Adoption awareness was first officially recognized by the government in 1976, when Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis declared the first Adoption Week. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan expanded the effort by proclaiming the first National Adoption Week. Eleven years later, on November 1, 1995, President Bill Clinton designated November as National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM), solidifying its place as a time...[ read more ]

There was a time when young kids went to school, came home and did a little homework, then went outside to play with their friends. Their schedules were open and easy for them to handle. Nowadays, more and more young kids are involved in so many activities they don’t seem to have time to play in the backyard. On top...[ read more ]

It’s almost fall, which means store shelves are stocked with low-priced notebooks and markers and glue, et al. Soon the familiar brake hiss of school buses will be heard in neighborhoods across the country as kids head back to school. While some kids begrudge alarm clocks and mountains of homework, they still look forward to school; to enjoying friendships and...[ read more ]

As May comes to an end so does the celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month. A month dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the impact and achievements of people from the AAPI community and their contributions to the United States’ history and culture. We are closing out the month by highlighting Jeramie-Anne Kream, MS, LPC-IT and Jaclyn Volz,...[ read more ]

For many of us, spending time with family during the holidays is something straight out of a Hallmark movie with days filled with comfort and joy. But for others, the holidays with family are scarier than Halloween. From the stress of traveling to the pressure of buying and wrapping gifts, and the fact many family members can’t be in the...[ read more ]

When our loved ones are struggling and in pain, it can be very difficult to know what to do to help them. Seeing friends and family in an abusive relationship can be particularly challenging. We just “want to shake them” and have them see what we see and follow our advice. But coming on too strong with our opinions and...[ read more ]

For many children, childhood is a time of wonder, play, and discovery. These children have parents who give them the safety and security to explore the world around them and grow to reach their full potential. But some children have one or more parents who lack the right skills or behavior to allow their children to feel safe, secure, and unconditionally...[ read more ]

As young people, we learn to interact with others based on how our family members interact with each other. Once these communication patterns become established in our young minds, it’s hard to change them as adults. This means that any relational patterns that include angry outbursts or aggressive behaviors are apt to appear in our relationships later in life.Does My...[ read more ]