Related Articles Whether family members are forthcoming regarding their recovery process or not, if you have a loved one recovering from substance misuse, it’s important to understand how deeply your interaction and communication with them play a role. Discover some helpful tips for effectively communicating with family members recovering from addiction. Learn about their history…
Read MoreBullying in Schools: What Is It and How to Prevent It
Jessica Kaado, Preventionist As a parent, sending a child to school comes with a unique set of worries: Will my child make friends? Are they struggling academically? Are they being challenged? Are they being bullied? There is no doubt about the drastic differences in curriculum and school environment across the decades, but one thing always…
Read MoreHaving Effective Conversations With Your Teen About Substance Misuse
Related Articles Ensuring the health and well-being of teenagers is a multifaceted endeavor that extends beyond physical health to include safeguarding them from the risks associated with alcohol and substance misuse. Understanding the delicate nature of this issue requires a comprehensive exploration of the various factors that contribute to it. The developing adolescent brain is…
Read More5 Mindful Self-Care Practices For Teens
By Colleen Sharlow, Preventionist Being a teenager in today’s world can be tough — constantly being surrounded by new social media trends, worrying about the future, and facing pressures at home, school, and amongst peers can certainly take a toll on one’s mental health. Although there is not a singular solution to fix these stressors,…
Read MoreGirl Talk Brought in the New Year by Hosting a Vision Board Party
By: Aja Bradley, Clinician Girl Talk brought in the new year by hosting a vision board party. The end of the year is usually a time for reflection. Many ask themselves, “What goals did I accomplish? Did I save up as much money as I wanted to? Did I lose weight? Did I quit an…
Read MoreWhat’s New in Schools?
By: Rikki Siegel, Preventionist As a Preventionist at Wellspring Center for Prevention, I get the opportunity to go to several different schools, meet so many eager students, and work with wonderful teachers. One of my favorite programs to teach during the school year is Footprints for Life. Footprints for Life is a research-based primary prevention…
Read MoreFive Places to De-Stress in Monmouth/Middlesex Counties
By Lizz Dinnigan, Preventionist Since the Pandemic, it feels as if our collective baselines have shifted toward a consistent state of feeling overwhelmed, over-stimulated, and over-extended. This, in turn, can make us overreactive, over-emotional, and over-sensitive. Releasing some of that tension and pressure is essential to our well-being. It’s important to find an outlet to…
Read MoreEngaging Parents in School-Based Prevention Programs
Parental engagement is a cornerstone of successful education and plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of school-based prevention programs. These initiatives, aimed at addressing issues like substance abuse, bullying, and mental health, benefit significantly from the active involvement of parents. Engaging parents not only enhances student outcomes but also strengthens the bond between families…
Read MoreWrite It In The Stars: A New Year’s Cafeteria Activity
By Gideon Abadilla, Youth Development Specialist At the beginning of each year, it is common practice to create a new year’s resolution. This involves setting a goal for oneself that should be accomplished by the end of the year. The goal can be long-term or short-term, but oftentimes, the achievement of this goal is perceived…
Read MoreStaying Active as We Age
By Jess Kaado, Preventionist Every single adult has been made aware of the health benefits of exercise, both for our physical and mental health, over the years. But, I’m sure most would agree that staying active as we age is easier said than done. Our days are busy, our lives are emotionally complex — add…
Read MoreMemory Loss – Is This Really Happening?
By Jess Kaado, Preventionist I remember the first time I became aware of memory loss as a cognitive health problem. It was 2004 and I was a hopelessly romantic teenager eager to watch one of the year’s biggest films: The Notebook. This movie became a national treasure as arguably one of the most romantic, yet…
Read More