom, miss a class, or hand in an assignment late. Most parents are apt to think, “Nope, your job is to do what is assigned in a timely fashion. That’s that!” But sometimes a kid is really anxious or stressed, or just needs a break from the difficulties of remote learning. Ask them for advice; for example, “What specially would you suggest I do?” If they can present this in a heartfelt, practical, and sincere way, what’s the harm in considering their point of view and supporting an extension?
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Disagree. What family has no disagreements? It’s unheard of. But there are healthy and growth-promoting ways to voice opposition, and other ways that just fan the flames. Encourage kids of all ages to disagree with a house rule and discuss it in a civil way – even things outside the family such as a school policy, or a social or political issue. It’s empowering for kids to engage with their parents, and it’s invaluable for them to learn how to articulate their point of view and have their opinion be considered.
8. Role Play. As a follow-up to the last point, caregivers, parents, older siblings, or other family members can role play disagreements in front of younger children. Having a civil argument over virtually anything is incredibly useful, particularly if it displays all of the points above – respect, empathy, listening, taking turns, asking clarifying questions, and coming to an agreement (or agreeing to disagree in some situations, such as staying up far too late to promote healthy well-being). It’s always best to take a position of humility and curiosity when engaged in conversation.
9. Have Frequent, Ongoing Conversations. Whether we disagree or agree on a particular topic, it’s always valuable to have a number of conversations, particularly about complicated topics. This encourages going deeper and giving the other person time to think about what was discussed, especially on important concepts that are difficult. And it’s always a good idea if the conversation is heating up to take a time out, and agree to come back to it later. All conversations take practice. The more we practice, the better we become.
These suggestions apply to all of us, whether we are coming to these conversations as a parent or other caring adult, or as a partner, colleague, or community member. As a career educator, I want my students to push back. As a parent and grandparent, I want the same thing. Yet I have to admit that at times I have fallen prey to authoritarian positions. We all have. But I hope that my discussions will remain civil.
With practice, we can catch ourselves when we go astray and reframe our thoughts and emotions to engage in fruitful conversations. These interactions are not only are a way of teaching and learning but an invaluable means of feeling closer to others and better about ourselves.
Teen Relationships 101 Spring Break Series for High School Students
Cambridge Health Alliance’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Program is hosting a program for high schoolers during April break! From April 19th-23rd, we’ll be offering a new virtual workshop series called ‘Teen Relationships 101’. Open to all 9th to 12th graders in Everett, Revere, Malden, Somerville, Cambridge, Chelsea, and Winthrop, students will meet daily with Community Health Educators to discuss all things dating and relationships in 2021. Topics include: consent, boundaries, and what healthy relationships look like today. Students will get to meet other students in their community, engage in activities and conversations, and come up with creative ways to share this knowledge with others. This program is free-of-cost and will take place each day of April break from 2:30-4pm. To take part, students need to fill out a registration form at tinyurl.com/cha-spring2021 by April 11th. Please share this opportunity with any teens who you think might be interested!
Teen Health, Love, & Relationship Workshop Series for Middle School Students
Cambridge Health Alliance’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Program is expanding our after-school programming! Starting on April 1st, we’ll be offering a new virtual workshop series for 7th and 8th graders called ‘Teen Health, Love, and Relationships’. Open to all 7th and 8th graders in Everett and Revere, students will meet weekly with Community Health Educators to discuss teen-centric health topics including healthy relationships, consent, anatomy, and reproductive health. Students will get to meet other students in their community, engage in activities, & even have opportunities to win incentives. This program is free-of-cost and will take place on Thursday afternoons at 3:30pm beginning April 1st and going through early June. To take part, students only need to join our group on the Remind app using the code @ermid21.
