Tykes & Teens Preparing Parents and Students for
Return to School with Free Summer Series:
“Mental Health Matters – Returning with Resilience” to Premier on Facebook @TykesTeens
There is no question COVID-19 has been a very long and devastating pandemic. Despite the lifting of restrictions, vaccinations and returning to schools, the pandemic’s aftermath is continuing to have an impact on the mental health of our children, families, teachers, childcare providers and the community as a whole. The need has never been greater to focus on mental health awareness and removing the stigma and shame often associated with seeking mental health treatment.
To prepare parents and students for a mentally resilient return to school, Tykes & Teens, a leading provider of the highest quality, evidence-based mental health services and programs for children and adolescents for 25 years, is launching a free summer video series. “Mental Health Matters – Returning with Resilience” will premiere on Tykes & Teens Facebook channel @TykesTeens during July and August, and features 15-minute video segments with leading mental health experts, educators and students that will include conversations with practical tips, tools and resources to help parents and students navigate back into a routine and emerge from the pandemic with resilience.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and students prepare to return to more in-person school and other activities following over a year of isolation, many are struggling with feelings of being overwhelmed, and feeling anxious and depressed,” says Tykes & Teens Director of Prevention Services Dorothy Oppenheiser. “Our goal is to provide prevention services that give students and parents tools and resources that allow them to navigate these challenging times and emerge with resilience.”
“Mental Health Matters – Returning with Resilience” Facebook Premiere Schedule
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 1:00 PM – “Coming Out of the Woods”
- Eric Garza, MHA, LCSW - Tykes & Teens CEO
- Jay Biscanin, M.A., CBHCMS – Tykes & Teens Manager of Targeted Case Management, Certified Wraparound Coach and Facilitator, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
- What can we expect as we emerge from the pandemic and return to in-person school and activities? There is hope! Children are resilient! Practical tips and resources to support your child coming out of the pandemic strong and in good mental health. Plus local resources available in our community to support you.
Wednesday, July 21st at 1:00 PM – “Feeling Anxious? You’re Not Alone”
- Dr. Alethia DuPont, Psy. D. - Tykes & Teens Director of Outpatient Services
- A Teen Perspective
- Overwhelmed, stressed and worried about going back to in-person school and activities? How to best prepare, anxiety signs for parents and students to look for, and how to move forward with resiliency.
Wednesday, July 28th at 1:00 PM – “Depressed or Just Down?”
- Tamie Gilarski, LCSW, RPT-S - Tykes & Teens School Based Program Coordinator, Psychotherapist, Play Therapist Supervisor and Clinical Supervisor
- How do you support a student who is experiencing depression? How do you know if you're depressed or just down? How do you know when to reach out for professional help? Signs to look for and tools to create a resilient return.
Wednesday, August 4th at 1:00 PM – “Creating Routines for Stability”
- Andrea Greenlee, LCSW – Tykes & Teens Director of School Based Services and Psychotherapist
- Monique Coleman, MS – Tykes & Teens Prevention Coordinator
- Hannah Greenlee - A "Changing Vibes, Changing Lives" Student Perspective
- How to develop routines that create stability and resiliency as you return to in-person school and activities. Tips to creating a path toward preparing to return to school.
Wednesday, August 11th at 1:00 PM – “Practical Steps for Students”
- Dorothy Oppenheiser – Tykes & Teens Director of Prevention Services
- Monique Coleman, MS – Tykes & Teens Prevention Coordinator
- Anthony Ferro – Jensen Beach High School Teacher
- Following more than a year of crisis and uncertainty, we'll provide practical steps from an educator's perspective on how students can overcome the stress and anxiety of returning to in-person school.
Wednesday, August 18th at 1:00 PM – “Enhancing Young Children & Family Resilience”
- Elizabeth Appleton – Tykes & Teens Director of Childcare Mental Health Consultation
- Tools for childcare staff and parents to support children ages 0 to 5 through day-to-day transitions and as start or return to school. Tykes & Teens is the sole provider of Infant Mental Health Services and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation on the Treasure Coast.
To watch the new “Mental Health Matters – Returning with Resilience” series, visit Tykes & Teens on Facebook @TykesTeens. Have a question you would like answered during the series? Email mistys@tykesandteens.org.
Tykes & Teens’ Prevention Services programming has provided more than 500 community events for adolescents and parents to prevent substance use, bullying, dating violence, suicide and other dangerous behaviors among youth, and also administers prevention and social emotional learning curriculum in schools. The agency’s prevention programming focuses on raising community awareness to remove the stigma and shame often associated with seeking mental health treatment; engaging youth in fun, safe and healthy activities; and providing free educational events for parents and youth. Tykes & Teens’ prevention programs include:
- ALTOSS (Alternative to Out of School Suspension Program)
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Moms for Mental Health
- Youth Service Learning
- TEAMS – Teacher Empowerment And Meaningful Support
- Project Graduation
For more information on Tykes & Teens Prevention Services, visit www.tykesandteens.org/prevention-services, call 772-220-3439 or email gethelp@tykesandteens.org.
The Children’s Services Council of Martin County and C.O.R.E. (Comprehensive Offender Rehabilitation and Education) provide funding for Tykes & Teens’ prevention programming and services.
To learn more about how you can support children’s mental health in our community, visit www.tykesandteens.org/give-help.
About Tykes & Teens
Tykes & Teens has been a leading mental health provider for children and adolescent evidence-based programs and services for 25 years. Our passion and commitment are to empowering children and strengthening families by ensuring that all children have access to high quality counseling and mental health services, regardless of financial status. Our mission is prioritizing children’s mental health in our families, schools and communities through a wide range of prevention, education, and treatment programs and services. We also advocate for increased awareness of mental health to remove the stigma and shame often associated with seeking mental health treatment. We provide affordable quality mental health services for children in need across the Treasure Coast from more than 50 service locations, including outpatient offices in Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie, and Vero Beach, on-site services in all Martin County schools, and in schools in Okeechobee and Indian River counties, as well as collaboration with numerous community partners, in addition to virtual telehealth services. We have continued to offer our services and programs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including virtual telehealth care. We accept most insurance, private payments, and we are a Medicaid-approved provider. We have successfully administered a sliding fee scale for those in need when necessary for more than 20 years. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, we also provide $750,000 in unreimbursed services to the communities we serve each year. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
