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The Power of Literacy

Kids on the Block bring Literacy to Buena Vista

Kids on the Block (KOB) brought the Literacy Program to the first graders at Buena Vista Enhanced Option School in Nashville.  Over several weeks KOB encouraged the importance of reading through various fun and engaging activities in which students:

  • View a puppetry presentation that includes story time when they get introduced to the book they will be reading in their small groups
  • Get up and moving combing phonics with song and dance
  • Practice reading aloud with a reading buddy
  • Use tools such as story mapping, spelling puzzles, and puppets to review what they have read and act out parts of the book
  • Receive books to take home and keep
  • What people are saying:
    • Literacy Coach – “Not one day went by without at least one student stopping me and asking if it was the “Kids on the Block” day. As important as the student’s reactions are, the growth in their reading levels during the time you worked with them is impressive.”
    • Teacher – “They (the kids) really enjoyed the program and getting to work with the teachers (KOBers). The teachers were very caring and encouraged later reading with the gift of books.”
    • Student – “I learned a lot of new words that I never even new (knew). I loved being in Kids on the Block. Thank you.”

Why is literacy so important?

Only 1/3 of American 4th graders are proficient in reading. By the 4th grade, if a child is unable to read at the basic level of proficiency for that grade, they are unlikely to ever catch up.

Source

Today’s Readers become Tomorrow’s Leaders

Tips to get your kids into reading:

  • Make special library dates with your kids! Go to the public library with a list of the type of books they want to check out and make sure they get some that they are truly interested in reading.
  • Schedule family time to read with your children. You can read to them, they can read to you, or take turns reading to each other.
  • Ask questions about the book that is being read.
  • Create a special reading place or ‘nook” in your home that is cozy and inviting. Make it a fun activity to do with your children by finding pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and a variety of books so they will be excited to go to their reading area.

 

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Why Access Matters – Mental Health

Within the last decade, mental Illness has become a popular topic, especially due to the volume of mass shootings that have occurred in the last ten years. During this time, we have witnessed such mass shootings: Jared Loughner (Tucson Shooting), Seung Hui Cho (Virginia Tech Massacre), Elliot Rodger (Isla Vista Massacre), and Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook shooting).

Mental Health has many Disguises

The majority of individuals mentioned were diagnosed with a mental health disorder at some point. Prior to these tragic events, some of the individuals did receive a form of mental health treatment. However, most fell through the gaps and did not receive appropriate and consistent healthcare. This is not uncommon, especially when talking about mental health care. Beyond stigmas that currently exist within the community, affordability and availability of mental health care for marginalized groups, especially those living in poverty or below the poverty line make it easy for people to fall through the gaps of receiving adequate healthcare.

Many tragedies occur within American homes every day, each related to the inadequate care of mental health disorders. For example, domestic violence and substance abuse have been known to create traumatic experiences within the home (see Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)). The key takeaway, when addressing things like substance abuse or domestic violence, is to look at assault, substance abuse, or other maladaptive behaviors as symptoms or mechanisms that perpetuate a pre-existing condition. The lack of care of these conditions leads to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders that can have not only a negative impact on the individual but on family, friends, co-workers, and communities.

We know that treatment options exist. We know what happens when these diseases are not treated. But the important question is how are we preventing maladaptive behaviors and ensuring all people are receiving adequate care?

Adequate Care and Mental Health Care Access

Education is one of the most powerful weapons with which we can equip ourselves to help care for those who need mental health care. We’ve compiled a couple tips for those seeking care for themselves or for a loved one.

Tips for those Seeking Care:

  • Mental health is not something you need to be ashamed of or blame yourself for – seeking adequate care from a professional is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family.
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions.
  • Be honest with your healthcare provider. If a medication is giving you adverse symptoms or does not seem to be working, talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Locate support communities – online and/or off.
  • Research different techniques that can be used for support.

Tips for those Seeking Care for a Loved One:

  • Education. Education. Familiarize yourself with what your loved one’s mental health condition entails, its symptoms, and care.
  • Research different techniques that can be used for support.
  • Locate support communities – online and/or off.
  • Offer encouragement to attend doctor’s appointments
  • Meet their doctor or clinician and establish a relationship with them.
  • Learn their treatment plan.
  • Become a member of their support team.
  • Offer your support, love, and care.
  • Rid yourself of any stereotypes or stigmas you might be holding onto when it comes to mental health.

 

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Stopping bullying is your responsibility too!

It’s each of our responsibilities.

For over 30 years, Kids on the Block has performed bullying prevention programs in hundreds of schools throughout Middle Tennessee. From kindergarten through 4th grade, the age-appropriate puppet presentations promote respect and understanding and acceptance of all individuals regardless of their differences.

The Kids on the bullying prevention programs are designed to:

  • Openly and honestly discuss issues around diversity, teasing, and name-calling that may lead to bullying and exclusion
  • Discuss the effects bullying behavior has on everyone while encouraging kindness and compassion
  • Answer students’ questions through our kids (puppets) about bullying that they may not otherwise feel comfortable asking another peer or adult
  • Provide powerful information about what bullying is and identify various forms of bullying in a kid-friendly way
  • Empower students to speak out in unjust situations and take action to be a “hero” in their school by reporting bullying to trusted adults
  • Help students come to understand that a safe school climate is EVERYONE’S responsibility!
  • Provide tools they can use to stand up for themselves and others

“It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults.”                – Frederick Douglas

Tips for Parents and Caregivers:

  • Know what bullying is and what it is NOT. It can be difficult for kids and adults to distinguish between friendly teasing, conflict, and bullying behavior. When in doubt, refer to the Olweus definition of bullying:“Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.”
  • Do not permit bullying in the home. Encouraging kindness and modeling respectful behavior at home will let children know hurtful behaviors are not tolerated anywhere and with anyone, even between siblings.
  • Keep lines of communication wide open. Let kids know if they ever have a problem with bullying, the adults in their lives will listen, take them seriously, and do whatever they can to make sure it stops. It’s never too early to start conversations about bullying behavior.
  • Remember: You can do so much to help your kids be a HERO and put a stop to bullying!

Here’s our “Be a Hero” Rules that you can share at home or in your school:

  1. Do not bully other kids! Heroes don’t hurt, they help!
  2. Help another kid if they are getting bullied. Instead of being a bystander, be a
    STAND-BYER! For example, if a kid is being bullied, stand next to them. This shows you have their back and lets the kid who is bullying know that you do NOT agree with it.        Tip: Always try to include kids who are getting left out.
  3. Report bullying to an adult at school and an adult at home.

Resources: 

Kid-friendly Books About Bullying:

  • The Weird Series by Erin Frankel (Stories About Overcoming Bullying in Schools)
  • Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud
  • Here is a great resource for educators:

For more information on bullying visit the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. 

October is Bullying Prevention Month
It started in 2006 as a nationwide campaign founded by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign’s goal to raise awareness about bullying prevention around the world! Thousands of schools and organizations participate in activities throughout the month of October in efforts to unite around the common goal of preventing bullying in our schools and communities.

To learn more about the National Bullying Prevention month visit their website. 

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The Emotional Wellness Checklist

How often do you do a self-check of your emotional well-being? Do you put as much emphasis on your emotional wellness as you do your physical wellness? For the majority of people, the answer is no. We all tend to put our emotional wellbeing on the back burner. If you cut yourself, you put a band-aid on, if you feel under the weather, you go to the doctor. However, so often, when we are feeling emotionally drained we do nothing. Your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical well-being, some would say even more. Being aware of what you are feeling can help you channel those emotions. Achieving emotional balance leads to all around better health.

Achieving Emotional Wellness Balance
Here are a few ways to become emotionally balanced:
1. Manage Stress. Stress can damage both your physical and emotional well-being. Find an outlet to manage your stress. For some, physical activity such as walking, biking, running are ways to alleviate daily stress. Others use mindfulness techniques, journaling, or reading to help manage their stress levels.
2. Seek balance. We are often pulled in many different directions every day. Maintain a healthy balance when setting goals and responsibilities. Don’t over commit. Being overwhelmed hinders focus and productivity, which leads to burn-out. Most importantly set aside time for yourself.
3. Get enough sleep. Sleep is the foundation for maintaining both physical and emotional health. It allows your body time to rejuvenate!

Why is it so important to be emotionally healthy?
People with good emotional health:
• Maintain a healthy balance between leisure time, family, and work
• Feel good about them
• Are able to accept change
• Enjoy life
• Have less stress, and are better equipped to deal with stress
• Maintain healthy relationships
• Are content with their lives

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What does recovery look like?

In the past, the majority of articles found discussing what recovery looks like, focused on abstinence and the willpower it takes to abstain from abusing a substance. What is often not mentioned are the behaviors that perpetuate the addiction. In 12-step recovery programs, the concentration of the program is abstinence. A key element is identifying maladaptive behaviors and learning healthy methods to refrain from substance abuse.

Recovery is a journey; a treasure map with the golden chest at the end representing commitment and dedication to your own personal recovery. The map will be made of winding paths filled with many detours and distractions. Yes, those who suffer from addiction have the proverbial peaks and valleys and every cliché that comes to mind. No, it does not always end with a silver lining as in Sandra Bullock’s 28 days. Nevertheless, the journey is similar for those who are suffering. They begin near a similar point and hopefully aspire to commit to a recovery program. For some, the biggest obstacle is admitting they have an addiction. In this line of work, we hear people say things like, “I am not an addict” or “I can quit anytime I want.”

recovery, stages of change ladder

Some people may be ambivalent about their recovery; some may make a New Year’s Resolution – only to quit before the end of January. Some may try easier paths in recovery; they may forego treatment and other evidence-based interventions, saying, “I can do this on my own or I don’t need any treatment.”

These ways of thinking may last for years, months, days, hours, minutes, and even seconds. This may happen multiple times throughout a person’s life – for some once is enough, allowing that person to enter a recovery program, yet for others, it may take a couple times or more.

In our program, Youth Overcoming Drug Abuse (YODA), clients come for a variety of reasons, from court-ordered treatment to parent referral. What does this mean for our young people? This means YODA may not be their first treatment program and it may not be their last.

Which begs a number of questions in the recovery field:

  • How do we know if someone grew or learned from the group atmosphere or the exercises?
  • How do we know if they learned healthy coping behaviors through mindfulness, meditation or the sober leisure activities?

All in all, if we look at follow-up data we may not find encouragement. Relapse statistics after treatment are nothing to celebrate, but they are a reality. This is an indication that our society has numerous individuals scattered along the map of recovery. Some may finish together, and others may finish alone. The take-home message: Everyone struggling with addiction is somewhere on this journey and if you can lend a hand to help them reach the treasure at the end, then do it! After all, it’s easier to finish a journey together than alone.

 

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STARS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, culture, religion or creed, socioeconomic status, language, age, sexual orientation, or national origin. No one shall be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any of STARS’ programs or activities. STARS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This agency is funded, in part, by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Tennessee Department of Education and by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.