National Safety Month Guest Contributor: Gerald New Husband, Father, & Textbook Seller © Johnkasawa | Dreamstime.com - Bicycle Mountain Bike Safety Helmet Photo June is National Safety Month and when the good people at the Arkansas Families First asked me to write a column on the subject, I jumped at the chance to [...]
Autism Spectrum Disorder 101 What it Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors (www.autismspeaks.org). Did you know ... Autism now affects 1 in [...]
What is Child-Parent Psychotherapy? "Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an intervention for children from birth through age 5 who have experienced at least one traumatic event (e.g., maltreatment, the sudden or traumatic death of someone close, a serious accident, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence) and, as a result, are experiencing behavior, attachment, and/or mental [...]
Helping Your Child Overcome Teasing and Bullying If your child is unfortunate enough to face chronic teasing or bullying there are some strategies taught by various programs to help them cope. The strategies below were taken from a program that we offer at Arkansas Families First, LLC called the PEERS Program. Dealing with Verbal Teasing [...]
Few Americans Aware of Their Rights for Mental Health Coverage APA survey reveals only 4 percent of Americans know about mental health parity law WASHINGTON — Even though more than 1 in 4 Americans (27 percent) have received treatment or therapy from a mental health professional, few people know that health insurers are required to [...]
Social and Interpersonal Skills ProgramsArkansas Families First offers two social skills programs for youth ranging from 7 to 18 years-of-age. The programs frequently includes youth with social anxiety, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.The PEERS Social Skills Program, or the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for [...]
Resources for Families Facing the Trauma of Tornadoes and their Aftermath From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network In light of the numerous tornadoes that have impacted the communities in Arkansas and surrounding states, our friends at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) have developed some helpful materials on this topic: Tornado Response Factsheets [...]
A Dreamstime.com Photo The Power of Words As parents, we sometimes forget how powerful our words to our children really can be. We often find ourselves in “expert” parent mode, and forget to really listen. Sometimes we use way too many words. Several years ago, while playing a dinner question [...]
It's the Holiday Season: So, Where’s The Magic? A dreamstime.com photo The holiday season can bring up many emotions. For parents, Christmas can also bring pressure from many different directions: family gatherings, finding the “right” gifts, and creating special memories and traditions that our children will cherish for years to come. So what [...]
Parenting "Troubled Children": Some "Unspeakable" Honesties ADHD, OCD, ODD, Sensory Issues, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorders…whatever diagnosis it’s called in your child’s case, all you really know is that it’s painful. Painful, upsetting, guilt-ridden, and exhausting. Even the simplest of routines become difficult with your child. The most menial tasks become unmanageable. [...]
