got resilience?
Your kids are going to need it – resilience, that is. Join us for a new take on a growing problem.
When the going gets tough, many of our kids don’t have the coping skills to manage the stress, struggles and bumps in the road of everyday life. Our kids have trouble functioning in their daily lives or turn to risky behaviors to escape.
Did you know that Darien’s demand for teen mental health crisis services has nearly doubled in the past year, or that alcohol consumption by Darien’s 12th graders is up 17 percent and marijuana use is up 14 percent? Kids are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety and pressure. Come learn from the experts how to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
The skills of resilience can be learned, and it’s never too late or too early to help your child develop the tools they need to be happy, caring and successful at each stage of life.
If you’d like to learn more, please join us on Tuesday, Jan. 19 in the Darien High School auditorium at 7 p.m. for tips and strategies from five local experts. Importantly, each expert will provide five practical steps to empower parents to build resilience in their children.
We parents all face our own struggles with resilience, and these strategies are geared for us as well.
The panel will include: Dr. Tara Levinson, pediatric psychologist, Dr. Jamie Roach Murray, pediatrician, Dr. Debi Boccanfuso, Middlesex Middle School Principal, Tracy Masella, Silver Hill Hospital Social Worker, and Vince Benevento, Licensed Prevention Counselor and Founder, Causeway Collaborative. Maud Purcell, Executive Director of The Life Solutions Center of Darien, will moderate the panel.
Research links the following five key assets to the reduction of teen substance abuse and healthy development: adult role models, positive peer influence/resistance skills, family boundaries, self-esteem and planning and decision-making.
These are traits, experiences, skills, relationships and values that all youth need to grow into strong, caring and resilient adults. Our panel will help parents learn to cultivate these assets in our youth – at all ages and stages of life. The stronger the presence of these key assets, the healthier the child.
This event is free and open to parents of children of all ages. Please join us as we all work together to improve the health, safety and well-being of Darien’s youth.
Co-sponsored by The Community Fund of Darien, the Darien High School Parents’ Association, the Middlesex Middle School Parents’ Association, Silver Hill Hospital, Thriving Youth Task Force, and the Youth Asset Team.
Talk early, talk often! For more information click here.