Be Brave....for those hurt by another

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By Karen Rochester

“Every single person on the planet has to be brave at least once in their life, no matter who they are, how old they are, or how strong they are.  Being brave is about having the courage to do the best thing, even when it’s hard and especially when you’re scared to do it."  from 'Be Brave'.

‘Be Brave’ is a book of encouragement, understanding, learning to trust and bravery.  The book explains to readers (suggested ages 8 yrs +) that if they have been hurt by another person at some time in their lives, they may experience a wide range of thoughts, emotions and behaviours that can be very difficult to manage.  The book explains that although these reactions maybe scary, they are normal when someone has been hurt this way. 

Using simple language and concepts, children (and adults) are able to relate to the thoughts, feelings and emotions being described.  ‘Be Brave’ doesn’t specify the trauma type thus allowing the reader to apply their own feelings and reactions to the text and their particular set of circumstances. 

‘Be Brave’ speaks to the reader directly as they consciously and unconsciously apply their own experiences to the narrative.  Readers see themselves being described in the text and become more aware of some of their own emotions and behaviours that have resulted from experiences where they have been hurt.  The book then directly applies understanding to their situation and helps them to realise that although it takes a lot of courage to seek help, they can do it if they are brave enough. This is the central message. 

Obviously, there are many different ways to get help in a given situation, so ‘Be Brave’ assists the reader by helping them understand that there are various avenues for them to take to find the help they need and at the same time as encouraging them to do this, applies constant understanding and empathy for the reader’s individual situation.

‘Be Brave’ is a very unique book and should be in the hands of every child, parent, teacher, carer and school counsellor, as well as children's mentors, therapists, psychologists and medical professionals.  It is also beautifully and sensitively illustrated by Kat Chadwick.

“This book has the potential to empower many people, both children and adults, to finally disclose secrets that may have paralysed them for years and allow them to start on their own journey of healing and recovery. Highly recommended” - Anne Macdonald, Clinical Psychologist

For more information visit www.bebravebook.com and for sales inquiries please contact the publisher Jojo Publishing www.jojopublishing.com

The Humanist Approach to Happiness

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The Humanist Approach to Happiness was written as a way to encourage young people to think about and discuss their personal ethics and values in the context of every day decision making. In other words, how can they be the best most ethical person they can be. 

How can and why should they be ethical with their friends? What values should they be considering when they are deciding whether or not to try drugs and to drink alcohol? How and why should we be ethical while dating, and breaking up? How can we apply our values to ourselves when we are grieving? And most importantly, why all this matters.

The best way to use this book is to read a chapter and discuss it's contents with your child. What do you agree with? What advice do you disagree with and why? The best way to prepare your child to think through ethical dilemnas on their own is to encourage them to think for themselves by asking them questions and playing devil's advocate with them. Remember, you and your child don't have to agree with what is in the book. It is only a starting point for your discussions about how you as their parent have chosen to live your life and how your child might want to start thinking about how they want to live theirs. 

The overarching theme of the book is that your actions have consequences, so choose your actions wisely. The primary question you and your child should be asking is, what do I think the consequences of my actions will be in any given situation and do I want that consequence or not? What could I do different to get a better outcome?

To learn more and to read what other parents and experts are saying about the book visit: http://happiness.jen-hancock.com/parents.html

You can follow author Jennifer Hancock on Twitter and order your copy today from Amazon!

Teen Talk: Adolescent Counseling Services

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower teens and their families in our community to realize their emotional and social potential through counseling and preventive education, launched the “Teen Talk” blog in December 2008.  This blog was created to provide a resource and education piece for parents and community members about teen mental health.

Other education resources available from ACS include the booklet, “99 Tips for Talking With Your Teenager.”  First published in 2006, 99 Tips is a guide for improving communication and building positive relationships with adolescents. You can request a complimentary copy of the booklet or download an electronic copy in English or Spanish.

Since 1975, ACS has helped over 35,000 teenagers and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, offering a range of services that include counseling, substance abuse treatment and preventive education in the community.

Follow them on Twitter and be sure to follow their Teen Talk Blog!

Notes on Parenting

Notes on Parenting Blog

This blog is dedicated to providing insights for parenting babies, toddlers, teens, and young adults. We attempt to integrate both research and experience-based information into our posts. This blog is written for all parents, although some posts may reflect the values of the authors. We invite all to comment and become involved in the discussions about our posts.

Learn more at http://www.parentsareimportant.com/ about parenting kids from toddlers to teens!

You can follow them on Twitter and join them on Facebook.

Stop Child Abuse and Sex Crimes

Stacey Honowitz

"Sex crimes know no boundaries. It's black, it's white, it's Catholic, it's Jewish." - Stacey Honowitz

Stacey Honowitz has been a prosecutor for 24 years in the Broward State Attorneys Office, and has indicted, and tried many high profile cases involving all aspects of child sexual abuse, and physical abuse as well as all adult rape cases. As a prosecutor she realizes that the most important aspect of the job is being able to communicate to the children the notion that "it's not their fault", and they should feel comfortable talking to both investigators and prosecutors about the sexual abuse.

When it comes to the adult rape cases, she strives to let victims know that coming forward and following through will benefit them long term, and being in this field of the law you take on a duel role, as both an advocate and a therapist The role is not only to punish to the fullest extent of the law, but to able to comfort the child during a difficult time in their lives. More importantly Stacey enjoys being on the lecture circuit, sharing her knowledge of sex crimes, navigating the criminal justice systems, investigating sex crimes and prosecuting in the courtroom. Her lectures also focus on "how to talk to your children" and the importance of frank and open discussions between parents and children about possible sex crimes and what to do if they ever become victims. 

Stacey is available for speaking engagements focusing on Child Sex Crimes, how to discuss sex abuse with your children, adult rape cases, investigations for child pornography, navigating the criminal justice system and the medias role in high profile cases.  Contact her - click here.

As the fastest growing crime in the country, Child Sexual Abuse is a national problem. "My Privates are Private" and "Genius with a Penis: Don't Touch" aim to help parents educate their children in a fun and comfortable way.  Both books Stacey Honowitz authored to help educate parents, teachers and children to better understand this ugly crime that is despicable.




Stacey Honowitz has appeared regularly on CNN, MSNBC, Headline News, FOX News as a Legal Analyst and has been featured on Dateline NBC, CBS News 48 Hours, and Good Morning. 

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving: Prevent Underage Driving

Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Getting behind the wheel after even just one too many drinks can lead to disaster.

Show your support to end buzzed driving by pledging to make good decisions by not driving under the influence of alcohol. Take the time to share the pledge with others and with your help, we can end buzzed driving.

Take the pledge - click here.

Join Buzzed Driving on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for updated statistics.

Cybertraps for the Young

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By Frederick S. Lane

We teach knife and appliance safety in home economics; we teach gun safety as a prerequisite for a hunting license; auto safety in driver’s education; and the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies in sex ed. The Internet’s potential for misuse, whether through a computer or a mobile phone, is at least as profound as a chef’s knife, a Camaro, or a .22, but our efforts to educate children about Internet safety are far more sporadic and less thorough.

Approaching the risks for children on the Internet in a thought-provoking and intellectual manner, this study skillfully integrates contemporary news reports and disturbing legal cases to show how Facebook and other ready-made forums for information exchange are breaking down boundaries of privacy and facilitating a growing number of criminal convictions for cyberbullying, child pornography, hacking, and copyright infringement.

Also included is a discussion of how the widespread use of camera phones, mobile tablets, and social media sites has given rise to a new and dangerous practice among teens: sexting. This reference provides parents with an authoritative lesson in cyberethics and practical instructions for instituting household internet policies, as well as school officials and communities with lessons on how to educate children about the responsible use of emerging mobile technologies.

Order on Amazon today and learn more here.

Tobacco Free Florida: Make 2012 Your Year to Get Healthy!

Tobacco Free Florida knows quitting can be very hard, but it's not impossible. In fact, there are more former smokers than current smokers in Florida.

With the right help, resources and the support to keep you going, Tobacco Free Florida can give you the best chance to quit for good. For each person, overcoming nicotine addiction is different and we can help you choose a path to quitting that works for you.

About Tobacco Free Florida:

In November 2006, Florida's voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment, Article X, Section 27, that called for reinstating a tobacco education and use prevention program. This program, Tobacco Free Florida (TFF), is a comprehensive effort to reduce tobacco use in the state.

TFF is administered through the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program (BTPP), and funded by money derived from the tobacco settlement agreement with the major tobacco companies. The program today operates with an annual budget of roughly $65 million (15 percent of the tobacco trust fund), which is allocated by the legislature to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco and to provide tobacco cessation services, infrastructure and marketing efforts.

TFF shares its message through a comprehensive media campaign aimed at decreasing the number of tobacco users in the state through efforts to prevent non-users from starting to use tobacco and to encourage current users to quit. This message is critical to educate and change social behavior related to tobacco use in Florida, where each year more than 28,000 Floridians die from smoking and tobacco-related diseases cost the state an estimated $19.6 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Learn more - visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com. 

 

If You Loved Me You'd Stop

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If You Loved Me, You'd Stop! 

By Lisa Frederiksen

What You Really Need To Know When Your Loved One Drinks Too Much combines the most current brain research on alcoholism and alcohol abuse with Lisa Frederiksen's 40 years experience in dealing with these family problems.

By explaining this research from the perspective of someone who has personally survived the ravages of a loved one's drinking, Ms. Frederiksen offers fresh hope for the more than 50 percent of Americans (and the one in four children) who have a family member with a drinking problem.

Though it is a slim volume at 120 pages, this book nevertheless addresses a host of issues surrounding alcoholism and alcohol abuse, including co-addictions, DUIs (DWIs), underage drinking, dual diagnosis, codependency, and, importantly, the characteristics that distinguish alcoholism from alcohol abuse (excessive drinking). The book also contains numerous appendices containing references and suggestions for each issue addressed in the book. Frederiksen's book targets those who know their loved one drinks too much and believe that if they can just get them to stop, life will return to "normal."

The target markets also include pediatricians, internists, domestic violence center employees and volunteers, mental health professionals, alcoholics, alcohol abusers, law and public policy makers, treatment center personnel, family law attorneys and child protective services personnel. As a reviewed author and nationally-recognized speaker, Ms. Frederiksen plans to use her influence to not only inspire individual readers, but also to change the national culture of denial that allows the problem of alcoholism and alcohol abuse to continue plaguing families. Just as new research and grassroots action made bike helmets, children's car seats, and no smoking signs commonplace, so too can attitudes and social assumptions about drinking be changed to create a healthier environment for everyone.

To that end, Ms. Frederiksen has launched her website breakingthecycles.com to start a dialog to shift (and in cases simply start) the conversations around these important issues.

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St. Gerard's Campus in St. Augustine

Let's face it, teen pregnancy is not an ideal situation however it happens.

Parenting is never easy, whether there is one parent or two involved, it is expensive and the cost is not only financial, but emotional.

St. Gerard, located in St. Augustine, has been helping young pregnant women and girls since 1981.

St. Gerard Campus rescues girls and provides guidance to help them avoid poverty, dependency, and welfare. They learn to cope with difficult situations, rise above those difficulties, and grow to be nurturing mothers, productive members of society, and a positive force in the workplace.

In their 30 years open, they have mentored over 48,000 mothers and supported the birth of almost 31,000 babies.

The holidays are a time to give.  Take the time to be a part of our community outreach, stop by and donate what you can.
Here is a list of some of the items they need:

• Food
• Formula
• Diapers
• Adult's and children's clothing
• Maternity clothes
• Baby clothing
• Cribs and bassinets
• Infant seats
• Car seats
• Bouncy seats
• Carriages
• Strollers
• High chairs
• Dressers
• Furniture and household items such as curtains, bedspreads, couches, tables, etc. 

If your not located in St. Augustine, be sure to find a local charity to give to, especially at this time of the year.  There are so many people, especially young children that need our help.

Order today on Amazon!

Indigo Teen Dreams: Guided Relaxation Techniques Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-esteem and Self-awareness

By Lori Lite, Leading Expert in Stress Relief

Indigo Teen Dreams allows teens to manage stress, anger, and anxiety while increasing self-esteem and self-awareness. Teens explore the research-based, stress-management techniques of breathing, visualizations, progressive muscular relaxation, and affirmations or positive statements. 

This straight forward, easy to follow approach encourages teens to take charge of their own feelings and stress. It provides a safe place where teens can be themselves while not worrying about peer pressure or living up to any ones expectations. The male narrator is motivating, encouraging and soothing at the same time! Additional uplifting music sound tracks are provided to further enhance their relaxation experience. Teens are encouraged to make good choices and believe in themselves while managing stress and anger. Great for teens entering Middle School through High School. 

Order today - click here. 

Stress Free Kids

Lori Lite, Founder of Stress Free Kids

Stress Free Kids® founder Lori Lite has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens and adults reduce stress, anxiety & anger. As a parent, bedtime meant two stressed filled hours trying to get our young son to sleep. Our daughter developed stress related night terrors and Lori herself became sick from anxiety. In an effort to help our own family, Lori created stories that would entertain our children while introducing research-based relaxation and stress management techniques.

Our books and CDs will teach you and your children how to manage stress by using the proven techniques of deep breathing, progressive muscular relaxation, visualizations, and affirmations/positive statements. This unique storytelling format has been embraced by psychologists, doctors, child life care specialists, yoga instructors, teachers, counselors, parents, and most importantly… children.

Our relaxation music CDs and bedtime stories give you a variety of tools to make bedtime and stress management easy, available, and fun.

We are also proud to support our military families as well as our special needs community.
Our blog/articles, newsletter, and resources offer stress tips and information on the mental health challenges facing our children and teens. We are active with Facebook and Twitter.