Honoring and Supporting Kinship Families
September marks Kinship Care Awareness Month, a time to recognize and support kinship families who step in to care for their relatives' children when parents are unable to do so. According to recent research from Generations United, youth fare much better in kinship care than non-relative foster care. Improved outcomes include increased stability and permanency, behavioral and mental health outcomes, feelings of belonging, the likelihood of living with siblings, and preservation of cultural identity and connections to their communities and families. Oftentimes, kinship families do not receive adequate support to navigate systems or access resources for the youth in their care; however, when families do receive such support, they experience greater outcomes.
Embracing SAFY’s Culture of Growth and Development
We are thrilled to announce a significant leadership transition at Lima Behavioral Health (LBH). Michelle Stockwell has taken on the role of Treatment Director as Judy Lester transitioned to the position of Clinical Development Specialist for Ohio earlier this month. Michelle's journey with SAFY and LBH has been marked by dedication, growth, and an unwavering commitment to positively impacting the lives of families in Lima, Ohio, and the surrounding community.
National Suicide Prevention Week
September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention Week; however, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) recognizes the entire month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Recognizing the gravity of this issue, the AFSP extends its efforts throughout September to engage the public in creating awareness, encouraging conversations, and ultimately, saving lives.
Navigating Youth Technology Usage –A Guide for Working with Youth and Caregivers
Technology plays an integral role in many of our lives, particularly in the lives of youth. Recent warnings from the U.S. Surgeon General about the impact of social media on youth mental health highlight the need for promoting safe and responsible technology use among youth. Those who work closely with youth are essential to guiding and supporting them through their online journey.
SAFY Behavioral Health's Innovative Youth Drop-In Center in Lima, Ohio, Just in Time for Back-to-School
Lima, OH – The Youth Drop-In Center (YDC) at Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Ohio’s (SAFY® of OH) Lima Behavioral Health (LBH), conveniently located at 658 West Market Street, Suite 112 in downtown Lima, Ohio, provides a safe and supportive environment for youth aged 12 to 17. Through a partnership with Ohio’s Attorney General’s Victims of Crime Assistance program, the YDC offers a wide range of services to empower and guide youth as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, especially during the difficult back-to-school transition.
The Transition Back To School and Mental Health
Have you ever heard the statement that “good stress is still stress”? It makes me think of weddings, moving into a dream home, planning a vacation, and GOING BACK TO SCHOOL! Back-to-school season can be exciting. Picking out new backpacks, wearing new school clothes, meeting the teacher, and seeing friends again. Returning to school can also create anxiety, especially if the school experience is not predominately positive.
Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, SAFY of OH encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making our communities a better place for youth and families. By ensuring parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources to care for their children, we can help promote all children's social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.
SAFY of OH Introduces New Era of Mental Health Support
SAFY of OH’s Lima Behavioral Health (LBH), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality services to youth and families, in partnership with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties (MHRSB), is excited to announce the launch of our innovative in-home Empowering Families: Intensive Family Services.
SAFY of IN Receives OJJDP Award for Kinship Program
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Indiana (SAFY® of IN), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality services to youth and families, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. The grant will fund SAFY’s Empowering Families Opioid Intervention Program (Kinship Support Program), which provides services to youth and families affected by opioids or other substance use.
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth in Foster Care
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its many contributions to our society. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges LGBTQ+ youth in foster care face.
Juneteenth: A Time to Reflect on the Past and Look to the Future
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Celebrated on June 19th, the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved African Americans were free.