Podcasts about family support specialist

In this episode, we're excited to introduce Jen Zwick, the Family Support Specialist in the Single Moms Program at Hope Bridge. Jen shares her heart for walking alongside single mothers and highlights some of the challenges these families often face. Did you know that 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 are raised by a single mother? That's about 13 million children growing up without a father. In Ohio, nearly two-thirds of all children living in poverty are in single-mother or grandmother-led households. Poverty is often misunderstood as neglect due to issues like poor housing conditions or food insecurity, which can lead to increased involvement from child welfare systems. At Hope Bridge, we believe in stepping in before that happens—offering stable housing, supportive services, and practical help to moms facing crisis in our communities.Through our residential program, single moms (ages 18 and older) live in a safe, supportive home with their children for 9–12 months while working toward personal goals. We provide mentorship, help with education, budgeting, life skills, and healthy meal planning. Moms are also encouraged to connect with local churches and build community support. It's all about creating stability and equipping moms to thrive.We've also launched Empower U, a new skill-focused support group for single moms that meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Compassion Center. This is a space where moms can continue learning and growing with the support of others. We are currently looking for volunteers to get involved by teaching skills, providing meals, or helping with childcare. If you're interested, check out the links below  to learn more and sign up. Together, we can be the village that makes a difference in the lives of single moms and their children.Episode Highlights: Meet Jen Zwick, our Family Support Specialist in our Single Moms Program Single Mom's Program at Hope Bridge What is Empower U?Volunteer to help out at Empower UFind More on Hope Bridge:RSVP to attend Empower U!Volunteer for Childcare at Empower U Schedule a time to chat with  MelLearn more about our Single Moms Program! Provide a Meal for Single Moms in AkronProvide a Meal for Single Moms in Louisville Fill out our Volunteer Form!Single Mom Connection FormPartner with us FinanciallyVisit Our Website Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Facebook Foster Our Community Instagram This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.Get your tickets for the 2025 Benefit Dinner here!

"We were absolutely terrified, and our biggest question was, 'is our baby going to die?' I didn't know anything about babies being born in the second trimester."Ten years ago, Karen Bong didn't know if her daughter would make it home from Sunnybrook's NICU. She is now the proud mother of two, and guides other new parents as the NICU's Family Support Specialist. Dr. Eugene Ng is a neonatologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He outlines the processes and protocols in place for NICU support and how this hospital has the best outcome in all of Canada for micro-preemies and babies born with anomalies. *This episode was recorded in 2024. Please download, subscribe, follow and share.

Please join us for “All Our Instincts About Behavior Are Wrong” with Diane Gould.Diane Gould is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in serving autistic individuals. As the Executive Director and Founder of PDA North America, she founded the annual PDA North America conference held in Chicago which has changed the lives of hundreds of PDA families.Currently, Diane has a private practice in the suburbs of Chicago, where she serves neurodivergent children, adults, and their families. Over the last 40-plus years, she has worked for both private agencies and school systems. Diane was the Childhood Disability and Family Support Specialist for the Jewish Children's Bureau for over a decade. She created many different types of programs and support groups, family camps, and parent education. She also established inclusion consultation and home visiting programs. She also has worked for two special education cooperatives which resulted in working in 14 schools during her career.She served on the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of Illinois for many years. Diane also facilitates a program to improve relationship skills for teens and adults.She has served as a consultant and guest lecturer for many area school districts, parent associations, and private agencies.Diane provides assessments and consultations to families and school districts and frequently attends school meetings. Diane has always been interested in human behavior and works with individuals, parents, and schools to create support plans that increase emotional regulation. She has been vocal with her concerns that our commonly used practices increase dysregulation and make behavioral challenges worse. She fights against punitive practices including seclusion, restraint, suspension, and expulsion.It was the understanding of behavior and support in the PDA literature that first drew her to learn more about PDA. And learning about PDA, led her to begin the new PDA movement in North America. Diane formed PDA North America at the first American PDA conference in March 2020. She has written a book with Ruth Fidler on Navigating PDA in America which will be published in June 2024.She is making it part of her life's mission to gain more awareness and understanding of PDA in North America through this non-profit organization.Support the show

In this episode of Conversations with Pearl Podcast, host Pearl Chiarenza talks with Cathy Gagliardi, a neurodiversity mentor and family support specialist. Cathy shares her journey of supporting neurodivergent children and introduces her "Belly Flies Method" for managing anxiety and fostering self-love. They discuss the emotional impact of neurodivergent diagnoses, the importance of understanding and accepting unique perspectives, and practical strategies for parents. Pearl and Cathy reflect on their experiences with neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing empathy and effective communication. The episode offers valuable insights into nurturing neurodivergent children and supporting their emotional well-being.Cathy and Pearl discuss- Cathy Gagliardi's background and work with neurodivergent children- Definition and importance of neurodiversity- The "belly flies method" for supporting children with neurodivergent conditions- Emotional impact of receiving a neurodivergent diagnosis for a child- Navigating differing perspectives within a family regarding a child's neurodivergent condition- Importance of acceptance, understanding, and support within families and communities- Insights into working with neurodivergent children and embracing their unique perspectives- Practical examples and holistic approach to nurturing and supporting children's emotional well-being and developmentAs a #1 Best Selling Author and Illustrator of children's books, Cathy has been able to donate her books to Ronald McDonald House, Little Libraries, schools and families in need locally and internationally.  Her involvement with Costa Rican and Guatamalan schools and communities has enriched her understanding of children's emotional wellbeing.Through mentoring in the neurodivergent community, she has recognized the needs for the new program that she has developed called THE BELLYFLIES METHOD.Check out Cathy heretwinklinglynx Give Your Neurodivergent child a voicego to Bellyfliesmethod.com to receive 3 free episodes to help ease frustrations and give your child a voice Follow Pearl onsocial media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @PearlchiarenzaGo to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Staytrue to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Please join us for “Navigating PDA in America: An Interview with Diane Gould about Her New Book”Diane Gould is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in serving autistic individuals. As the Executive Director and Founder of PDA North America, she founded the annual PDA North America conference held in Chicago which has changed the lives of hundreds of PDA families.Currently, Diane has a private practice in the suburbs of Chicago, where she serves neurodivergent children, adults, and their families. Over the last 40-plus years, she has worked for both private agencies and school systems. Diane was the Childhood Disability and Family Support Specialist for the Jewish Children's Bureau for over a decade. She created many different types of programs and support groups, family camps, and parent education. She also established inclusion consultation and home visiting programs. She also has worked for two special education cooperatives which resulted in working in 14 schools during her career.  She served on the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of Illinois for many years. Diane also facilitates a program to improve relationship skills for teens and adults.She has served as a consultant and guest lecturer for many area school districts, parent associations, and private agencies. Diane provides assessments and consultations to families and school districts and frequently attends school meetings.  Diane has always been interested in human behavior and works with individuals, parents, and schools to create support plans that increase emotional regulation. She has been vocal with her concerns that our commonly used practices increase dysregulation and make behavioral challenges worse. She fights against punitive practices including seclusion, restraint, suspension, and expulsion. It was the understanding of behavior and support in the PDA literature that first drew her to learn more about PDA. And learning about PDA, led her to begin the new PDA movement in North America. Diane formed PDA North America at the first American PDA conference in March 2020. She has written a book with Ruth Fidler on Navigating PDA in America which will be published in June 2024. She is making it part of her life's mission to gain more awareness and understanding of PDA in North America through this non-profit organization.Support the Show.

In this episode of the ReStoried Podcast, we interview Julie Halfhill, Carroll County's dedicated Family Support Specialist. Julie's unique perspective as an adoptive, foster, and biological mother fuels her unwavering commitment to family. Married to Seth for ten years, they raise their three children—ages 7, 4, and 1.5—on her grandparents' farm in Carroll County. Though she began her career as an RN, Julie found her true calling in supporting vulnerable children and families. She tirelessly assists foster and kinship families, ensuring they have the resources they need. Additionally, Julie builds meaningful connections with local churches and organizations, fostering a community-wide effort to support and raise awareness for those caring for vulnerable children. Tune in to hear Julie's inspiring story and learn how she is making a difference in Carroll County.Episode Highlights: Julie's StoryExtending Support to Carroll County The Challenges of Foster Care in Carroll County Kinship CareComfort and Necessity Bags Supporting Social Workers Find More on Hope Bridge:Sign up to join our Foster Care Info Session Visit Our Website Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Facebook Foster Our Community Instagram Find More on Our Guest: More Info on Common Ground Support Group for Kinship Caregivers in Carroll County This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Kate interviews Carla D'Imperio, fellow PMSF staff member and Family Support Specialist, on a program she leads to support mental health for Phelan-McDermid syndrome caregivers. This program, called Caregiver Support Groups, was started last year with funding from Global Genes and is continuing into 2024. Carla explains the decision to start this program and the positive impact it has made in the community. She delves into the importance of having licensed professionals lead these sessions. And she describes which groupings are offered, how to sign up, and how the program is changing over time. International families are welcome to join and the program is free to families. For more information or to sign up, see: https://pmsf.org/caregiver-support-groups/.

Aliyha Hill, MPH is a Program Manager at Chicago Department of Public Health, is an adjunct Professor at University of Missouri School of Health Professionals, and is a Regional Director for Sisters in Public Health. She is a diligent and charismatic public health professional dedicated to improving and serving the communities towards a prosperous future. She conferred a Bachelor of Health Professions and Related Clinical Services at University of Missouri-Columbia. She then went on to get a Master of Public Health at University of Missouri-Columbia.Connect with Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyha-hill/Join Email Blasts: https://thephmillennial.com/signup/Support The Public Health Millennial: https://ko-fi.com/thephmillennialChapters:@0:00 Episode teaser@2:24 Aliyha Hill, MPH Intro @3:30 Identify & personal background@4:30 What is public health?@5:55 Bachelors of Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences at University of Missouri-Columbia@11:35 Insights from being a student while your parent has cancer@13:28 Experiences during undergrad@25:10 Learning how to be a professional@27:16 Learning interdisciplinary work@29:14 Minor in Spanish @31:40 Relationship building with Mentor@37:32 Importance of “no.”@39:15 Undergrad Takeaways@41:50 Master of Public Health at University of Missouri - Columbia@47:11 Experiences during Master of Public Health@58:49 Takeaways from Master of Public Health @1:01:13 Recovery Coordination Specialist at FEMA@1:11:20 Family Support Specialist at Parent Link@1:18:15 Program Manager at Chicago Department of Public Health@1:25:00 Adjunct Professor at University of Missouri College of Health Science Professions@1:30:41 Regional Director for Sisters In Public Health@1:34:12 Future Predictions @1:36:10 The Furious FiveSupport the showThanks for tuning in. Let's all work together towards a culture of health, wellbeing, and equity for all. ⭐⭐ SUBSCRIBE & Leave a 5-STAR REVIEW! ⭐⭐ Follow & Support:- Contribute to the show (one-time or monthly)- The Public Health Millennial on IG - The Public Health Millennial on LinkedIn - The Public Health Millennial Website- Omari Richins, MPH on LinkedIn- Support on The Public Health Store

In this episode, we speak with Shawna Canaga, Family Support Specialist and the statewide Peer Delivered Services Trainer for Oregon Family Support Network (OFSN) about suicide prevention for LGBTQ people and their families.

Description: Navigating a military move can be hectic, and there may be an added layer when special education is involved.  Karen Terry from the Office of Special Needs shares some tips and resources that support military families before, during and after their move. We'd like to thank the West Point Spouses Club for making today's podcast possible. https://westpointspousesclub.org/ Show Notes: EFMP and Me: https://efmpandme.militaryonesource.mil/ Advanced EFMP registration: https://efmpeducationdirectory.militaryonesource.mil/ MCEC's Webinar Transitions with Exceptional Needs- https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/rec/WN_R36AXWV_S16C-iBu1Q-zzg?meetingId=b9umlmu8I-Nj3FcJ_k_z1M0nPjrA8VVmuKoiyTmXPxkDS-HIUp8ecIJXH9COPic.XxeYU4zF6idPJ-dW&playId=&action=play&_x_zm_rtaid=g0I0VVgGRCui0yHnLxlt2w.1659017031597.5ba8d3d494da718f25db2b0096018f44&_x_zm_rhtaid=331   Bio: Karen Terry Karen Terry is Program analyst in the Office of Special Needs, Office of Family Readiness Policy, Military Community and Family Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) for Personnel and Readiness. Ms. Terry is a retired service member with 21 years in the Air Force where she served both on active duty and in the reserves.   Upon retiring, Ms Terry was part of the Headquarters Air Force Airman and Family Services team where she managed programs such as Relocation, School Liaisons, and the Exceptional Family Member Program.  Before joining OUSD, Ms. Terry was employed as the Family Support Specialist for a Virginia county public school Department of Special Education.  It this position, she worked extensively with parents as they learned and navigated special education on behalf of their child and with the students to increase their access to education through appropriate accommodations and/or modifications.     Ms. Terry is married with three sons.   Her middle son has autism spectrum disorder and was the reason she turned her professional focus to working with people with special needs.    

Our next Unicorn is Nia Ellis. She is a Family Support Specialist and Founder of Nia's Nest which provides postpartum doula services. She discovered her passion for postpartum care when helping a dear friend, became certified and has been the Fourth Trimester Fairy for many families.Nia's Nest IGNia's Nest WebsiteKnow a child care unicorn that should be on the show? Have them fill out our guest submission form.The Great Unicorn Search is a Sittercity podcast. We have child care resources for both caregivers and parents and you can connect with us on Instagram or Facebook.

Taos Pueblo Doula Aspen Mirabal joins us for a conversation about birth equity, decolonizing birthing spaces, and supporting our birthing relatives. She shares her journey in birth work and talks about the unique role of doulas in re-matriating cultural traditions and ancestral birthing practices.Aspen Mirabal is the eldest of three daughters from Taos Pueblo. Aspen currently resides in Taos, but spends most of her days on the Pueblo. Professionally, Aspen is a trained and certified birth keeper for Northern New Mexico, serving Native and non-Native families as a community-based doula. Aspen is a student midwife with the desire to provide access to Indigenous midwifery care while reintroducing the ritualistic customs of full-spectrum birth work to her community of Taos Pueblo. You may find Aspen working as a Family Support Specialist with Tiwa Babies Home Visiting Program, serving all of Taos County Monday through Friday, or after hours representing the New Mexico Doula Association— or of course, at a birth.Resources:Tewa Women United: https://tewawomenunited.org/Yiya-vi-kagingdi Doula-Project: https://tewawomenunited.org/yiya-vi-kagingdi-doula-projectChanging Woman Initiative: http://www.changingwomaninitiative.com/ Center for Indigenous Midwifery: https://www.indigenous-midwifery.org/ Tiwa Babies Home Visiting Program: https://www.taosnews.com/news/tiwa-babies-home-visiting-program-empowers-young-taos-families/article_f1348ca9-9cda-5b71-ba1e-409ef0e30b23.html Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective Live with Indigenous Lactation Consultants Camie Jae Goldhammer and Kim Moore-Salas: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=227110242524474&id=104293154Taos Chapter of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force: https://breastfeedingnm.org/taos/National Native Children's Trauma Center: https://www.nnctc.org/contactInterested in Midwifery and Birthwork? Reach out to Aspen: milk.earth.blood@gmail.comInstagram: @milk.earth.blood--Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah Instagram: @semiah.smithFind her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. 

Guest Jamie Green navigates her journey of homelessness, teenage pregnancy, a substance use disorder and depression to choosing herself. Jamie Green, Healthcare Advocacy CoordinatorJamie Green serves as the Healthcare Advocacy Coordinator at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS/Medicaid) – Department of Community Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations, Office of Individual and Family Affairs. Jamie is a Certified Peer Support and Family Support Specialist with advanced training in Health & Wellness and Health Coaching and has extensive experience in navigating the public Behavioral Health System both professionally and personally. She has past experience in program development, implementation and facilitation of a Whole Health Wellness Program focused on self-activation, efficacy and resiliency. Jamie currently uses her lived experience as a person in recovery (mental health diagnosis and substance use disorder) to advocate for statewide system change with a goal of making access to integrated health care seamless to the member and available. Meeting individuals where they are at and walking with them to a healthier place, same goal for all of us!Jamie recently was a speaker at National Association for Medicaid Directors 2021,  NATCON 2018 and Connections Conference 2019.

Today on The Clean Body Podcast, host Lauren Kelly welcomes the creators of The Whole Therapist to the show to discuss holistic mental therapy that address a humans mind, body, and soul. During the episode, you'll learn:What epigenetics is and how it differs from genesWhat causes depression and anxiety in many casesHow stress, grief, ADHD, anxiety,  shame, strength, resilience and courage can be passed down through generationsHow a mom's mental health during pregnancy can impact the baby post-pregnancyWhat it means to be born with negative cognitionsHow your body holds onto memories and experiencesHow gratitude practices can positively impact epigenetics and mental healthHow nutrition impacts epigenetic expressionExercises that can help you live a more balanced lifeThe power of the brain to control and inform perceptionWhat reparenting isThe power of vulnerabilityMindful practices to incorporate dailyHow to create room for self-compassion and accountabilityThe truth about healthy relationshipsAbout Abby, The Whole TherapistAbby obtained her Masters in Social Work in 2013. Prior to getting her graduate degree, she had experience working as an advocate at a domestic violence shelter, supporting survivors at a sexual assault healing program, and providing therapy at a teen girls' group home. Upon graduating Abby joined a non-profit as a family therapist doing intensive in-home family and individual therapy in adoption preservation. She moved to the Denver area in 2016 and began her private practice. Abby works with children ages 3+, teen girls, and adult women survivors of trauma. Her areas of specialization include adoptees and their families, parenting gifted and 2e children, and survivors of sexual abuse. Abby is a bicultural therapist and is specifically passionate about providing care to the Latinx community. About Kellee, The Whole TherapistKellee obtained her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2014. While obtaining her master's degree Kellee was working as a client advocate at a Domestic Violence Shelter in Arizona, and then transitioned to work in-home as a Family Support Specialist with Preservation and Reunification cases. After getting her master's degree Kellee started working at a co-occurring substance abuse outpatient and inpatient facility. In 2016 Kellee moved to Colorado where she started working at a local Community Mental Health Agency. Kellee worked at the agency in the Early Childhood Department seeing children 2 to 8, pregnant moms, and moms struggling with postpartum depression/anxiety. Contact and Follow The Whole TherapistWebsite: https://wholetherapistinstitute.com/Podcast: https://wholetherapistinstitute.com/the-whole-therapist-podcast-episodes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_whole_therapist/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TWTpodcastersFor more on Lauren Kelly and The Clean Body Project:Lauren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HolisticLaurenKelly/The Clean Body Podcasts's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecleanbodypodcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HolisticLaurenKelly

Hi mamas, advocates and changemakers and welcome back to another episode of the We See you Mama Carecast. I am your host, Kristina Dulaney. This carecast is a program of Cherished Mom, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and supporting moms, families and the community surrounding maternal mental health. You can find us on social media and on our website by visiting www.cherishedmom.org Caroline is a #girlmom of two. She is a survivor of Perinatal OCD and depression. She runs on Jesus and Coffee. God has redeemed her past struggles by allowing Caroline to work as a Family Support Specialist for new and pregnant moms, and also through her work as a writer. Caroline is the author of the blog “Through The Deserts”. She shares the story of her journey through the desert of perinatal mood disorders in hopes that other mommas will find hope as they travel through their own desert. We do discuss specific intrusive thoughts in this episode so please listen from a safe space. I will be sure to put helpful resources in the show notes and you can always reach out to us if you need to. We appreciate you joining us today and without further delay, lets get to today's episode… Resources: Postpartum Support International Helpline: 1-800-944-4773 (call or text) National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 Connect with Cherished Mom: Facebook Instagram Twitter Email: info@cherishedmom.org Proud member of Market Street Media family of podcasts --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/weseeyoumama/support

***WARNING*** SUBJECT IS INFANT LOSS***In this episode, The Two Jess(es) sit down and connect over a conversation with designer Sara Raak of SKG Design and Styles about the loss of her son, Bennett. With love, Sara discusses the harsh realities of being a NICU mom, TWICE, and explains how she has turned her pain into a source of pride as she continues to allow others into the extraordinary journey of her son's legacy. Despite the heaviness of this topic, Sara is able to weave laughter and light throughout her storytelling in a beautiful way. For more information on how to support the Bennett Raak Foundation, see the show notes.Show Notes: The Bennett Raak Foundation seeks to raise money in order to continue to have a dedicated Family Support Specialist for the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital NICU. HIstorically, the NICU has shared a Family Support Specialist with Pediatrics, which spreads the FSS thin, giving priority to the Pediatric unit. Because of the support given by the Bennett Raak Foundation, the NICU now has a dedicated Family Support Specialist and their longterm goal is to continue paying the salary for that position as well as supporting additional programs that benefit the families in the NICU. If you would like to donate to the fund for the Bennett D. Raak Family Support Specialist you can do so at this link: http://www.giving.medstarhealth.org/nicufamilysupportA Note From Sara on Bereavement:A friend and fellow Georgetown NICU parent started an amazing website called Evermore. Joyal lost her sweet daughter and when she was in her darkest moments of grieving sought resources to help walk her, her family and friends through the fog of bereavement. She realized there was very little avaialble to those who despereately needed assistance. As a result she started Evermore. While most Americans will experience bereavement during their lifetime, the topic receives little attention in our nation’s discourse on public health priorities, health equity, and the well-being of children and families. Our nation can do better. We are working every day to bring more and better resources to families and the professionals who serve them. Bereavement care in America is broken. We hope you will join us to make the world a more livable place for bereaved individuals, families and communities. This is an organization to assist anyone who has lost a loved one. https://www.live-evermore.org/Support the show (http://www.paypal.com)

Nicole Woodcox Bolden L.C.S.W is the chief Family Support Specialist of Thriving with Baby. Nicole has combined her experience as a therapist/ Life coach/ doula/ childbirth & family prep educator to holistically support families from conception to birth through the postpartum period with a new child. She has the ability to lovingly hold space for those who are hurting and/or may need a gentle reminder that they are awesome, no matter their current situation. She has served families who have experienced perinatal loss, postpartum depression & anxiety, youth K-12 as a school social worker, older adults battling Alzheimer’s, and people releasing the chains of human trafficking domestically and internationally.  Nicole is also a wife and mother to 2 strong-willed girls. To visit her website, go to www.thrivingwithbaby.com. To purchase her 4-week journal on Amazon visit https://www.amazon.com/Mamas-Mind-Matters-Jumpstart-Journal/dp/1707661774. You can follow her on Facebook @thrivingwithbaby and on Instagram @thrivingwithbabychicago --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lyne-urban/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lyne-urban/support

Join us for our interview with Jessica Stickel. Jessy is a lifelong learner and a forever aspiring possibilitarian. She is passionate about supporting people in discovering their wealth that is within them and their circumstances. She has been serving families for over 20 years in a plethora of roles. She started as a Family Support Specialist for Head Start, then became a School Counselor, and later got her certification in Life Coaching. She is currently the Student Success Coach at Prescott High School and founder of Inspired Freedom Coaching where she works with teens, families, and adults to become the best version of themselves. In the Episode, Jessy talks about how she discovered the power of counseling in a group setting (the Circle) and her belief that everybody (including teens) already has the resources and knowledge she needs. https://www.inspiredfreedomcoaching.com/ Watch Jessy's TEDx talk, "Wealth is Within." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc7mRfh5m2w --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocketfeather/message

By Shirley Langston Shirley has vast ministry and corporate experience. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Restoration Haven, Inc., serves as a passionate professional bringing restoration, transformation and empowerment to families in at-risk communities. Alongside of this she works as a Family Support Specialist for G.W. Carver Middle School through Transformation Waco. As […]

If you have the skills and passion for a position that doesn’t yet exist, there are some specific steps you can take while you wait for that position to be created. Networking to build relationships, volunteering to keep your experience current, and finding a group of people who share your vision will allow you to be patient while you wait. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Julie Magers and I talk about how she worked to create a position that didn’t yet exist. It required patience, staying engaged in her profession, and building relationships every step of the way. Two years later, she is still loving the dream job she created for herself. Learn more about Julie’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series.   What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I work at OHSU’s Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry as their one and only Family Support Specialist. In fact, I am one of two total employees filling this role in the entire University! In this role, I am developing strategies to enhance and elevate the inclusion of Family and Young Adult Support Specialists across Oregon, specifically in two programs: the Emergency Department Diversion (EDD) Pilot Program and the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA). People in these positions have lived experiences with navigating the systems of care that serve youth living with mental health conditions and/or developmental or intellectual disabilities. We help by walking beside the family, sharing what we have learned through experience, providing emotional and educational support, and helping them learn to advocate for their needs to be met. We also help to “translate” the communication among families, youth and their health/education/insurance providers in order to promote collaborative approaches to serving the child and family’s needs. How long did it take you to find this job? I was searching for this particular role for about eight months. How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most? Because this is a somewhat newly emerging workforce, my best tactics and strategies to find this position included networking, serving in volunteer roles on advisory councils, researching the agencies and organizations that hire Family, Young Adult, and Peer Support Specialists, and being ready to submit my application as soon as the most favorable position was announced. What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge? I had been working as a Family Support Specialist at a local non-profit with a focus on mental health and developed one of the field operations for the EDD Pilot Program in that county. I was very interested in serving in a role to improve the support, training and inclusion of this workforce in all of the program sites across the state, but that position didn’t really exist. I think the most difficult part of this journey was being patient and waiting for the systems serving children and families to create the position. To overcome that challenge, I remained “plugged into” the work in any way possible and stayed in touch with industry leaders in the field. What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job-seekers? Do what you have to do to have the income you need to pay your bills, while simultaneously pursuing your dream job! Why do you love your job? I have the honor to walk beside families who are in crisis with their children, spun around in a system of care (our mental health system) that does not readily guide them in getting their children access to critically needed care. When I was in a similar situation, I had a mentor who helped me learn how these systems work so that I could make them work for my daughter – now I get to pay it forward and share that knowledge with others. I also have the privilege to work with mental health service providers and bridge the communication with their clients, promoting family and youth driven care. Everyone wins when all parties are able to collaborate for the best possible outcomes for children and youth experiencing emotional and behavioral health-related challenges. Learn more about Julie on LinkedIn and her company website, or follow her on Twitter!  

Jeanine Cook-Garard and Joan Buckley from the department of nursing, meet with Danielle Skelly, a Family Support Specialist for the AGAPE program of Long Island. AGAPE is a program within the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition that provides free support, information, and educational resources to all adoptive families and relative caregivers who have custody or guardianship of a child. AGAPE follows the principle that these special families should have the support they need when they need it.

In this special 100th episode of Exploring Different Brains, Hackie Reitman, M.D. explains what Different Brains stands for through the words of some of our amazing past guests. Featured in this episode are: Bankole A. Johnson, DSc, MD, MBChB, MPhil, FRCPsych, DFAPA, Dip-ABAM, Dip-ABDA, FACFEI (heads the Brain Science Research Consortium Unit (BSRCU) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and is one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject of addiction, and was featured on HBO’s addiction), Dr. Gail Salts (Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell Medical College, a psychoanalyst with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute, a columnist, bestselling author, podcast host and television commentator and one of the nation’s foremost go-to experts on a variety of psychological and mental health issues ), Dr. Stephen Shore (author, autism advocate, board member for Autism Speaks, and professor at Adelphi University), Jessica Thom (British advocate diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of 20, and is the co-founder of Touretteshero, as well as an artist, play worker, fundraiser),Dr. Matthew Scheps (an astrophysicist and visiting scientist at M.I.T., and founder of the Laboratory for Visual Learning), Tom McGranihan (author and advocate for the awareness of epilepsy), David Grant (brain injury, the founder and publisher of TBI HOPE Magazine), Shawn Smith (neurodiversity advocate and consultant, and founder of Don’t Dis-my-Ability), Stacy Hoaglund (editor of The Autism Notebook Magazine, a Family Support Specialist for Family Network on Disabilities, the CEO of Disability Training and Support Specialists, project coordinator for Partners in Policy-making, author of “Go for the Goal: A Parent’s Guide to Creating Meaningful IEP Goals,” a tireless advocate for the neurodiverse, and the mother of a son with autism), Dr. Temple Grandin (prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behavior, professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University), Michael Alessandri (Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities [UM-NSU CARD] ), Dr. JR Harding (an author, disability advocate, and instructional specialist at Florida State University), Dr. Steve Ronik (CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health, the largest provider of health care support in South Florida, serving 30,000 people), Dr. Steve Perlman (Clinical professor of Pediatric Dentistry at The Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Co-founder and previous president of The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry [AADMD], and was an integral part of bringing health care services to the Special Olympics), Denise Karp (autism advocate and founder of the yahoo autism parent’s group Denise’s List), and Sarah Weir (President of the National Down Syndrome Society [NDSS], the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome). For more information about our guests, visit this episode's page on our website: http://differentbrains.org/what-is-different-brains-advocating-for-neurodiversity-from-autism-to-alzheimer-edb-100/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

Jeanine Cook-Garard and Joan Buckley from the department of nursing, meet with Danielle Skelly, a Family Support Specialist for the AGAPE program of Long Island. AGAPE is a program within the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition that provides free support, information, and educational resources to all adoptive families and relative caregivers who have custody or guardianship of a child. AGAPE follows the principle that these special families should have the support they need when they need it.

In this episode, Dr. Hackie Reitman sits down again with Stacey Hoaglund. She is the editor of The Autism Notebook Magazine, a Family Support Specialist for Family Network on Disabilities, the CEO of Disability Training and Support Specialists, project coordinator for Partners in Policy-making, author of “Go for the Goal: A Parent’s Guide to Creating Meaningful IEP Goals,” a tireless advocate for the neurodiverse, and the mother of a son with autism. Stacey discusses neurodiversity in education, harnessing hyperinterests, and employment for those with different brains. Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.com/category/edb/

In this episode, Dr. Hackie Reitman sits down with Stacey Hoaglund. She is the editor of The Autism Notebook Magazine, a Family Support Specialist for Family Network on Disabilities, the CEO of Disability Training and Support Specialists, project coordinator for Partners in Policy-making, author of “Go for the Goal: A Parent’s Guide to Creating Meaningful IEP Goals,” a tireless advocate for the neurodiverse, and the mother of a son with autism. Stacey discusses the importance of appreciating the gifts of the neurodiverse, how employment helps develop social skills, and the challenge of getting legislature passed that can help the family and individuals affected by learning challenges.

Wendy Sullivan from Tennessee Voices for Children joins Roger Stewart from NAMI Tennessee. Hear how to become a Family Support Specialist (FSS) and help families that have a child with mental illness.