Safe Families for Children is now available in Bloomington

Since 2005, Safe Families for Children has offered sanctuary to thousands of children, minimizing the risk for abuse or neglect and giving parents the time and tools they need to help their families thrive. The ultimate goal is to strengthen and support parents so they can become Safe Families for their own children. 

Please visit safe-families.org for more information. 

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group Beginning Soon

Healing Hearts is a support group of IU Health Hospice Bloomington for any child in the community who has experienced the death of someone close.

Over the course of six weeks, trained Hospice staff and volunteers will assist the participants (who range from 6-16) in processing their loss through talking, stories, games, crafts, and videos. There is no fee for the group, and snacks are provided each week. Registration is required. For more information about the group or to register call 812-353-9818

Groups will meet on six Mondays

October 12 thru November 16

4:30p-6p

Dollar Day at Wonderlab!

Backpack Buddy Program at Lakeview

Lakeview started the Community Kitchen's Backpack Buddy program at the end of the last school year, and we are fortunate to continue the program this year as well! For those of you that are not aware of this program, it provides a backpack full of food (one per family) each Friday to assist with the families weekend food needs.  The students are responsible for returning their backpacks each week so that it can be refilled for the next week.  Thank you so much to Community Kitchen for providing this program at Lakeview. 

For more information on this program or how you can donate: 

http://www.monroecommunitykitchen.com/programs.html

Need Assistance with Back to School Supplies?

Once again the area churches are gearing up for Back to school supply drives.  Families in need of school supplies need to call and pre-register their children grades K-8th the week of July 20th. Parents or guardians need to call 812-336-4310 between July 20 to the 24.  They will be given a pickup time and code number.  Any unclaimed bags (if any) will be available on the 29th for walk ins and those who did not pre-register. Pick-up will be at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church located at 2700 E. Rogers Rd., Bloomington, IN 47401.

FREE MEALS FOR KIDS!!

Free Meals for Kids!

Monday through Friday all summer long

Begins on Friday, May 29th

Community Kitchen will be serving free breakfasts to kids at the following locations and times:

Henderson Court Apartments- 9:15-9:45am (Community Room)

Lenzy Hayes Mobile Home Park- 9:30-9:45am

Country View Apartments- 10:05-10:35am (M & W outside the office; T, Th & F in Community Room)

Highland Park Elementary School -10:10-10:40am (M-Th in cafeteria, Fri on playground)

Heatherwood Mobile Home Park-10:55-11:10am

Breakfast will include things like fresh fruit, milk, juice and cereal, scones or granola!

Community Kitchen will be serving free lunches to kids at the following locations and times:

The Reserve at Chandler’s Glen- 11:00-11:30am (Community Room)

Southcrest Mobile Home Park- 11:25-11:40am

Crestmont Community- 11:45am-12:15pm (Community Building)

Walnut Woods Apartments- 11:55-12:10pm

Lunches will include things like fresh fruit, sandwiches, milk, juice and snacks!

Monday through Friday, Community Kitchen will serve sack meals to any kids in need of a healthy nutritious meal.

If you have any questions contact Community Kitchen at: 332-0999

Meals are distributed free to children anonymously regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of this meals service. Meals are provided in partnership with the USDA.

Benefits of Social Media in Student Development

With all the stories on the news about exploitation, cyber-bullying, gossip, and “sexting”, it is easy to dismiss social media as a danger and something that puts students in harms way. However, there is an argument to be made that social media, like many other things, gets more publicity for its failures than its successes. Here are just a few benefits of social media for students, as proposed by O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson (2011):

1.       Community engagement through participation in groups, raising money for charity or volunteering;

2.       Enhancing individual creativity through development and sharing of artistic ventures;

3.       Growth of ideas from the creation of blogs, podcasts, videos, and gaming

4.       Expansion of online connection through shared interests and exposure to diverse ideas—fostering respect, tolerance, and increased discourse.

5.       Fostering of one’s individual identity and unique social skills (p.803).

6.       Increased access to health information and ideas for healthy lifestyle choices

Each of the above benefits are something widely accessible to students, adults and parents alike, but the emergence of social media as a tool for access has, perhaps, provided a new pathway for young people to access information from a diverse set of resources. This alternative pathway for access may in some cases make the student more receptive to the information being provided.

Important Questions About Students and Social Media

There is no question that social media has become a powerful force in the day to day stimulation of young people and adults alike. O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson, in a recent survey, found that 22% of teenagers log into their favorite social media platform more than 10 times per day and more than 50% of teenagers are logging in to social media at least 1 time per day. This finding is compounded by the fact that more than 75% of teenagers now have access to a personal cell phone.

The pervasive presence of social media brings forward questions that have previously not been navigated by educators, clinicians, physicians, and families. Simultaneously, each one of these professional groups has an opportunity to harness the positive impact of social media while also buffering young people from the possibly negative impacts. As a result, there are important questions that can be asked to begin the conversation about the true impact of social media on students:

1.       How much time is being spent on social media versus in person interactions?

2.       What is the nature of the behavior? Is the behavior mimicking typical social interactions or is it behavior that would otherwise be unacceptable?

3.       To what extent is the social media platform being used to foster creativity and new ideas?

4.       Is the student protected from outside forces that may strive to manipulate, exploit, or harass? What protections are in place?

5.       What training has the student and family received about risks and benefits of social media?

Social media is a powerful and constantly changing force and there is no question that as the technology becomes more and more accessible, at younger and younger ages, there will be an impact on the social development of students. Now…how do we make sure that impact is overtly positive.

The use of fun graphics from a classic film makes learning and working with social skills way more fun! Each character is associated with a learning game that incorporates social skills development. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jenna-Rayburn-26

 

Working with 1st graders on bullying prevention, respecting others, and accepting differences!

What is School Social Work?

Social work can mean a lot of different things to different people—and it is because social workers can operate in a variety of functions based on where they work and with whom they work. The training can be equally diverse, covering areas of mental health, behavior, physical health, crisis, education, and coordination.

For me, school social work is about being a resource to students, parents, teachers, and administrators and ensuring that everyone in the school environment feels supported as people navigate the daily challenges of learning.

Every day is different.  From working with teachers and students to solve a problem, helping link families to resources in the school or in the community, or working with students one on one to better deal with problematic interactions.

As a school social worker, I keep an open mind with any issue and try to facilitate a productive solution to any problem that occurs. The end goal is for every student to feel safe, heard, and understood—which in turn ensures they are going to get the most out of each day.