Fighting to end mental health stigma has been a career goal for the last twenty years, so why does it feel bad as we progress? In 2020, 20.3% of adults sought professional mental health care rather than suffering in silence (Source). The progress in 2020 with adults seeking professional mental health support would feel much …
by Veronica Farris, SAFY Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Ms. Farris also chairs SAFY’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, a team dedicated to building a culture of inclusiveness to advance the SAFY Mission of Preserving Families and Securing Futures by representing the diverse communities served and ensuring inclusivity of all humanity. Seeing is believing. …
“Home for the holidays” is a phrase that brings up images of nostalgia, warm holiday decorations, and families gathered around a cozy fire. It’s warm and fuzzy, and an experience that all children deserve to have. As we approach the 2021 holiday season, the need for loving foster families to open their homes to youth …
As most parents know, there is nothing we wouldn’t do to keep our children healthy and safe. The thought of inflicting harm on our children, or anyone’s children for that matter, is unthinkable. But the horrific reality is that each year in the U.S., more than 600,000 children are victims of child abuse (Childwelfare.gov). This …
To Prevent Child Abuse, We Need to Support Families Read More »
Jenna Coleman, LCSW, is the Executive Director of Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) of Colorado , where she oversees clinical and business operations in the provision of care for the state’s families and children. It seems like no coincidence that March celebrates both Women’s History Month …
Celebrating the Women Trailblazers in Social Work and Child Welfare Read More »
For teens across the country, the rites-of-passage we typically associate with high school and college – school, sports, extracurricular activities, proms and graduations – have been turned upside down. And teen dating is no exception. The pandemic has caused teens (and their parents) to re-think what dating looks like with limited opportunities for in-person interactions. …
The year 2020 brought challenges none of us could have imagined. The COVID-19 pandemic, its associated economic burdens, isolation from family and friends – coupled with our national racial and political unrest – impacted every American in some way. As we embark on 2021 and start to see glimmers of hope to a return to …
This New Year Make Your Mental Health Come First Read More »
Pandemic Mental Health: It’s More Important than Ever for Parents and Youth to Make Mental Health a Priority By Judy Lester, Treatment Director, Licensed Independent Social Work Supervisor, Advanced Certified Trauma Practitioner It’s no secret these are unprecedented, trying times. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues with seeming no end in sight, we know families across …
Back to School During a Pandemic: Finding Your New Normal What does back to school look like in your home? Whether it’s fully online, a hybrid of in-person and online, or a full return to the classroom, this year is unlike any we’ve faced as parents, foster parents, teachers, mentors and guardians. Perhaps one of …
Back to School During a Pandemic: Finding Your New Normal Read More »
By Tonya Brooks-Thomas, SAFY of Ohio Executive Director At Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY), we know from our work as a therapeutic foster care, adoption and family services provider that all youth need a stable home environment to achieve their full potential. Unfortunately, we know that too often in the world of child …
Youth Experiencing Foster Care Belong in Families Read More »
