Annual Meeting of the Guidance Center, from Blank Slate Media, July 6, 2018
Grant Brings Birth Justice Warriors to Long Island, from Blank Slate Media, July 6, 2018
Have a Happy, Healthy Fourth of July
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fourth of July festivities? For many, a barbeque or a swim in the pool or ocean makes the day special. For others, fireworks are the main attraction. (For more information on summer safety from the National Safety Council, click here.)
But fireworks can create a lot of anxiety in some children. What can you do if your child is frightened by all the noise and commotion that comes with fireworks?
First and most important: Go to a professional fireworks display instead of having one at your home. The dangers of even something as simple as a sparkler (which can cause second degree burns) are just too great.
But even if you don’t have a show near you, it’s likely that your neighbors will be setting off some of their own fireworks, so either way you need to prepare your noise-averse children.
One way to help your child deal with their fears is to show them YouTube videos or photos in books of fireworks and explain what they are. Of course, let them know that the actual fireworks display will be much bigger—but also much, much farther away, so let them know they are safe.
Listen to your child’s concerns, and never tell them they’re being silly. It’s normal for them to have a fear of the unknown, so answer each question in a calm manner.
Since fireworks are later than some kids’ bedtimes, make sure they get enough sleep during the day. A toddler without a nap will more likely be overwhelmed than a well-rested young one.
If you plan to go to a popular fireworks display, try to find a spot that’s removed from the biggest crowds, since lots of people plus lots of fireworks equal lots of noise! Seek out a location that’s close enough to see the display but far enough away from the masses.
Finally, if your child is especially sensitive to loud sounds, consider purchasing some noise-cancelling headphones or use an iPod. Sometime simple solutions work best!
Happy Fourth of July!
Guidance Center Receives Advocacy Award
Roslyn Heights, NY, June 29, 2018 —North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, is pleased to announce that the Guidance Center and its Executive Director, Andrew Malekoff, have been named as a recipient of the Leaders of Mental Health Awareness Awards from NAMI-NYS (the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York State).
“Ensuring that people living with a mental illness have access to appropriate psychiatric services is of the utmost importance to NAMI-NYS,” says Matthew Shapiro, Associate Director, Public Affairs, NAMI-NYS. “One of the main barriers keeping people from these necessary treatments is a lack of insurance parity and network adequacy. This is a crucial issue which does not nearly receive the attention it deserves.”
In December 2017, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center released Project Access, a year-long research study that asked 650 Long Islanders about the ease or difficulty of accessing mental health and addictions care. Some of the key findings:
- Almost half of the participants said that it was more difficult finding help for mental health or substance use problems than finding help for physical illnesses, especially when they were in crisis.
- Nearly 40% said that their insurance company did not have an adequate number of providers.
- Two thirds told us that their insurance company was not helpful to them in finding a suitable provider for themselves or a loved one.
Although health insurers are required by law to offer an adequate network of providers from which their beneficiaries can choose, the law is widely ignored. “It’s heartbreaking and infuriating that when someone makes the difficult decision to seek out professional help for a mental health or substance use problem, they often face enormous roadblocks, including a lack of providers who take their insurance or waiting lists of six months or even longer,” says Malekoff. “The difficulty people have getting care is not simply a matter of stigma and discrimination. This is a civil rights issue and often a matter of life and death.”
“We are tremendously grateful to Andrew Malekoff and North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center for the incredible work they are doing to raise awareness of this issue,” says NAMI’s Shapiro. “Their Project Access study detailing the struggles many individuals and families experience in trying to access care was eye-opening for many and has been a true catalyst for the reforms which are necessary to create a more mentally healthy New York State. It is truly an honor to recognize Andrew’s commitment to parity and network adequacy by
presenting him with one of the Leaders of Mental Health Awareness Awards, especially this October, which marks the 10-year anniversary of the federal Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.”
The award will be presented at NAMI’s 2018 Education Conference on the evening of Friday, October 26th in Albany, NY.
Help Your Child Prepare for Camp
Summer has finally arrived, and for many children and teens that means it’s time to head off to camp.
Long Island is loaded with camps from Manhasset to Montauk, from traditional day camps where the focus is on fun (think swimming, arts & crafts and sports) to academic camps that help teens learn skills that will help them prepare for college, as well as their college applications. Of course, there are also overnight camps and residential teen programs all over the country and around the globe.
With so many types of camps, how do you determine which is best for your kid? According to Jill Tipograph, Founder/CEO of Everything Summer & Beyond, a Manhattan-based independent educational consultancy for summer planning guidance (K-12 grades), there are many factors to consider before choosing a camp that will fit your child’s needs—especially if you are planning to send them to overnight camp.
“One of the greatest advantages of attending overnight camp is that it is simply so different from the rest of a child’s scheduled school year,” says Tipograph. “Campers arrive and have the opportunity to try new activities, in a new environment, surrounded by new friends and staff role models. They will try different foods, they will be away from their parents (often for the first time) and they will learn to navigate hitherto unchartered social situations. Not to mention having that critically important break from technology and social media.”
While all of these new experiences can be wonderful in helping your child grow and mature, going to sleepaway camp pushes children outside their comfort zone, and it can feel especially scary to kids who haven’t spent much (if any) time away from home. “For many children, a difficult transition to camp life is a very normal part of the journey,” says Tipograph. “It’s natural for campers to initially struggle with their newfound independence and their unfamiliar surroundings. They might experience homesickness and spend several days yearning for the comfort of their homes. And then, almost always, they will adapt. This is the beauty of camp. In fact, this is one of the most valuable lessons that camp will teach a child – that it is okay to be uncomfortable, and there is value to perseverance. Growth comes from discomfort, and achieving through challenges.”
Separation anxiety can also be an issue with day camp, especially for younger children. But whichever type of camp you are thinking of sending your child to, here’s some advice that Tipograph shares to helping them (and you) get over the “I want Mommy and Daddy” blues.
- Remind them of all of the wonderful reasons that you picked that camp—of the activities they will get to pursue and the friends they will get to make. It is important in the long term that they participated in the process and decision, as that too reminds them they chose the camp with you, increasing their commitment.
- Create an “emotional tool box” they can bring to camp. Have your child make this with you, including samples of favorite things that are comforting, so they can turn to this in times of sadness.
- Reassure them that every camper is feeling some form of what they are feeling, and all of this is normal and to be expected.
- Find out ahead how the camp works to lessen the impact of separation anxiety; share these strategies with your child so they understand who can help them at camp, and how.
- Keep your parental “child sick” feelings to yourself; do not share or project onto your child your thoughts. As if they sense this, vulnerability can surface, making them feel badly that you miss them too much.
- Do not overreact to letters home that reek of homesick statements, as kids write in moments of angst, and this is a catharsis process for them. If you sense trouble, call the camp to discuss this to evaluate if this is a pattern or a one-off moment.
- Do not “make deals.” Do not tell them if they are unhappy you will pick them up; this gives them an out, and does not build resiliency. Reinforce you know the camp cares deeply and they are there to help.
If you feel your child would benefit from some professional counseling to deal with heightened anxieties related to any issue, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is here to help. Call us at (516) 626-1971.
Have a wonderful summer!