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Guest Blogger Deanna Martin, Senior Specialist, Center for Excellence Beech Acres Parenting Center is saddened and angered to hear of recent reports of lawmakers proposing bills that limit the rights of people who identify as LGBTQ and aiming to limit both freedoms of speech around sexual orientation and identity and interfering in the medical decisions of children and families.  We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ children, families, and youth and support the wellbeing of all families. We denounce legislation that promotes behaviors that increase risk and decrease the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ community.  As we navigate these challenging times together, we invite you to engage in behaviors that help young people thrive. Research from the Family Acceptance Project has shown there are over 50 family accepting behaviors that can reduce risk and promote well-being.   Here are some behaviors that you can engage in that will support your LGBTQ children and their friends.  Tell you LGBTQ/gender diverse child that you love them Support your child’s gender expression Ask your child if – and how – you can help them tell other people about their LGBTQ identity Show affection when your child tells you or you learn your child is LGBTQ Use your child’s chosen name and the pronoun that matches their gender identity Tell your LGBTQ/gender diverse child that you will be there for them – even if you don’t fully understand them.  Speak up when others make negative comments about LGBTQ people The children of parents who engage in these accepting behaviors have children that experience:   Better health Higher self esteem Stronger social support Better family relationships Less likely to be depressed 3 times less likely to think about suicide 3 times less likely to attempt suicide Less likely to have substance abuse problems Learn more about behaviors that support and hinder the health and well-being of LGBTQ people.

Warren County Connect is a collaborative of organizations serving Warren County that provide prevention services to children and families. The purpose of the collaboration is to be efficient and effective in utilizing resources across the community. Members of the group aim to minimize overlap of same or similar programs, to look for gaps in prevention services, and to assist members and schools to respond to emergencies and to emerging issues for youth. Beech Acres Parenting Center is proud to partner with Warren County Connect! Click here to learn more about this collaborative effort.

February 7-11 is National School Counseling Week! School counselors play an important role in schools. They help shape a school’s culture and community. They help students find and stay on the right path to success. This week we celebrate school counselors and the critical role they perform in schools. Looking for a way to say “thank you” to your favorite school counselor? Download and print this certificate! The genuine recognition is sure to brighten their day!

Beech Acres Parenting Center was shocked, saddened, and angered by recent reports of threats of violence this week at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) around the country. Several members of our staff are alumni of HBCUs, making this news personal and real.  We stand in solidarity with our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Parents who may have children at one of these schools, far away from home, are likely feeling a range of emotions from anger to fear and everything in between.  This is a difficult situation, especially when some students are miles away from home. It’s not as simple as just driving to pick them up and bring them home where you can watch over them, which is probably exactly what you want to. The safety and protection of their children are always the top priority for any parent.  HBCU Unity is embedded in the Beech Acres staff and community. From our “Sunken Gardens” to our Booker T. Washington statues, these campuses are more than just a college; they are home and safe havens to many of our staff members. At times like these, it is important to talk to your children and even more important to listen to them. Provide your child with the space to voice how they feel. Do more listening than talking. Even among great adversity, you must be present and available to support your child.  “As an HBCU alumni, I know that with the support of the school’s staff and the people that I went to the café with and enjoyed trips to the library with, we will be overcoming this moment.” Ashley Gray, Recruiter, Beech Acres Parenting Center. 

February is Black History Month. This year we will be celebrating by acknowledging significant contributions by Black pioneers in the area of mental health. We will also be sharing what Black History Month means to our employees through a series of videos from the team. Follow along all month long! “I am Black History. My future is unlimited. It is very intentional. I live this life. I love this life and I’m very excited to share this video with you.” David T. Brand, Senior Therapist Beech Acres Parenting Center. “The fight, the struggle, the resilience, the experiences, the life, the journey that my ancestors took for me to be able to experience Black joy…all the beautiful things that make me…me!” Donial Curry, Events and Stewardship Specialist Beech Acres Parenting Center. “I’m glad we have this time and this month to stop and reflect to think about equal rights for all people and how important that is.” Craig Dobson, Team Lead, Beyond the Classroom. “Black History Month gives us an opportunity, a more intentional space and time for learning. The more we can learn, the more we can spread the awareness and the love and the understanding, is when we will truly begin to come together as one community and lift each other up.” Amanda McDermott, Team Lead Beyond the Classroom “Black History Month has been absolutely amazing for me and my family. It means so much more now that my daughter is starting to see herself in people and see herself in the world around her.” Ashley Gray, Recruiter, Foster Care & Adoption “I feel the more I know about others the better I can have a true understanding and not judge based on stereotypes.” Diana Betz Program Data Analyst “Black History Month is really a time to celebrate, reflect and learn.” Deanna Martin Senior Specialist, Center of Excellence

Try this activity to remember and develop your strengths and practice mindfulness! Download here.

Looking to connect with a Parenting Specialist? Click here. Share messages of love openly and often. It may be corny, but anything parents can do to practice communicating and reaching out frequently is good. Texts are something kids will always read whether they admit it or not. Download these ideas here.

Our FY2021 Annual Report is now available to download here. Thank you to all of our generous donors who make this important work possible. Consider making a donation to support our efforts this year.

The DEI Committee at Beech Acres Parenting Center is excited to announce a seminar, Engaging Diversity and Inclusion In Non-Profit Settings this Wednesday, August 11th from 3:00-4:30 pm with Dr. Anthony G. James. Dr. Anthony G. James is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Science and Social Work at Miami University (OH). His scholarly work uses an interdisciplinary approach to understanding social interactions and human development, with expertise in positive youth development, religion and spirituality, diverse family systems, family processes, and program evaluation. His works include publications in referred journals and book chapters, on topics in the areas of youth development and family processes, including an edited book on Black family life using a systems perspective. He is the current deputy editor of the journal of Family Theory and Review and a consulting editor for the Journal of Research on Adolescence. Dr. James is a certified relationship assessment facilitator through the PREPARE/ENRICH program, a certified family life educator through the National Council on Family Relations. He received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Register online here.