On a Mission

We gain power when we take active steps to relax, even as the world seems to swirl around us. When relaxed, we maintain the presence and clarity of mind that enables us to make wise decisions and problem-solve. We prepare ourselves and our children to think clearly, even in stressful times— through active relaxation.  In this episode, we go over a few breathing techniques to help you get into active relaxation mode. We also discuss Mindfulness exercises by Dr. Dzung Vo, you can find those videos here: https://youtu.be/iCNSDtzHgXo.

Adolescence marks a time of significant changes in physical development. It's a time when teens question what's happening to their bodies and what's expected. They often compare themselves to their friends — noticing differences in height as they stand in line or their bodies as they change into gym clothes. Sometimes these changes in development can trigger both parents and teens to have concerns. Those issues can range from concerns about puberty, physical development, self-esteem, and body image. In this episode, we will review some common concerns and issues related to physical development so you are more comfortable discussing questions and concerns.

National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™) is a health observance that emphasizes the importance of building on young people's strengths and potential, encouraging meaningful youth engagement in adolescent health activities, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health.  Week 1: Expand sexual and reproductive health information and services. Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. So in this episode we are going to go over 7 Tips for Youth-Supporting Professionals for Talking with Youth About Sexual and Reproductive Health provides tangible recommendations to promote effective and open conversations about sexual and reproductive health with young people. Resources from Activate: The Center to Bring Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Research to Youth-Supporting Professionals is a partnership between Child Trends and Chapin Hall and creates research-based resources for use by professionals who support young people experiencing the child welfare and/or justice systems, homelessness, and/or disconnection from school and work (i.e., opportunity youth).

In this podcast, we go over a few things parents can do to help teens avoid online mistakes. Resources: Riasing Digital Citizens - Parents Guide Common Sense Media Healthy Children Family Online Safety Institute Kelly Wallace, CNN  

Research shows that parents can have a powerful impact on their childrens' mindsets. The language you use and the actions you take show your children about what you expect. Giving process praise, talking about the brain, accepting mistakes as learning opportunities, and understanding the role of emotions in learning are all practices you can begin today.

Teen dating violence affects nearly 10% of all teenagers throughout the U.S. We wanted to do this podcast in order to provide information and resources to help bring attention to this serious issue. Resources: https://www.safesecurekids.org/ www.loveisrespect.org Parent discussion guide: https://www.loveisrespect.org/wp-content/uploads/media/sites/3/2021/09/Parent-Guide-2021_TAF_love-is-respect.pdf www.nsvrc.org I ask how to teach consent early: https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications/2019-01/TeachHandout_508.pdf Healthy communications with kids: https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/2018-01/healthycommunicationwkids_508.pdf Parent postcard: https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications/2018-04/parents_FINAL508.pdf https://www.missionwv.org/parent-resources https://amaze.org/

Mission WV changes the lives of youth and families. We promote positive futures by recruiting foster families, providing life skills education and creating community connections. Learn more about who we are and what we do in this episode.

In this episode we go over the different types of bullying, warning signs, and how to get support. 

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood.  In this episode we go over what ACEs are, some of the impact they have on our lives, and some prevention options.  Below are some additional resources for ACEs. Overview of ACEs (CDC) Take your ACEs test ACEs and Toxic Stress Preventing ACEs Training

Sexual assault is a severe, punishable act that should not be taken lightly. In this epside, we go over: What sexual assault is. How drugs and alcohol play a factor.  Red flags to watch out for.  What to do if you or a friend has been a victim of sexual assault. Support Information: Crisis Support Lines Resources for Healthy Relationships Domestic Violence Support Information  

Consent in simple terms means choosing for something to happen. The legal definition says a person gives consent when they ‘agree by choice, and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.' In this episode, we clearly define what consent is.

In this episode, we tell a story written by a Bridge Program Mentor, about a young man named Jackson.  The Bridge is devoted to serving foster children in West Virginia with the vision of creating meaningful and effective support for foster children to be successful in school and beyond. When students are successful, we create wealth not only in the life of the student, but also our communities. 

In the classroom our educators respond to a wide variety of questions from middle and high school students. This podcast segment called, Ask Us Anything, will go over some of those questions and our typical responses. This episode will address questions related to teen pregnancy.

So, your son or daughter lied to you. What should you do? The most important first step you can take, the one that can preserve your relationship, is to remain calm. But the ability to keep your cool and discuss this challenging moment – openly and honestly – will accomplish yet another essential goal: Make it less likely they will be dishonest with you again.  For help repairing a fractured relationship, read Create Opportunities for Teens to Regain Trust.

Love bombing happens when someone overwhelms you with loving words, actions, and behavior as a manipulation technique. In this episode, we do a quick recap of what love bombing is, some signs, and go over how to gain support if you believe you may be in a love bombing situation.

When you first meet someone, being swept off your feet can feel fun and exciting. Having someone shower you with affection and admiration is especially exhilarating when you're in the beginning stages of a new relationship. Love bombing, however, is another story. It happens when someone overwhelms you with loving words, actions, and behavior as a manipulation technique.

During NAHM, sustain equitable, accessible, youth-friendly services Join the Office of Population Affairs during National Adolescent Health Month to sustain equitable, accessible, youth-friendly services. Young people—especially those with chronic conditions and disabilities—can experience serious gaps in care as they get older. Young people who experience homelessness, foster care, and the juvenile justice system and who live in mixed immigration status households can have a difficult time obtaining healthcare. Access to healthcare services is essential, and it's important for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to help adolescents learn to navigate the healthcare system. Resources to sustain equitable, accessible, youth-friendly services Vaccines Videos for Healthcare Providers | HHS Office of Population Affairs Videos about Flu Vaccination | HHS Office of Population Affairs Vaccines for Teens and Pre-Teens | HHS Office of Population Affairs Youth-Friendly Services Listen Up! Youth Listening Session Toolkit | HHS Office of Population Affairs Promoting Positive Adolescent Health Behaviors and Outcomes: Thriving in the 21st Century | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TAG Multimedia | Youth.gov Gender-Affirming Care and Young People | HHS Office of Population Affairs - PDF Clinical Preventive Services | HHS Office of Population Affairs Recommended Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents | HHS Office of Population Affairs Adolescent Development Explained | HHS Office of Population Affairs Where Teens Receive Preventive Healthcare | HHS Office of Population Affairs Learning to Use the Healthcare System | HHS Office of Population Affairs Tips for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers | HHS Office of Population Affairs Sexual and Reproductive Health Reproductive Health and Teen Pregnancy | HHS Office of Population Affairs Reproductive Health | HHS Office of Population Affairs

As symptoms of mental health disorders emerge and develop, they have strong influences on an adolescent's behavior and can become more difficult to treat. Although effective therapies exist for many mental health disorders, not all adolescents who need treatment receive it. In this episode, we talk about some disparities that may partially explain why use of mental health services differs. We also go over many mental health resources.

Mental health is not simply the presence or absence of symptoms. Variations in how adolescents experience symptoms can make identification and diagnosis of mental health disorders challenging.  In this episode, we go over some warning signs of mental health disorders in adolescence, as well as, common mental health disorders in adolescence include those related to anxiety, depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity, and eating.

During adolescence, youth grow physically, try new activities, begin to think more critically, and develop more varied and complex relationships. Ensuring adolescent health requires giving youth the sexual and reproductive health information and services they need to empower healthy decision-making. In this podcast we go over some tips on how to talk to your teen about relationships. 

During adolescence, young people learn how to form safe and healthy relationships with friends, parents, caregivers, teachers, and romantic partners. In this podcast, we go over what healthy relationships in dating, friendships and with caregivers look like for adolescence.  Stay tuned for future podcasts where we will provide more information about talking with teens about relationships and conversation tools for parents and caregivers. 

May is National Adolescent Health Month! Join us in celebrating young people's strengths and potential, encouraging youth engagement, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health. Parents, caregivers, youth-serving professionals, and healthcare providers can empower youth to make decisions about their own health and become leaders in their communities. During NAHM, help adolescents build on their strengths, overcome barriers to accessing services and resources, and make healthy and informed decisions.

In this podcast, we go over some ways to help keep your family safe online.

In this podcast, we discuss what condoms are, answer questions from our youth and share some important facts.  For information about the age of consent please check out this article. 

The brain undergoes tremendous changes during adolescence. In this episode, we discuss several ways you can support teen brain growth and development. Information from Parent And Teen. Visit our website. Submit a question.

In the classroom our educators respond to a wide variety of questions from middle and high school students. This podcast segment called, Ask Us Anything, will go over some of those questions and our typical responses. This episode will address questions related to relationships and teen pregnancy.

Does your child seem unusually sad, irritable or quiet lately? Such changes in mood could be due to a temporary stress in life. But how do you know if it's something more? In this episode we go over the warning signs of childhood depression. Leave us a voicemail

Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent should be clearly defined and communicated. In this podcast, we discuss what consent is and isn't. 

When parents talk to their kids about healthy relationships, they help protect kids from dating violence. Middle school is the right time to have those conversations. Even as young teens are moving towards stronger peer influence, they are still listening to what their parents have to say. In this episode, we have provided 10 tips for talking to your teen about relationships.  Ask a question Leave us a voicemail

Welcome to Season 2 of the On a Mission Podcast. In this episodes, we go over the top 5 episodes of 2021 and replay the top episode.  Please leave us a message and we will answer it on a future podcast. 

In this episode we discuss Mission WV's Bridge program. The Bridge is devoted to serving West Virginia's youth in foster care. The Bridge serves these children with the vision of creating meaningful and effective support so that they can be successful in school and beyond.  Visit our website. Leave us a message.

Teens don't easily open about what is going on in their lives. However, open communication with teens is a vital part of their relationship with you and is a key factor in your ability to support them. Here are some tips adapted from from several sources about improving parent-child communication. Sources located on podcast show page at www.missionwv.org.

Self-harm is defined as any intentional injury to one's own body. This disorder also is called self-harm or self-mutilation. Usually, self-injury leaves marks or causes tissue damage. In this episode, we discuss what self-harm is, warning signs and support. We would love to hear from you! Please record your message and we will answer it on a future podcast. https://bit.ly/3GgPv3L

This is a time of changes for how teenagers think, feel, and interact with others, and how their bodies grow. Most girls will be physically mature by now, and most will have completed puberty. Boys might still be maturing physically during this time. Your teen might have concerns about her body size, shape, or weight. Eating disorders also can be common, especially among girls. During this time, your teen is developing his unique personality and opinions. Relationships with friends are still important, yet your teen will have other interests as he develops a more clear sense of who he is. This is also an important time to prepare for more independence and responsibility; many teenagers start working, and many will be leaving home soon after high school. This episode goes over information on how teens develop and offers some parenting tips. Visit our website. Submit a question.

Your child's growing independence from the family and interest in friends might be obvious by now. Healthy friendships are very important to your child's development, but peer pressure can become strong during this time. Children who feel good about themselves are more able to resist negative peer pressure and make better choices for themselves. This is an important time for children to gain a sense of responsibility along with their growing independence. Also, physical changes of puberty might be showing by now, especially for girls. Another big change children need to prepare for during this time is starting middle or junior high school. This episode goes over information on how children develop during middle childhood and offers some parenting tips. Visit our website. Submit a question.

It's National Adoption Month. This podcast outlines some of the most asked questions about adopting through the foster care system. Visit our website. Submit a question.

Mission West Virginia sat down with foster family, Brandon and Jenny Krawczyk from Burlington United Methodist Family Services, to speak about what it's like to be a foster parent with their agency during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is a great opportunity to learn first hand what it's like being a foster parent in West Virginia with one of the 11 private foster care agencies.

In the classroom our educators respond to a wide variety of questions from middle and high school students. This podcast segment called, Ask Us Anything, will go over some of those questions and our typical responses. This episode will address questions related to unhealthy relationships.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. In this podcast, we go over the signs of domestic violence and support options.

Many people assume abuse means that physical violence is happening, but that's not always the case! Abuse comes in many forms—it's not just physical. In this episode, we explore a few of the common types of abuse so you can better identify them. Experiencing even one or two of these warning signs in a relationship is a red flag that abuse may be present. Remember, each type of abuse is serious and no one deserves to experience abuse of any kind. If you recognize any of these warning signs in your own relationship, you can always text LOVEIS to 22522. We'd love to hear from you! Got a question? Leave a voicemail for the show. https://bit.ly/38sASM6