Kids These Days!

Finding quality, affordable childcare for young children can be a challenge anywhere in Alaska. It’s especially difficult in rural Alaska’s hub communities where the cost of living is high and space is often hard to find. The lack of childcare becomes a factor in attracting professionals to jobs at regional health and other organizations. In the next installment of our series “Being Young in Rural Alaska” from the producers of Kids These Days, Anne Hillman takes a look at how some communities are trying to meet the challenge.

Alaska Native students make up nearly one-quarter of the student body in the state, but only five percent of teachers are Alaska Native. And new research from UAA shows despite years of effort, it’s been difficult to get more Native educators into Alaska Schools. In the next installment of our “Being Young in rural Alaska” series, from the producers of Kids These Days, Sarah Gonzales takes a closer look at the problem.

Kids with mental health challenges eventually grow up and become adults. So how do caregivers and communities help them as they make this major transition? And, since many psychological conditions begin in early adulthood – how can parents, friends and even, colleges, help them understand and learn to manage their own mental health? In-studio guests: Barry Andres, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Manager of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services where one division, the Transitional Aged Youth Program, helps young people move from one form of care to another and Georgia DeKeyser, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and the Associate Director of the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Health and Counseling Center.

Kids can experience mental health issues and kids spend a lot of time at school. So what happens at school when a student needs extra help - for a temporary mental health issue or a long-term diagnosis? How do schools respond and are they a place to find help? Parents, when should you talk to the school about a child's difficulties - is it a phase, is it affecting academics? In-studio guests: Bonnie Thurston, Director of Intensive School & Community Based Services at Denali Family Services and Sally Donaldson, middle school counselor at D’zantikiheeni Middle School in Juneau.

When mom or dad - or any caregiver of children - struggles with mental health issues it will affect the whole family. On this program we discuss how caregivers can find support for an array of challenges - from long-term diagnoses like depression and bipolar to temporary concerns caused by abuse or difficult relationships. Plus, how open should caregivers be about their mental health issues, support for living with an alcoholic family member and how poverty + depression go hand-in-hand. In-studio guests: Francine Harbour, executive director of the Anchorage affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Virginia McCaslin, shelter manager at Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Inc. (AWAIC).

In the first of the special, 4-part series on Family Mental Health, we take a look at what you would need to know if your family experiences a mental health crisis. When do you ask for help? Where do you find help? What if it’s the caregiver who’s in need? And what if it’s a child who’s struggling? In-studio guests: Randee Shafer, a licensed Clinical Social Worker, Kimberly Pettit, a co-founder of the Psychiatric Emergency Department at Providence Alaska Medical Center where she is currently the Behavioral Health Manager, and Paul Cornils, the Executive Director of Alaska Youth and Family Network.

Rates of alcohol abuse in Alaska are some of the highest in the nation and communities across the state regularly suffer from domestic violence, abuse, suicide and other related issues because of it. This is the final installment of the special reporting series, “Being Young In Rural Alaska” from the producers of Kids These Days. Traveling and reporting in rural Alaska, it’s impossible to miss the signs of alcohol abuse, and yet people often don’t talk about it: it’s such a part of life that it’s almost taken for granted. So what’s it like to be a kid growing up around heavy alcohol use in small-town Alaska? Sarah Gonzales heads to Kotzebue to find out.

This time of year, many students at Alaska’s boarding schools are heading home for winter break. Boarding schools have a long and complicated history for Alaska Natives; some blame them for loss of indigenous languages, and some students suffered abuse at schools. But these days, plenty of families choose boarding school as the best option to educate their kids. In the next installment of our series “Being Young in Rural Alaska”, Angela Denning-Barnes speaks with some of those families.

Early in our series Being Young in Rural Alaska from the producers of Kids These Days, we learned about efforts to re-introduce indigenous languages through school programs. At the Lower Kuskokwim School District, they have a different challenge: figuring out the best way to teach reading and writing to kids who are already living in two languages. LKSD is the largest Rural Education Attendance Area in the State of Alaska, encompassing a landmass roughly the size of West Virginia. It is in the heart of Yup’ik country. The district employs 325 teachers in 23 communities, and one quarter of the certified teachers are Yup’ik, the greatest percentage of indigenous educators of any district in Alaska. The district has begun rolling out a new method for teaching its bilingual students: elementary students are now taught reading, writing, social studies and science using what is called the dual language model. Sophie Evan has more.

A new reporting series from the producers of Kids These Days! In a series of twelve reports from all over the state, they’re asking the question: “What’s it like to be young in rural Alaska?” Series producer, Sarah Gonzales in Kake and reporter Anne Hillman in Barrow find out why teaching indigenous language to children is so important.

Statewide, Alaska’s tobacco use rate hovers around 20%; it’s gone down significantly over the last decade or so, and is only slightly above the national average. But among Alaska Natives the rate is much higher – in some places, more than double - and often kids begin using tobacco at young ages. Jessica Cochran has more, in the next installment of our series “Being Young in Rural Alaska” from the producers of Kids These Days.

Alaska’s high school graduation rate lags behind the nation - and Alaska Natives are more likely to drop out of school than others. In rural Alaska, high school students who have their sights set on graduation may not be sure what to do next. In the next installment of our “Being Young in Rural Alaska” series, from the producers of Kids These Days, reporter Mark Arehart looks at an idea designed to keep kids in high school, by giving them a glimpse of their possible futures.

While recent reports show the suicide rate falling slightly within the state, Alaska still has the highest rate in the nation – especially among Alaska Native young men. One community in Southeast had nearly the highest rate in the nation back in the 1980's, but today they see almost no suicide in their village. In the next installment of our “Being Young in Rural Alaska” series, Sarah Gonzales goes to Kake to learn about what it means to successfully prevent suicide.

It’s hard to get excited about school when you’re reading a typical textbook written in the Midwest, and you live in a place with no trees, no sidewalks, and no elevators. That’s why educators on the North Slope are making a change. In the next installment of our “Being Young in Rural Alaska” series from the Producers of Kids These Days!, reporter Anne Hillman looks at how the North Slope Borough School District is revamping the way they teach to help kids connect to academics and culture all at the same time.

From a distance, it can be hard to tell why some rural school districts seem to work better than others…why some have better test scores, higher attendance and graduation rates. In the next installment of our series “Being young in rural Alaska” from the producers of Kids These Days, Jessica Cochran looks at one Yukon River village – St. Mary's - and how the community works together to support the school.

Our modern way of living has brought us many conveniences and advances, but we also live amongst many more chemicals and other potentially harmful substances than ever before as a result. So this time we're exploring the ways in which we encounter toxics and chemicals in our daily lives. What kinds of effects can toxins have on women of childbearing age? Who is most at risk for complications in Alaska and why? And how can you – a caregiver and a consumer – be aware and make informed choices? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining KTD Host Shana Sheehy in the studio to help sift through the stories, studies and scares surrounding environmental toxins are four experts and advocates: Marta Dina Arguello is the Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles. She visited the state this year and spoke to Alaskans of her group's concerns about harmful chemicals in our environment and what individuals can do to keep informed and safe. Vi Waghiyi (Native Village of Savoonga, and Program Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics). Andrea Carmen (Executive Director of the International Indian Treaty Council/Yaqui) both took part in a recent International Indigenous Women's Environmental and Reproductive Health Symposium held in Chickaloon Village in the Matanuska Valley in May, 2012. Participants developed a report that will be presented to the United Nations. Dr. Liz Snyder is an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her training is in environmental health and soil science, with a focus on characterizing the fate, transport, and risk of environmental contaminants.

Everyone knows that maintaining a good sense of humor is important in everyday life - and it can go an especially long way for parents raising children. On this program we'll explore how we can all insert more laughter (the best medicine!) into our day-to-day lives while learning to laugh more as a family. We'll find out why laughing is good for the bodies, minds and spirits of people of all ages and why. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Host Shana Sheehy examines the therapeutic and educational benefits of laughing with two guests: Jason Martin is a third generation Alaskan and one of the founding members of Alaska's longest running comedy improv troupe, Scared Scriptless Improv. When not on stage he loves spending time kayaking and hiking with his wife and son. His 7-year old son is already funnier than he is proving there's more to nature than nurture, he says. Mary Kay Morrison is an international humor educator. She spent decades in the classroom and says she enjoys learners of all ages. For more than 20 years she’s worked as a keynote speaker and conference educator teaching today’s teachers and professional educators about using humor to promote balance and reduce stress. Mary Kay serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She joins us today from her home in Illinois.

Sometimes life detours. Even the most organized plans can change and things don’t always happen as we expect. Especially when it comes to family life - a new baby, a marriage, a divorce, falling in love, a death - these are all things that can cause detours in our lives. This time on KTD, we’ve gathered touching, funny, amazing, heartbreaking and uniquely Alaskan stories from those who've experienced a detour in their life, learning how that detour ended up shaping them into the people they are today. This week we take a detour and depart from our usual format as we present a collection of unique stories about our families, friends and Alaskan neighbors...Check back all this week when we post each story separately, many with photo albums. Detour: Mongolia to Alaska - An Alaskan novelist gave us the idea for this program a few months ago. She wrote to us to pitch a number of story ideas and she ended the list with this: I can imagine an entire show about life detours, including ones that ended happily, which must be a strong Alaska theme, given how people often wind up here in surprising ways. Andromeda Romano-Lax, author of The Detour, read an original essay on her life's biggest detour so far - from Mongolia to Alaska, a pregnancy, a death and a move.

With Father's Day coming up, we at Kids These Days! thought it the perfect time to explore the role of fathers through history. How have dads changed, and how have they stayed the same through wars, civil rights movements and shifting economic times? We'll learn about the growing Alaska Native Fatherhood Movement and the groups that advocate for an active, engaged father (or father figure) in every child's life - and why it matters. Join us for this discussion that spans decades, cultures and a country as we look at dads in the USA, then and now. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy to discuss all things dad are two special guests - both fathers, these professionals have made it a focus of their careers to focus on the topic of fatherhood. Patrick Anderson is the father of three children, Ashley, Alexander and Austin. He is Tlingit Indian (Eagle moiety, Thunderbird Clan, from Yakutat) and Alutiiq (from Cordova). His Tlingit name is Daakudein. He is the Executive Director of the Chugachmiut Native corporation, and considered one of the founders of the Alaska Native Fatherhood Movement. Read more about Patrick here. Dr. Ralph LaRossa is father to two sons, Adam and Brian. He is professor of sociology at Georgia State University and an internationally-recognized scholar who has written extensively on the history of fatherhood in America from colonial times to the present. His most recent book, Of War and Men: World War II in the Lives of Fathers and Their Families (University of Chicago Press), examines the effects of the war on the culture and conduct of fatherhood and the diversity of men's experiences throughout the war and after. He joined us from the studios at WABE-Atlanta.

Adolescence is a period of growth that is distinct – so just what is going on between the ears of your teenager? New technologies are giving us an unprecendented view of the inner-workings of our brains, so this time on Kids These Days!, we’re talking about how brain development during a child’s teenage years could account for the odd or risky behavior teens can exhibit during this time. Could it just be normal adolescent brain development? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Adolescent development expert and author, Dr. Laurence Steinberg & UAA’s Dr. John Petraitis join host Shana Sheehy to discuss this week's topic. John Petraitis, Ph.D. has been a social psychologist at UAA for 20 years, having come from a research center in Chicago that focused on attempts to improve the health-related behaviors of people, many of the behaviors being things that start or peak in adolescence, like smoking, substance use and unsafe sex. More recently, he has focused on the potential evolutionary explanations for why adolescent and young males take so much risk, doing research in Alaska's outdoors. Although in his 50's, he describes himself as an incurable adolescent male. Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D. is the Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Steinberg is Past-President of the Division of Developmental Psychology of the American Psychological Association and a former President of the Society for Research on Adolescence. One of the world’s leading authorities on psychological development during adolescence, Dr. Steinberg’s research has focused on a range of topics, including adolescent brain development, risk-taking and decision-making, mental health, family relationships, after-school employment, school achievement, and juvenile justice. Dr. Steinberg is the author of more than 300 articles and essays on growth and development during the teenage years, as well as a number of books on adolesence.

Looking for love, companionship and a life partner means dating – for better or for worse. So this time on Kids These Days! we’re exploring what happens when mom or dad start dating again after a divorce or death of a spouse, and we’ll also turn an eye to teens and dating - how are the kids these days doing relationships (or not)? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two professionals with personal experience on the topic: Ashley M. Barrera is a marital and family therapist in Anchorage who holds master’s of science in human development and family studies from Iowa State University. She is in private practice in Anchorage where she works with individuals, couples and families on topics related to relationship enhancement, divorce, remarriage and blended family therapy. Ashley is a proud member of a blended family herself, who enjoys sharing her life with her fiancé and his six year old son. Kyle Bradford is the man behind ChopperPapa.com, a blog of observations on single fatherhood, divorce, relationships, dating, manhood, and other subjects he lovingly calls "intellectual roadkill". A divorced dad for 7 years, Kyle is profoundly familiar with what it means to be a parent in the "modern family". He resides with his children, ages 8 and 10, in Atlanta, Georgia where he joined us from the WABE studios.

Whether you graduated last week or 30 years ago, chances are that there was a standout teacher at some point in your school career. What was it about that person that made them significant? Perhaps they had a unique teaching style. Maybe they took extra time or showed you extra kindness? They may have seen the potential in you earlier than anyone else did. So on this program we celebrate and appreciate those educators who have made us all better people as a result of their work. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining KTD host, Shana Sheehy, in the studio to discuss the importance of teachers and the legacy they can create are three of Alaska's most honored educators. Carol Comeau is the outgoing Superintendant of the Anchorage School District - a position she’s held for 12 years. Her career with ASD started in 1974 as a noon-duty attendant, from which she transitioned into various teaching and administrative positions. She is retiring this summer and moving to Bellingham; from there she’ll get to see her grandchildren and their parents a whole lot more. Lorrie Heagy is the music teacher and librarian at Glacier Valley Elementary School in Juneau. Lorrie has 15 years of classroom experience and started the Juneau, Alaska Music Matters and Art is Elementary programs. She was honored to represent this state’s teachers as the 2011 Alaska Teacher of the Year. Patricia Truman is the Executive Director of the Professional Teaching Practices Commission for the State of Alaska as well as the Alaska Teacher of the Year Coordinator. She is a 30-year retired teacher whose career included teaching in the Yukon Flats, Fairbanks North Star and Matanuska-Susitna School Districts. She is the 2001 Alaska Teacher of the Year.

Child obesity is a heavy problem in the country and our state is no different - one in three children in Alaska enter kindergarten overweight. Kids who are fat can have serious, even fatal, health conditions, they get picked on and they don't feel good about themselves. Sick and teased with low self-esteem - that's no way to be young! That's why this time we're talking about preventing childhood obesity and overweight, plus we'll look at eating healthy in the bush and staying active throughout the year. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two guests this time: Dr. Gary Ferguson serves as the Director of Wellness and Prevention at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). He also is a staff doctor at Avante Medical Center. He obtained his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine in 2001, and has been working in the Alaska Tribal Health System for the past 11 years. Karol Fink is the program manager for the State of Alaska Obesity Prevention and Control Program. She has been a Registered Dietitian for almost 20 years and has a Master of Science degree in nutritional science from the University of Washington. She started her public health career 16 years ago at Providence Seward Medical Center.

Our Mother’s Day special explores how motherhood has evolved since the Greek and Roman times. We’ll be looking at moms through the ages as well as discussing modern trends in motherhood today. It’s a fascinating discussion on family structure, societal expectations and the importance of moms. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy to discuss moms throughout time is guest Dr. Shari L. Thurer, author of Myths of Motherhood: How Culture Reinvents the Good Mother (Penguin, 1995), and The End of Gender: A Psychological Autopsy (Routledge, 2005). Dr. Thurer joined us from the WBUR studios in Boston.

Preparing for college can be an entire family affair, not to mention the teachers and counselors who all pull together to help a young person get ready to succeed in higher education. This time on KTD we're talking about what it takes to get to university - and once accepted - how to do one's best during those college years. We're focusing on Alaska's higher learning institutions for this discussion. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy to dicuss all things college prep are two college graduates from Alaskan schools who each now work at their alma maters: Brittany Hales is an Undergraduate and Early Honors Admissions Counselor at Alaska Pacific University. Born and raised in Alaska and an alum of Polaris K-12 school in Anchorage, her love of Alaska and the natural environment led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning at APU. Winston Montecillo is the the Communications Coordinator for the Department of Recruitment at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. A graduate of Ketchikan High School in 2006, he was awarded a UA Scholar scholarship that he used towards earning his BA degree in Psychology.

Place-based education means learning about a student’s immediate environment and their cultural history and heritage, too. Some educators say this is an essential part to a student’s overall education, while others think that teaching culture doesn’t matter to succeeding in college and beyond. This time on KTD we speak with educators who hold opposing opinions on whether or not to include cultural curricula in the classroom. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Two Alaskan educators, Dr. Paul Ongtooguk and Lynda Prince, join host Shana Sheehy in the studio to talk about the philosophy behind the cultural education movement and to explain its origins. We’ll also hear from Dr. Ben Chavis, a school choice supporter who is critical of the idea that schools should teach culture. Dr. Ben Chavis is a Native American educator who took the helm of an underperforming, inner city school in Oakland, California and through his controversial teaching methods the American Indian Charter School became the top middle school in California. He is the author of Crazy Like a Fox: One Principal's Triumph in the Inner City. Dr. Paul Ongtooguk is an Education professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage and co-founder of Alaskool, an online source of Alaska Native history, language and culture. He previously joined KTD on Show 58: The Giving Show. Lynda Leal Prince grew up in Grayling, Alaska and holds a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University. She currently teaches World History and Alaska Studies at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

Autism is being diagnosed with more and more frequency; recent reports say 1 in 88 kids in the United States have it. So this time on Kids These Days! we’re talking about autism spectrum disorders. We’ll learn about screening, supports and resources for Alaska families with loved ones on the spectrum, and we'll find out what the future holds for those who are diagnosed with it. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two guests who work all over the state of Alaska helping families understand and live with autism. Kris Green works for the State of Alaska as the Autism and Parent Service Manager and Rural Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Outreach and Autism Screening Clinic Manager. Working in the Division of Public Health, she oversees autism program services and coordinates the statewide screening clinics, held in 10 rural Alaska hub locations. She is a member of the Governor’s Council Autism Ad Hoc Committee which focuses on implementing the 2006 State of Alaska Autism Plan, whose goal is to improve access to care for Alaska children and youth with autism and their families. Teresa Hirst is a certified Advanced Practice Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, specializing in new or follow-up patient assessments and evaluations of children with neurodevelopmental and autism conditions from birth to age 18 years. She works with the State of Alaska, traveling to regional hub communities to conduct assessments. She routinely provides patient, family, and staff education on pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders in communities throughout Alaska.

Car, boat or snowmachine, driving is a reponsibility, a privilege, a rite of passage, a danger and a freedom - at any age! This time on KTD we’re exploring all the facets of what it means to be young with a license to drive in Alaska. We’ll discuss safety issues, driver’s ed, licensing, preventing drunk driving and why modern teens aren’t getting their licenses as early as teens of yore (hint: studies stay it’s because of texting and social media). IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joing host Shana Sheehy to discuss all things driving in Alaska are two guests: Don McDermott is a retired educator who has been teaching driving to Alaskans of all ages for nearly 20 years. McDermott came north to be a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage where he was the first Dean of the School of Education. He retired in 1988 and has since taught at the AARP - Alaska's driver safety program... he also taught his own son to drive. Lieutenant Arthur "Tom" Dunn is the Deputy Commander for the Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol, a division of the Alaska State Troopers. Lt. Dunn was a police officer in Whittier and Homer before working for the Troopers in Palmer, Kodiak, Sitka, Homer and Anchorage.

Technology is changing the way we do so many things - how we communicate, navigate and regulate our every day lives. So how is it changing the way that we educate? We're taking a look at that question, plus many caregivers wonder if learning from a screen is fundamentally different than learning from a good, old-fashioned book. So this time we're exploring what technological innovation means to the future of classroom learning. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two high-tech educators: Dr. Mark Bailey has been exploring the use of pedagogically powerful technological tools to support early childhood education for more than 25 years. After receiving his teaching license in the 70’s, Mark taught young children for most of a decade before completing a doctorate in educational psychology. Dr. Bailey has founded the Early Learning Community at Pacific University where he serves as Professor of Education and Director of the Child Learning and Development Center. Amanda Duvall is the K-12 Educational Technology teacher for the Anchorage School District where she supports teachers coaching them on integration of technology into the curriculum. She is also the Anchorage representative for the Alaska Society for Technology in Education. Duvall has been an educator for over 11 years in both Washington and Alaska.

Growing up means forming a solid sense of self, figuring out who you are and what you like in order to eventually become a fully realized adult. When a young person begins to identify as GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender) it can be a difficult time in an already fragile time of life. So, what is “coming out” truly like for Alaska’s rural and urban youth and how can loved ones best support these kids as they struggle to accept themselves – and to be accepted by others? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Three guests join host Shana Sheehy to discuss this topic: Jackie Buckley is the president of Anchorage PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays). She is the Executive Director of an Alaska home health corporation and has volunteered for Identity and the GLBT community for over 28 years. She's worked in the Anchorage schools for 12 years, has raised all her own children in Anchorage, and now has 8 grandchildren, too. Katelyn Lanier-Moylan was raised in Alaska by her two moms and is currently a senior at West High School in Anchorage. She is the President of the Gay-Straight Alliance, serves as the Youth Representative on the board of Identity, and is the youth coordinator of the GLBT-friendly dance, Pride Prom. Verner Wilson III grew up in Dillingham on the rural shores of fish-rich Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska. He loves fishing for wild salmon with his family as a commercial, sports and subsistence fishermen. He has a degree in Environmental Studies from Brown University and has worked for the World Wildlife Fund Arctic Field Program for nearly four years now on fisheries conservation issues.

Can you feel it, too? The days are getting lighter, the temps a little warmer and our cabin fever is starting to break. This time on KTD we’re exploring what effect the springtime change of season has on the bodies and the minds of people of all ages. We'll learn about getting outside with kids in any weather, find out about the sun/vitamin D connection and we'll ask, "Is there really a medical explanation behind spring fever?” IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to talk all things springtime in Alaska are: Jennifer Aist. She has been taking her four children into the backcountry since they were each newborns. She is passionate about exploring, discovering and connecting children with nature, and is the author of Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping and Boating with Babies and Young Children. She is also a lactation consultant and the director of parent education at The Children’s Hospital at Providence. Matthew Benson, M.D. is one of two pediatric endocrinologists in Alaska. He is a provider with the Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic at The Children’s Hospital at Providence where he specializes in the treatment of pediatric hormone disorders, treating thyroid gland problems, growth disorders, early or delayed puberty, diabetes, obesity, low blood sugar and disorders associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

Youth leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in Alaska join us to discuss the value of raising spiritual children. We'll learn about what kids who believe are doing for the community, and we'll explore why some children will reject their parents' religion while others find lasting value in the faith of their chidhood. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio: Afshan Mohammad joins us from the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage Alaska where she is also the principal of the Sunday Islamic School at Al-Noor Academy. Ms. Mohammad is the president of the Islamic Women’s Association of Alaska, and she teaches science at Eagle River High School. Rabbi Michael Oblath has almost 30 years experience serving as a Rabbi and is now at Anchorage’s Congregation Beth Shalom – a reform synagogue. Rabbi Oblath is versed in seven ancient languages, and is a frequent author and presenter on biblical history, geography and literature. Mark Zweifel is the District Youth Director for the Alaska Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God – a Christian congregation in Anchorage. He has nearly 20 years of youth and young-adult ministry experience. Pastor Zweifel & his wife Heidi recently moved to Alaska from Nevada where they ministered at the International Church of Las Vegas.

Assessing students' yearly progress means a regular battery of standardized tests, a fact of life in most public schools. So how are Alaskan kids measuring up? We look at the history of this kind of testing, the current tests kids take, and we'll also learn about the new, proposed standards for Alaskan K-12 students that could be implemented this fall if they are adopted. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are three guests who each have experience with the testing and assessment process in Alaska's public schools: Dana Stahl is a Training and Instructional Specialist for the Anchorage School District where she works with kindergarten through sixth grade classroom teachers in implementing best practices in math, reading and writing instruction. She has been in education for 28 years. Janet Valentour is the Assessment Administrator at the State Department of Education and Early Development. She joined us by phone from her office in Juneau. Laurel Vorachek is the Executive Director of Assessment and Evaluation for the Anchorage School District. This department is responsible for all state-mandated assessments and supports several district-level assessments, as well as data analysis and reporting.

More and more kids are being prescribed medications. From psychotropic prescriptions to pills for obesity-related diseases, the rate of meds given to kids is increasing at a higher rate than any other age group. What's going on? And for those kids currently on medication, we'll discuss management, side effects and dosages. IN-STUDIO GUEST: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to explore all things pharmaceutical as they relate to children is Dr. Shubu Ghosh. Brought up in northern California, he is a graduate of the adult and child psychiatric program from University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas; he also studied and worked in India with Mother Teresa before her passing. Dr. Ghosh is in private practice at Ghosh Psychiatric Services in Anchorage; he is currently participating in the field trials for the revision of DSM V. He is also a field instructor with the University of Alaska Anchorage and regularly leads informational clinics for caregivers.

They grow up so fast! That's why this time on KTD! we're learning how to make the most of those crucial, first three years of baby's life. We'll ask: where should very young children be developmentally at one year, two years and three years? How can caregivers help children to learn and grow every day? And where can caregivers find help and support if their children aren't meeting the recommended milestones? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joing host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two guests who both have a lot of experience with helping babies learn and grow in Alaska: Dr. Donna Galbreath has devoted her medical career to serving Alaska Native People. She worked in Fairbanks, Alaska for 15 years as a provider and medical director for a tribal organization; she currently works for Southcentral Foundation as the Medical Director of Quality Assurance. She serves as an elected member of her tribal board and also serves as the President of the Association of American Indian Physicians. Dr. Galbreath is also in the new film from Best Beginnings, Babies on Track. Erin Kinavey is the Program Manager for the Early Intervention Program at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. She currently serves on the national board for Infant & Toddlers Coordinators Association. She earned a Masters in Education in special ed from UAA and began her career in early intervention working with children diagnosed with autism.

Happy Valentine's Day week! To celebrate the love, we're hosting a discussion about sex and romance after kids. Feeling exhausted, being too busy with work, caring for children, keeping non-stop schedules throughout the week or just feeling like the caregiver with little left to give at the end of the day - these are all real romance roadblocks that can keep moms and dads from being lovers. So, this week we're offering some practical advice, empathetic experience and a sexy recipe to heat things up. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss the issues that can keep couples from experiencing intimacy and how to reconnect are two guests who regularly counsel on this subject: Chris Reynolds is a licensed professional counselor with a master's degree in counseling psychology from Alaska Pacific University. He's in private practice in Anchorage where he specializes in the areas of adjustment, couple's therapy and sex therapy. He has postgraduate training in the area of human sexuality and is one of two certified sex therapists in Alaska. (Chris originally guested on KTD on Show 48: The Sex Talk). Rebecca Love is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with sexuality and couple's and women's mental health issues. She has worked in community mental health, inpatient care, OB-GYN, and is now in private practice in Anchorage.

When young people break the law and are then processed into the justice system, a sentence is only the very beginning of the correctional journey for juvenile offenders. Those who help these kids have a three-part goal that applies to every 10-17 year old who is in detention or treatment: 1) hold youth accountable for their actions, 2) promote the safety and restorization of victims and communities, 3) equip young offenders and their families with the skills to help prevent future crime. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining producer Sarah Gonzales in the studio are two guests who are each uniquely well-acquainted with Alaska's juvenile justice system: Rob Wood is the Deputy Director of Operations for the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice. He has worked with delinquent youth for over 34 years, initially in the State of Oregon, then in Alaska since 1980. During this period he was a youth counselor in a corrections facility, a clinical therapist for 10 years, a juvenile probation officer and a supervisor for 20 years. Brian Petrilla is a former juvenile delinquent turned juvenile probation officer who robbed an Anchorage credit union when he was 17 years old. Adjudicated and institutionalized at McLaughlin Youth Center in 1993, he returned to McLaughlin as a PO 14 years later to help kids.

With only so many hours in the day in which to balance a career, a family, a social life, and all the other obligations that go along with being a well-rounded person, it can be extra difficult when a life change occurs to unsettle that balance - like when a relative becomes ill and needs care, or when a new baby is added to the family. But, whether or not there's a life shift, how flexible are you in your everyday life and how flexible - and family-friendly - is your employer? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to explore this issue are two guests - each with an unique perspective on work/life balance: Kathy Day owns the Alaska public relations firm KD/PR Virtual - a full service agency where all the employees work "virtually" instead of in a traditional office. Mother to two sons, she opened her own business in 2000 when she had her first baby and realized she could no longer meet the travel and long-hour demands of working at a traditional agency. Now she employs many others who are seeking this same balance in their lives. Phoebe Taubman is the Senior Staff Attorney at A Better Balance: The Work and Family Legal Center, and mother to a toddler. There she works on expanding paid leave and flexible work options for families and combating discrimination against pregnant women, parents and other family caregivers. She joined us by phone from New York City.

There are many ways to make a family - through pregnancy, via adoption or by blending existing families - and in this episode we're taking a closer look at adoption. There are many ways, too, to adopt - as an infant or teen, internationally or from right here in Alaska! Those who choose to adopt will have many questions about the process and we'll be learning about adoption all throughout the week. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: To continue the conversation in the second installment of our ongoing Starting a Family series, three special guests join host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss adoption in Alaska: Sarah Blanning is the Coordinator for the Infant Adoption program and the Waiting Child program at Catholic Social Services of Alaska. Dr. Susan Bomalaski is the Executive Director of Catholic Social Services of Alaska where she oversees all of the programs offered, including the Infant Adoption program, the International Adoption program, and the Foster Care / Adoption programs. KariLee Pietz is the Social Service Program Officer that oversees the the Resource Family Unit at the Alaska Office of Children’s Services where she works with foster and adoptive famlies.

THE PRACTICE OF routine vaccination has rid the world of small pox and nearly eradicated polio and has greatly reduced the incidence of many infectious diseases like pertussis and measles especially among some of our most vulnerable – our children. So this time on Kids These Days! we're learning about immunizations and vaccines and the many diseases they protect against. We'll also take a look at some of the concerns parents have and where we can all learn more information in order to make an informed decision when it comes to keeping our kids well. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two guests: Dr. Tom Nighswander is Clinical Dean of the Alaska WWAMI Program and has been at the Alaska Native Medical Center since 1972. He and his wife Ruth, a nurse mentor for the Anchorage School District, have made annual visits to the sub-Saharan country of Malawi for the last 14 years working at the Malawi Children's Village and HIV/AIDS orphan program. Laurel Wood was Immunization Program Manager for the Alaska Division of Public Health for 16 years. In that role she worked to coordinate statewide Immunization Program activities including vaccine distribution, coordination of Alaska’s immunization information system, monitoring of school and child care facility immunization requirements, and presentation of general immunization education. She is the former Chair of the national Association of Immunization Managers. Currently she is working part-time as the Coordinator for Public Health with the Immunization Action Coalition.

FAILURE IS ESSENTIAL to the learning process, and learning how to handle failure appropriately without giving up or freaking out is all part of maturing. How can caregivers help kids to “fail” well? Studies show that kids who are praised for their effort instead of their intelligence are more likely to overcome failures, keep on trying and do better in school and life. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio is Dr. Carol Dweck, who, for the last 40 years, has been a leading international researcher in the field of developmental psychology and overcoming failure. She is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor at Stanford University’s Department of Psychology and is the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Dr. Maria Ippolito from the University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Psychology also joins us; she is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and has studied psychological resilience in children. She credits her familial status as the eldest of nine children for originally motivating her interest in studying developmental psychology.

LEARNING TO GIVE starts at a young age. It’s the right time of year to think about generosity, compassion and kindness so we’re exploring how we can help our young people to become contributing members of a family and eventually, of their community. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: The Rev. Beatrice Hitchcock of the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Church and Prof. Paul Ongtooguk, Education professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage and co-founder of Alaskool join host Shana Sheehy to discuss teaching compassion and instilling generosity in kids; and how different cultures celebrate when children make their first contribution to the community.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE almost here and that means toys, presents and shopping in many households. Kids know what they want and they'll let you know which toy/gadget/game/thing they absolutely must have this year. So, who and what inform these desires? In this episode of KTD we're learning about how our kids are marketed to and what strategies we can use to help them be more media savvy. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio is Joel Bakan, author of the critically acclaimed best selling book-turned film, The Corporation, and most recently, Childhood Under Siege: How Big Business Targets Children. Joel is also a professor of law at the University of British Columbia; he joins us from Vancouver, B.C. Aliza Sherman, Alaskan marketing and web pioneer, joins us from Tok. Aliza is the author of Mom Incorporated and creator of the app, Girls Can Be Anything.

DIVORCE IS A REALITY for many families and couples will decide to split for a number of reasons. But, no matter the cause, breaking up is hard to do - especially when there are children involved. In this episode we ask: How can parents minimize their child's suffering when mom and dad are also in pain? Is it possible to successfully co-parent once a divorce is final? What are kids really going through when their parents end the marriage? And, how to share those holiday celebrations between multiple homes? IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss helping kids through divorce are two guests: Christina McGhee is an an internationally-acclaimed divorce coach, parent educator and author of Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids. She joins us by phone from Texas. Al Levy is a therapist in private practice in Anchorage at Generations - A Family Place. He focuses on children, families, parenting and relationships. He does court-ordered family therapy, co-parenting counseling, expert witness testimony and custody investigations as a part of his practice.

DURING THE HOLIDAYS we get together with our loved ones to celebrate the season, eat good food, reconnect and to share our favorite stories again and again. It’s one of the best parts of this time of year, don’t you think? We at Kids These Days! gathered up the favorite featured stories that we produced throughout the year and brought them together for a very special episode. These are the pieces that you listened to the most according to our website stats and just like that priceless story your older sister, grandpa, or aunt likes to tell about that one time way back when... we’re telling these stories again.

Alaska ranks tenth in the United States for rates of homelessness, and among the high concentration of those without a permanent place to sleep each night - half are under 12 years old. What's being done to help families with children who are homeless, and also teens who are on their own? In-Studio Guests: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are David Mayo-Kiely, director of the Anchorage School District's Children in Transition/Homeless program and Lauren Rice from Covenant House Alaska to discuss the young and homeless population in our state.

Sleep: we need it like the air we breathe – to function, think and stay in the best mental and physical shape possible – but what happens to people of all ages when we don’t get enough? We’ll speak with the experts about how to maximize the family zzzzz’s and we’ll learn about the adverse effects of a lack of sleep. In-Studio Guests: Dr. Robert Lada, director of the Providence Sleep Disorders Center, and Karen McBride a school nurse who’s spent years spreading the good sleep message to students, parents and legislators join host Shana Sheehy in the studio to talk about why sleep is necessary in the first place, to comment on recent sleep studies in the news and to offer their take on how your family can be well-rested.

DID YOU GROW UP with brothers or sisters? Maybe you were the oldest child, looking out for the younger ones while conquering all the big life milestones first - riding a bike, driving a car, the first kiss. Or perhaps you were the baby of the family and enjoyed all the special attention that came with being the youngest. Whether big sister or kid brother, one thing is true - siblings have a relationship with one another like no other relationship in life - they are our first playmates and the people we can remain friends with as adults. We're looking at the sibling relationship today - how it's changed throughout history, what it means in the present day and why it's so important through the course of our lives. IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining guest host Kathleen McCoy is Dr. Dallett Hemphill, a Professor of History at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. Dr. Hemphill is the author of Bowing to Necessities: A History of Manners in America and the recently published Siblings: Brothers and Sisters in American History. She has seven siblings. Also joining us is Dr. Ann Jache, a professor of Sociology at the University of Alaska Anchorage and her area of focus is gerontology. She has three siblings.

With Halloween coming, people young and old are looking forward to dressing up and pretending to be something else for a day. Make believe is fun, silly, freeing and it’s also important to a young child’s social-emotional development. Many say that “Play is a child’s work” so just how do pretending, playing and imagining help us to grow up? We'll explore the value of make believe and look at play-based education philosophies and how flexing a young imagination is linked to empathy, self-control and better social skills throughout life. In-studio guests: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are Dr. Robert Capuozzo, professor of Early Childhood Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage as well as the leader of the Saturdays with Dad parenting support group at Providence Medical Center, and Shona Strauser, Education Director at Perseverance Theater in Juneau.

IInnovation, creativity and progress. These are some of the things that have helped America become what it is today. Whether you see it in a former Alaskan winning the Nobel Prize in Physics or in Steve Jobs and his life as a technology pioneer – helping our brightest youth succeed is important. So today we're turning the spotlight on the education of Alaska's Gifted and Talented students. In-studio guests: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss how gifted and talented kids are identified, tested and then educated are three guests: Peter Ljubicich, director of the Anchorage School District Gifted Program; Annie Bill, director of the Mat-Su Borough’s Talented and Gifted Program; and Susan Dulong Langley of the National Association for Gifted Children in Massachusetts.

A new baby is a reason to celebrate but the time after birth can bring with it a wealth of conflicting emotions that sometimes go beyond typical "baby blues". What does everyone need to know about recognizing and treating postpartum mood disorders and supporting those who are suffering? Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two perinatal mood disorder experts who join us to dispel myths and educate about recognizing the signs, symptoms and where to get help. Margi Clifford is the state of Alaska's coordinator for perinatal mood disorders and she runs the Maternal/Postpartum Support parenting groups at Providence Hospital. Dr. Diana Lynn Barnes is the former director of Postpartum Support International, and currently sits on the President’s Advisory Council for that organization. Dr. Barnes is a nationally known forensic expert in women’s reproductive mental health as well as the author of The Journey to Parenthood: Myths, Reality and What Really Matters.