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Parent to Parent: Real Life TIps to Raise Resilient Kids, is a podcast from Communities that Care of Greater Downingtown. Every other week Chrissie and Bethann will meet with experts and other parents to discuss topics related to raising healthy kids--everything from drug and alcohol use to mental health to supporting independence. Each episode will give listeners concrete, hands-on tips that parents can use in their homes with their families right away. Hosts Chrissie Dziembowski and Dr. Bethann Cinelli have a combined 40+ years experience working in health education with youth, parents, schools and communities. Thank you for joining us! Communities that Care has a Parent2Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!: Instagram @downingtownctc Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC Twitter @DowningtownCTC YouTube LinkedIn We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie Dziembowski with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Are some vape products just flavors and water vapor and may not contain nicotine? Does it take a long time to get addicted to nicotine products? Vaping (or should we say “aerosoling”) is still very much a thing among youth and we are delighted to welcome back Selena Morresi from Caron Treatment Centers to share with us common myths and facts surrounding vaping. We discuss nicotine and how it impacts the developing adolescent brain including the ability to learn and pay attention. We also talk about the similarities between vaping and traditional cigarettes, including how much nicotine is in these disposable products in comparison to traditional cigarettes–spoiler alert–IT IS A LOT. Selena explains the nicotine-stress cycle and how this can impact users even when they are not actively vaping–for example when they are at school or home. This conversation is Part 1 of a two part series, both containing lots of information to help us understand why vaping continues to be so alluring. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Selena’s first episode with us Episode 2: All Things Vaping: Essentials Parents Need to Know
Chrissie shared stats on current vaping use among middle and high school students:
2022 National Youth Tobacco survey found that more than 1 in 4 kids in middle and high school have vaped in the last month, the most common device is a disposable, and 85% are using flavored vapes. Locally in DASD the most recent PAYS data from 2021 showed:11% of 10th graders and 23% of 12th graders have vaped in the last 30 days. Among students that reported vaping in the last year, 37% of 10th graders and 50% of 12th graders vaped THC and even more reported vaping nicotine including 50% of 8th graders, 77% of 10th graders and 70% of seniors.
Chrissie mentioned smoking is not permitted indoors due to the Clean Indoor Air Act
CTC has Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
You can email Selena at: smorresi@caron.org
Learn more about Caron here: www.caron.org
Selena mentioned Caron’s free digital education and prevention classes on their website
Caron also has an online self-paced cessation program for teens that is FREE called Connect 5
Follow Caron on: Facebook and Twitter
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Feeling anxious? It seems most parents we know have dealt with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges at some point in their life. Does a parent's mental health affect their kids? If we are anxious or depressed do we “make” our kids anxious or depressed? In today’s episode we are answering these questions and much more with guest Mike Smolenski, M.A., L.P.C., a therapist and Clinical Director at our partner Sanare Today. We discussed how an anxious or depressed parent may interact with their kids (often unintentionally) and how our children may internalize these interactions and interpret your behaviors. We also talked about the importance of sharing your stuff appropriately and creating an environment to talk about feelings. Mike highlighted how we as parents often have super high (read: unrealistic) expectations of ourselves and that we are not superheroes, but are actually human too. He also shared how parents can better care for themselves and how to find ways to realistically do this and use strategies that work for YOU. Chrissie and Bethann also brought up how parenting in the U.S. is different from other cultures and how it is understandable that parents may feel overwhelmed being the primary person for all their kids' needs. This conversation included so many thoughts and hands-on tips you can do right away, we hope you will join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
CDC’s Children's Mental Health page with stats about caregivers mental health
Pew study that found parents are worried about their kids mental health
“Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Family” Parent Speaker Series recording
We mentioned a book called Hunt, Gather, Parent about parenting in different cultures
CTC has Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
Sanare Today’s mission is to build a world in which the vast majority of people wake up everyday feeling and thinking that they are okay and can thrive. Sanare Today provides help and support for those hurting from depression, anxiety or addictions through our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), outpatient services, and coaching services (Thrive University). You can call Sanare at 610-344-9600. You can follow Sanare Today on Facebook and Instagram.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” (Gotta love Mr. Rogers!) Today we are speaking with two of Downingtown Area School District’s (DASD) biggest helpers, Sarah Brooks, Lead Student Assistance Specialist, and Mary Wallin, K-12 Department Leader for School Counselors. Sarah and Mary are sharing with us the roles of Prevention Specialists and School Counselors, as well as other district staff they may work with to support a student and family. We learn the trends they are seeing in school right now, both positives and challenges, and how to access local resources. Sarah and Mary also give us the steps on how handle common struggles including: how to help your child who may be ok in school, but is emotionally and behaviorally different at home, what to do if your child doesn’t want to attend school, and how to work with the school team if your child will be missing school for a prolonged period of time. This conversation truly shows the team approach taken at DASD and how parents can best communicate with their school based supports. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Prevention Specialist Staff at DASD
Mental Health Services at DASD
Psychology Today has a search tool to find providers near you that do and do not take insurance.
CTC is launching Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Do all kids drink alcohol before they graduate high school? Is this a thing? Today we are breaking down the youth and parent perceptions and norms around underage drinking with Beth Bruton from Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems. We discuss all the surrounding variables that influence youth’s perception of alcohol including social media, peer influence, and family modeling. We also talk about how although some parents may serve alcohol to their kids with best intentions of teaching them to be responsible, studies show that kids that are given alcohol at home underage are more likely to drink more often and larger amounts–but most parents don’t know this–we don’t know what we don’t know. Beth gave great tips on ways to talk to your kids about underage drinking and how to set up strategies to give your kids an out if they are in a risky situation. She also provided ways to talk to other parents that may or may not know the risks of underage drinking and how to share this information. We loved this conversation with Beth and hope you will join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
We referenced data from the PAYS 2021 Report
CTC PAYS Data on Alcohol Infographic
We mentioned a previous episode with Carl Gregory explaining the importance of unconditional love
We mentioned a previous episode with Corporal Gathercole from Upper Uwchlan Police Dept.
Chrissie mentioned Jessica Lahey and her Instagram Reels series with main points from her book The Addiction Inoculation
Holcomb has implemented MADD’s Power of Parents initiative which has many great resources for parents to talk to their kids about underage drinking
Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems is a leader in providing services and supports for people with mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities. The Chester County Holcomb Prevention department is located at the Holcomb corporate office in Exton, PA. Beth Bruton is the Prevention Manager and you can email her with any questions or comments at elizabeth.bruton@chimes.org
CTC is launching Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
Join us at our Second Annual Snowball Shuffle 5k Run/1 Mile Walk on March 4th at Eagleview Town Center at 9am.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
When your family loses a loved one it impacts everyone, but how grief looks and sounds in kids can be very different from adults. Today Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Kate Lannan, MSW, LSW, Community Services Director at A Haven, a nonprofit organization supporting grieving families and children. We discuss how grief presents differently in kids at various ages and how “play is processing and behavior is communication”. Kate explains ways to support kids while also taking care of ourselves during this time, and how to have conversations about death that are honest, factual, and brief. We also discussed how grief can come and go, that it is normal to feel distressed, and we can’t fix our feelings…but we can try to process them with support. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
A Haven has great online resources to support talking about grief and loss
Bethann mentioned using books to support conversations–here is a list from A Haven
A Haven is a nonprofit organization located in Exton, PA, focused on supporting grieving children with a family-centered approach. A Haven acknowledges that empowering families to walk through grief together is an important piece in supporting a grieving child. Research now reveals that the number one determining factor on how a child grieves is how the parent/guardians grieve. A Haven provides grief support through groups, community outreach, and educational resources. Follow A Haven on Facebook and Instagram.
A Haven is also having an Open House on March 8th from 8-10am if you wanted to stop in to see their space!
CTC is launching Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
Join us at our Second Annual Snowball Shuffle 5k Run/1 Mile Walk on March 4th at Eagleview Town Center at 9am.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Today is our first pod swap episode! Bethann and Chrissie are speaking with Tori from Meraki Run Club who has her own podcast Raising Runners. In this episode we each get a chance to be the guest and the interviewer. We discuss how anyone can be a runner and the link to mental health, what makes Meraki’s youth running programs special, and Chrissie and Bethann’s running routine and mini running community (party of 2 plus airpods). We also discussed finding balance in self care, work and family time, and how to build resilience in our kids AND ourselves as adults. This was a fun conversation and perfect for our first pod swap! Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Tori’s podcast is Raising Runners and is all about fitness, running, sports, and the role it plays for families and individuals, mental health, and coaching.
Chrissie talked about eye movement therapy and bilateral movement as it relates to running and mindfulness.
Chrissie talked about the Parent to Parent Blog and Welcome to the Water Bar.
CTC is launching Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups to provide a safe space for parents to get advice and support from other parents. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
Meraki is hosting two fundraising events for the Youth Mental Health Project:
3/11/23 from 12-2pm Rockclimbing at the Philadelphia Rock Gym in Malvern
5/20/23 Run Fest 5K/1 Hour Challenge at Great Valley High School
Meraki Run Club is an enrichment program for all fitness levels. Traditional running games and drills are transformed into powerful life lessons. When you are with Run Club, you are getting a great workout AND building strength of character. You can follow Tori and Meraki on Facebook @merakirunclub and Instagram @meraki_run_club_coach for updates on future programs and camps. Tori also has her own podcast Raising Runners.
Join us at our Second Annual Snowball Shuffle 5k Run/1 Mile Walk on March 4th at Eagleview Town Center at 9am.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook /@Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Tuesday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
We are starting off the new year with a personal parent story and this one really moved Chrissie and Bethann–the first to bring tears into the conversation. Our friend and CTC Board President. Carl Gregory, joined us to share about his family’s journey with substance use disorder and the loss of his daughter. Carl talks about how he was once a person who felt “these things don’t happen to us” to someone who now speaks openly about his experience to support other parents and families. We discuss how a child’s peers and friend groups can make an impact, how substance use disorder is a disease and not a moral issue, and the importance of connection. Carl’s sense of equanimity during this conversation impacted Chrissie and Bethann in an unexpected way and we have a feeling you will feel the same. We are so grateful to Carl for sharing. Join us!
Things we mentioned in this episode:
Carl mentioned the 3 C’s from Alanon
We talked about the benefits of hearing other parents stories and how important peer parent support is. CTC is launching Parent to Parent Peer Support Groups. Learn more about these groups and when they meet!
Another resource is Parent Partnership group meetings coordinated by CTC partner Be A Part of the Conversation. Learn more about the Parent Partnership groups!
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @Chrissie.CTC for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources. You can also email Chrissie at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org We would love to hear from you!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday.
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Today’s episode started out as a conversation about “gray area drinking” and ended up covering all things alcohol related (and we will likely need to record a part 2!). Dr. Jennifer Benjamin and Jerome Williams from the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center joined us to discuss how and why alcohol use increased among adults especially parents, during the pandemic (alcohol consumption rose among adults over age 30 by 14% during the pandemic, with a 41% increase in women heavily drinking), and the impact it can have on parents themselves, and their kids. Chrissie also shares how her own alcohol use changed during the pandemic and how she assessed her relationship with alcohol in early 2021. We also discuss the social and cultural influences that act as “pennies in a jar”, slowly making an impact without us necessarily noticing, and that one does not need to be dependent on a substance to question their relationship with that substance. Dr. Benjamin and Jerome share many resources to access support and ways to consider the environment surrounding alcohol use, in your home and community, and the societal attitude of “it's ok for me because it's ok for you”. This conversation brought up so many great points that truly tap into our favorite saying of “you don't know what you don’t know” and touched on many ways that alcohol can creep into our lives without us even realizing it. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Chrissie mentioned research showing an increase in alcohol use among adults during the pandemic, especially among women and parents.
Chrissie talked about an article that talks about “mommy wine culture” and when did it start.
Dr. Benjamin was our featured speaker in the fall for the Parent Speaker Series event “Being Comfortable in the Uncomfortable: How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Kids”. You can watch the recording HERE.
Bethann shared data from our DASD PAYS data showing most students by 12th grade have observed one or more adults drunk or high. Click here for the full data and these stats are on pg. 81.
Dr. Benjamin shared the risk of introducing alcohol to an adolescent brain since it is not yet fully developed. To learn more click here and here.
Chrissie talked about doing a “dry January” reset with her alcohol use in Jan. of 2021. She read “quit lit'' books including (parts of) This Naked Mind and We Are the Luckiest and also listened to some podcasts by Ruby Warrington about being sober curious. Chrissie also followed a few sober curious/dry challenge accounts on instagram: @1000hoursdryparents and @thesobermomlife.
Jerome and Dr. Benjamin shared tools to use for self assessment and to find support for yourself and/or a loved one:
- SMART Recovery has a cost benefit analysis tool to help make patterns observable.
- PA Get Help Now has a hotline to call for help and links to local providers.
- SAMHSA has a national helpline available 24/7, 365 days per year to find support.
- Alanon and AA are free supports with meetings for specific groups (women only, students, parents, etc.)
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center’s mission is to promote the delivery of strength-based, context-sensitive, developmentally-informed mental health training which builds on and supports the emotionally-sustaining relationships of children, adolescents, adults, and their families. PCFTTC provides training, consulting, and education for mental health and other human service professionals. Follow them on Facebook @pcfttc and on Instagram @philafamily.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie or on Facebook @CTCChrissie for info from each episode, Parent to Parent blog updates, and other parent resources.
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Today we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about videogames and youth gambling, and how these two activities overlap and intersect. Do you know what loot boxes and microtransactions are? Or that the rating “E for Everyone” doesn’t necessarily mean a game is automatically “safe”? Chrissie learned the answers to these questions and more as we discussed how video games (and learning games) contain many elements of gambling, how gambling activities are really all around us, how to keep an eye out for signs of problem gambling and video game use, and resources for help. Join us!.
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
DASD PAYS Data for Gambling (pgs 36-38)
Josh mentioned that problem gambling is now reclassified in the DSM-5. Here is the definition of gambling disorder from the American Psychiatric Assoc. Here are the criteria from the DSM-5 to diagnose gambling disorder.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Resources to find support:
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA (CCGP) has many resources on their site. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc., maintains a 24-hour helpline, aimed at assisting people whose lives are impacted by gambling related problems. Whether it be the individual themselves, or friends and family members, they strive to connect callers with additional resources located near them. The helpline offers 24/7/365, live assistance to callers. Calls are free and entirely confidential. For callers with primary languages other than English, a language line translation service is available, offering assistance in over 200 languages. Chat and text options are also available. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER.
You can also find Resources for Providing Help.
Follow the CCGP on Facebook @ccgofpa
Reboot and Recover provides treatment for technology dependency.
Game Quitters is a resource to learn more about video game use and dependency.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has resources and screening tools.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) groups meet regularly to provide free, anonymous support. Find a meeting here.
Sign up for CTC’s First Annual Snowball Shuffle Family 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk
Sign up your 6-12 grader for CTC’s FREE Healthy Youth Summit!
CTC’s Parent Resource Page with Marijuana Resources
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Partner Playback - Episode 10: All Things Screens: How to find balance for your child (& yourself) in a tech-filled world
Smartphones, ipads, tablets, videogames…our screens and tech are everywhere! How do we manage our kids (and our own) relationships with screens and technology? Today we are getting help from Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, the founder and Director of Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, prevention, treatment, and research on technology-based addictions. Dr. Diez-Morel explains why we are so tied to our devices, red flags for tech dependency, how to role model our own healthy screen and phone usage, social media and mental health, and the importance of intention when using our devices. Dr. Diez-Morel also shares feedback from students on how they feel about their parents phone use–it is really powerful! We also discuss an alternative “first phone” and resources to set boundaries around tech use in your family. Join us!
Reboot and Recover’s mission is to provide solutions for balanced living in a technology driven world. We offer therapy for individuals, couples, and families struggling with any issues related to technology overuse and addiction. The treatment is provided by licensed and practicing professionals in a confidential and caring capacity. Follow Reboot and Recover on:
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Check out other resources listed on Reboot and Recover’s Resource Page.
Dr. Diez-Morel mentioned GABB phones can be a good choice for a first phone.
Create a Family Media Plan for your family’s tech use.
Common Sense Media has reviews for movies, games, tv shows and other media to see what content is included and provides age guidelines.
The Center for Humane Technology has tips and toolkits for parents, kids, and educators.
Sign up your 6-12 grader for CTC’s FREE Healthy Youth Summit!
Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:
Instagram @downingtownctc
Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC
Twitter @DowningtownCTC
Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org
Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.