Author: Jennie Risley

4 Children’s Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Check out these 4 great children’s books to add to your collection to help you and your family celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

1. Mango, Abuela, and Me

Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. While they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English, and Mia learns some Spanish, too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn enough words to tell Mia her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better. Here is an endearing tale that speaks loud and clear about the love that binds families across the generations.

2. Alma

What’s in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.

If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.

3. I Love Saturdays y domingos

Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the child in this story. On Saturdays, she visits Grandma and Grandpa, who come from a European-American background, and on Sundays — los domingos — she visits Abuelito y Abuelita, who are Mexican-American. While the two sets of grandparents are different in many ways, they also have a great deal in common — in particular, their love for their granddaughter.
While we follow our narrator to the circus and the pier, share stories from her grandparents’ pasts, and celebrate her birthday, the depth and joy of both cultures are conveyed in Spanish and English. This affirmation of both heritages will speak to all children who want to know more about their own families and ethnic backgrounds.

4. what Can You Do with a Paleta?

As she strolls through her barrio, a young girl introduces readers to the frozen, fruit-flavored treat that thrills Mexican and Mexican-American children.

In this bilingual paperback edition, discover the joys of a paleta—the traditional Mexican popsicle treat sold from the wagon with the tinkly bell that brings children running from every direction. Create a masterpiece, make tough choices (strawberry or coconut?), or cool off on a warm summer’s day—there’s so much to do with a paleta.

Waiting for Care: Responding to the mid-pandemic Mental Health Crisis

Posted on | by Jennie Risley | 1 Comment on Waiting for Care: Responding to the mid-pandemic Mental Health Crisis

Where are all the therapists? Well, they’re in session.  And they might be for a while.

The stories keep flooding in.  Someone finally made one of the most vulnerable phone calls imaginable, to ask for help—only to be told that there is a waiting list a mile long to see a licensed therapist.  And the people that agency or practice usually refers to? Their caseloads are completely full, too.  Maybe this person who called has built up to a boiling point, and now feels like he or she must sit in that state, pressure building, until the phone call to schedule with a professional finally comes.

Did we mention this is also happening during a pandemic? For you, maybe the pressure builds during re-entry to work after being home for over a year—or maybe your thoughts and feelings have suddenly begun to feel like they are crashing down on top of you in a way that you have never experienced before. Then, the delta variant hit and your world shifted. Again.

Unfortunately, you are not alone. These are the stories we are hearing daily as mental health professionals, as we struggle to meet the needs of the individuals who call us.  We hear your stories, and it pains us to share that we sometimes do not have the capacity to help you in the way in which we so badly desire.  This is not just the experience of ChristianWorks, or Dallas, or the state of Texas.  Nationally, mental health professionals are stretched thin, and mourning the moment each of us must turn away another client.

The New York Times reported in February of 2021:

since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the United States more than a year ago, the number of people in need of mental health services has surged. But many say that they are languishing on waiting lists, making call after call only to be turned away, with affordable options tough to find. Providers, who have long been in short supply, are stretched thin (Caron, 2021).

Thankfully, here at ChristianWorks, we have been able to work diligently over the past few months to narrow down our waiting list and be able to serve most of the individuals who are now calling our intake office.  Our waiting list, which never even needed to exist pre-pandemic, now hovers at a much lower number than earlier this year.  Yet, the crisis remains. Nationally, individuals are continuing to struggle with anxiety and depression with drastically climbing numbers, with young people (ages 11-17), tracking highest on screeners for these concerns (Mental Health America, 2021).

So what do we do when the supply is so much smaller than the demand for mental health services? These are questions that, at ChristianWorks, we are committedly continuing to ask ourselves.  I am hopeful that these few, short tips below can assist you in “waiting well” if you are not able to currently be connected to the mental healthcare that you are seeking.

NOTE: If you, a friend, or a family member are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, please call an emergency hotline (1-800-273-8255), go directly to the ER, or reach out to a higher level of care such as an inpatient or intensive outpatient program.

The tips listed below are meant to be utilized in a stable environment in which you and those around you are safe and able to generally function in your daily capacity.

 

  1. Build out the different levels of your support system.

We all need levels of support that range from surface-level to depths of understanding.  Who are the 1-2 people you feel emotionally safest around? Practice vulnerability with them; maybe share about your desire to seek help for yourself, and the potential frustrations of waiting for that care.

Who are the people in your life that provide an upbeat or welcoming place to find lighthearted connection? Lean into those moments. Avoid extended isolation.  If you are a member of a faith community, find small ways to feel engaged in that environment.

 

  1. Do one thing a day to challenge your maladaptive thoughts or behaviors (aka, the things that keep you from functioning well). This could be the same small thing every day; keep it simple!

Another counselor recently recommended a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. Clear shares several basic ways that we can create small habits for ourselves that build into second-nature changes over time. The counselor who recommended this book shared that she uses a jar of beads to encourage herself to move toward being “someone who takes more risks.” Every time she does something outside of her comfort zone, like presenting at a conference or having a difficult but necessary conversation, she moves a bead over into her jar.  Over time, she began to feel confident in saying, “I am someone who does hard things.”  She could look at her jar and have proof of her moments of courage.

Consider the person you want to be. Finish the sentence: I want to be someone who ___________.  What are small things that point toward you being that person right now? What are the small things you do to “move a bead” in your everyday life? These are great reflections to bring into the counseling space when the time comes. It can help highlight not only your personal strengths, but also the areas that you want to focus on during counseling.

 

  1. Be gentle with yourself. Level your expectations.

I will refrain from telling you how unprecedented these times really are; you know that already.

What we maybe do not often consider enough is how the small, seemingly-unrelated-to-pandemic-life frustrations and changes have wreaked havoc on our emotional and mental well-being over time.  The trauma of the past year and a half has not always been a sudden change for many individuals.  For most, it has been a slow culmination of varying stressors that, over time, eventually feel suffocating.

So be gentle with yourself.  The pressure that has taken almost 2 years to build will not be alleviated in a day. It may take some time to find healing for yourself, even once you enter counseling.

 

  1. Know how to respond if your concerns move to crisis level—have a plan to keep yourself safe and supported

Know your emergency hotlines and plans for yourself and your family if your concerns begin to worsen.  Keep a list of area agencies that provide intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, or inpatient care should you need it.

“Waiting well” does not mean you have to wait alone.  Continue to check in with practices at which you are waiting to see a counselor; ask them for referrals and suggestions on how to engage in healthy community support groups while you are waiting for care.

 

References:

Caron, C. (2021, February 17). ‘Nobody has openings’: Mental health providers struggle to meet demand. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/well/mind/therapy-appointments-shortages-pandemic.html.

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones. Penguin Random House.

COVID-19 and mental Health: A growing crisis. Mental Health America. (2021). https://mhanational.org/research-reports/covid-19-and-mental-health-growing-crisis.

Mosley, T., Borchers, C., & McMahon, S. (2021, March 5). ‘Critical’ need for mental health counselors grows as pandemic takes a toll. ‘Critical’ Need For Mental Health Counselors Grows As Pandemic Takes A Toll | Here & Now. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/03/05/mental-health-therapists-pandemic.

The state of mental health in America. Mental Health America. (2021). https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.

Summer to Back2School Transition Tips & Tricks

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Many families are either preparing to head back to school or have already started. Where did the last six weeks go? Mornings went from a slow saunter to now a mad dash. Nights were peaceful and quiet to now nothing but homework awaits. Summer is now just a distant sight in the rearview mirror. If you are like me, you’ve hit a dozen different stores to find just the right pencils and color folders. You can almost hear the school bus screeching to a stop just down the street. The reminder that mornings feel like a mad dash out the door and you begin to dread the upcoming evenings of tug-of-war over homework, dinner, showers, and bedtime. I don’t know about you, but that transition from summer to back at school can feel quite jolting!

Over the past few weeks, I have spent some time talking with other seasoned parents about what they did to help them manage that jolting transition. Here are some of the tips and tricks they offered, not just for how to manage the first week but how to successfully manage the year.

  • Routine

Routines can feel anxiety-inducing for some but they don’t have to be. Creating a functional routine that works for you can be a game-changer! One of the greatest suggestions that I kept seeing over and over again to help combat the bedtime battle was to slowly back up bedtime. Over the course of a week simply back up bedtime by 5-10 minutes each day. Doing this will help prevent it from feeling so jolting. Another great suggestion I heard was to prep the night before. Create as little stress for the next morning as possible. Prep whatever lunches are needed for the next day, have a specific place for backpacks or other items needed to be ready to head out the door, as part of your bedtime routine pick out the next day’s clothes. Whatever you do, make your routine work for you.

  • Connect

One of our Office Managers was telling a suggestion she had heard from a third-grade teacher and it was just too good not to include. One of the things that this third-grade teacher recommended to her parents was to be intentional with how you greet your kids at the end of the day. For a moment, forego the questions about homework and conflicts of the day but take this moment to remember that they are human and they matter. Greet them with an “It’s so great to see you! I hope you had a good day at school!” Greet them with positive statements, rather than questions. Let their first moments of interacting with you be moments that help them to feel like they matter to you and not about a task list. And I know sometimes with teenagers getting them to talk can be a challenge. One of the things we do in our house is “high, low, what did you learn new today?” (High- what was the best part of your day. Low- what was the thing you least liked about today.) around the dinner table. Creating an atmosphere of open communication will help you to gauge some of the feelings your kids are having about school.

  • Play

We have talked before about the power of play and that doesn’t matter how old your kids are. Even just getting outside for 30 minutes can make a huge difference. It seems so simple, but it’s easy to get home and get to cracking on homework right away. But for a moment just think about it, they have spent their entire day sitting and learning, which can feel exhausting. There is a lot of pent-up energy in those little bodies that just needs to escape.

  • Fun

One of the things we need to consistently remind ourselves is that our kids just desire to be kids and have fun. The more that you can infuse fun into as much as you can with your kids you will create a deeper connection with them and help to disarm their stress and fears.

 

There are so many more tips and tricks that we could offer but we just wanted to give you a few. Do you have some tips and tricks that have been successful for you and your family? Comment them below.

We truly hope that you have a great start to the school year!