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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
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
If your family is “good on paper” how can substance use disorder and dependency happen to you and/or your child? What if you are doing “all the right things''? In today’s episode Chrissie speaks with our guest, Cynthia Black, about this and more. Cynthia is the former CTC of Greater Downingtown Board President, a Downingtown parent, and parent to three children including her youngest son who has been in recovery for substance use disorder for almost a decade–and it all started with marijuana. Cynthia shares her family’s story about her son’s use, the roles each family member played, how and when they sought out professional help, and what she would have done differently. She also shares advice for parents who may be going through this right now with their kids, and prevention advice for parents of younger children. This honest, authentic conversation demonstrates that dependency can happen to anyone and how a family can learn and heal–with a little luck mixed in. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Cynthia mentioned dopamine and Chrissie talked about reward pathways in brain–learn more about dopamine response HERE (short video).
Cythia mentions the book The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey.
Chrissie mentions the book Codependent No More by Melanie Beatty.
Chrissie mentioned typical family roles family members will take on to cope with a family member’s substance use disorder.
To learn more about marijuana you can listen to our Episode 7: All Things Marijuana: Everything Parents Need to Know with Gretchen Hagenbuch from Caron Treatment Centers.
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.
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. 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 May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
Join Chrissie and Bethann for a quick chat about our plan for the podcast for the summer–no breaks here!--we are trying out audioblogs along with new episodes. Then Chrissie asks Bethann for advice on how to structure summer days and what her summers looked like back in the (much-less-tech) seasons when her kids were young. Summer is also a great time to go back to listen to past pod episodes or view past Parent Speaker Series events (links below). Happy summer!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Chrissie mentioned her plan for “Camp Big Brother” this summer with her kids–you can read the blog post about it here.
Past Parent to Parent Blogs can be found here.
If you missed our Parent Speaker Series events this past school year you can see most of them as recordings here (scroll down and the titles are linked).
Catch up on past Parent to Parent Podcast Episodes–find all the episodes here.
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.
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. 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 May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Ever want to know what is happening in your community from the viewpoint of a police officer? During our conversation with Corporal Brian Gathercole from the Upper Uwchlan Police Department we did just that! Corp. Gathercole has over 20 years of experience working in Chester County, and 16 years specifically in Upper Uwchlan Township. He (and UUPD) is a community partner offering programs for parents and youth in community and school settings on topics including internet safety and drug and alcohol prevention, and he also created and coordinates a Junior Police Academy. Chrissie and Bethann ask about what substances Corp. Gathercole is seeing youth use in our community and how they are using them. Our conversation went on to include: how youth use social media and the “secret” text language for buying and selling substances, the game Fortnite and how kids prank oher kids (even from out of state) but how it involves the police, the consequences of underage drinking and drug use for both kids and adults, the ways youth use ride share apps, and mental health. Corp. Gathercole also provides tools parents can share with their kids to get help if they need it (including, hopefully, calling you first). We discuss how honesty and trust are so important and have to be the foundation of our connection and communication with our kids. Chrissie and Bethann did not anticipate all that they would learn during this conversation! Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Brian explained people can now Text 911 (in addition to calling 911) to get help–a great, anonymous tool for youth to use if they are concerned about a friend or feel they need help. Click here for more information.
Brian mentioned DASD’s Safe2Say Something program.
We talked about different scenarios and legal consequences for underage drinking and also serving alcohol to minors.
Upper Uwchlan Township Police Department provides police services to the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week by responding to a variety of incidents throughout the year. The mission of the Upper Uwchlan Township Police Department is to work in a true partnership with our fellow citizens to enhance the quality of life in our community. By raising the level of public safety through law enforcement, we aim to reduce the fear and incidence of crime. In accomplishing these goals, service will be our commitment, and honor and integrity will be our mandate. Follow Upper Uwchlan Twp. PD 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.
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. 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 Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Title: Episode 12. Alcohol in Our Lives: Questioning Our Own Use & the Impact on Our Kids
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 Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
It's spring break this week so we are sharing our very first episode to listen to again or perhaps hear for the first time! We loved this conversation with our CTC Partner, Kim Porter, from Be A Part of the Conversation. We hope you have a safe and happy spring break and we will be back with an all-new episode in two weeks!
--
Welcome to our first episode of Parent to Parent: Real Life Tips to Raise Resilient Kids. Today we are talking with Kim Porter, Executive Director of Be A Part of the Conversation. Kim is sharing her family’s story about her son’s substance use disorder and their journey to recovery and resiliency. Kim shares LOTS of “lessons learned” and resources for parents and also that substance use and dependency can happen to any family--as she says, “not my kid, that's not a thing”. Join us for tips, strategies and conversation about what parents can do now to prevent use and how to support your kids, and yourself, if your child is using substances.
Be a Part of the Conversation equips families and communities with skills and resources to understand substance use, addiction, and related health issues. They procommunity programs, foster supportive connections, highlight lived experiences, and challenge stigma.
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Be a Part of the Conversation has tons of resources on their site plus the Parent Partnership support groups Kim mentioned. Follow Be a Part of the Conversation on:
Instagram: @convozone
Twitter: @ConvoZone
Support groups for Parents that are free and anonymous include AlaNon and NarAnon
Kim mentioned her son was in the “mascot” role in her family--this is based on the family roles of substance use disorder.. Learn more about the roles here.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie 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 Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
When do kids start dating...and what does that look like? How do social media and various apps affect relationships? How and when do we bring up consent? What are red flags your child might be in an unhealthy relationship or friendship? Today Joe Myers from Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County returns (our first return guest!) to answer all these questions and more. We also discuss: the age when kids should have a solid understanding of reproduction, how to teach your kids to both give and get consent from others, and how consent and boundaries are BFFs. This episode is coming out during the first week of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we dive into what sexual assault means, how we can try to prevent our kids from being assaulted, and also what to do if something does happen. We also discuss (and link up below) many resources with videos and scripts on how to have these conversations so that “if we aren’t weird, it won’t be weird.” Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Joe was our guest for Episode 5: Bullying & Cyberbullying.
AMAZE has great resources for both kids and parents on healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, sexual education and more.
Chrissie talked about the books “It’s Not the Stork” and “It’s So Amazing”, part of a series of children’s books by Robie Harris.
Joe mentioned Safe Secure Kids as a resource for parents to learn skills to talk to their kids about respect, consent, and other topics (with videos, handouts, and “learn together” games).
April is Sexual Assualt Awareness Month (SAAM) and the theme is “Building Safe Online Spaces Together”. Denim Day, as part of this awareness campaign, is happening on April 27th. CVC will also be doing programming–be sure to follow CVC on FaceBook and Instagram at the links below!
Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County (CVC) is a nonprofit agency providing free, immediate, and confidential crisis response and compassionate support to children and adults impacted by sexual violence and all other crime. CVC provides assistance through counseling, advocacy, resources, and education. The Center fosters community awareness and understanding through its comprehensive outreach and prevention programs.
Support CVC by joining the virtual Race Against Violence this May! Sign up here!
CVC’s 24/7 Hotlines: Sexual Assault (610) 692-7273 and Other Crimes (610) 692-7420
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cvcofcc
Instagram: @crime_victims_center
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/CVCCC
CVC Staff are available to present to your school, parent group, workplace and/or community on topics including bullying, healthy relationships, mandated reporting, respect at work, and more. Click here for more information about available programs.
You can now follow Chrissie on Instagram @ctc_chrissie 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 Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Smartphones, iPads, tablets, video games…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.
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Today we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about video games 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 Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
There is all the love for this special episode today! Chrissie is interviewing Bethann and her daughter Aubrey, who is transgender, about their journey to becoming their truest selves. In our conversation we discussed: advice for parents who may have kids who are wanting to change their pronouns and/or questioning their identity, how to have grace and compassion with each other, and the value of letting go of control and expectations. Look to the show notes below for best practice resources for parents and to learn more about supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. We know that LGBTQIA+ youth and adults are at a greater risk of substance use and misuse, mental health challenges, and suicide risk, all the more reason for education and support for this community. This honest and loving conversation provides support, encouragement and awareness for both parents and youth. Join us!
*Please note we are not medical professionals though we do discuss medical interventions in this episode. Please seek out medical guidance from your pediatrician and/or healthcare providers.
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Chrissie gave statistics from NAMI at the beginning of the episode about mental health and substance use rates among LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.
Resources:
PFLAG provides confidential peer support, education, and advocacy to LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies.
AMAZE.org creates free educational videos + resources to help families talk openly, honestly, and less awkwardly about sex, health, relationships + growing up. They have great resources on gender identity and sexual orientation.
CHOP Gender and Sexuality Development Program The Gender and Sexuality Development Program offers psychosocial and medical support for gender nonconforming, gender expansive and transgender children and youth up to age 21 and their families.
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together we can transform our nation's schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.
Sign up for CTC’s First Annual Snowball Shuffle Family 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk
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 Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Today’s episode is about all things related to marijuana, cannabis, THC, CBD, and everything in between. We are talking with Gretchen Hagenbuch, M.Ed., CPS, from Caron Treatment Centers and just a few (of the many) topics we cover include: youth trends of use, the link between marijuana use and mental health, how a parent can approach talking about their own experiences (or lack thereof) with substances, and how marijuana is unique in its ability to “lower the bar and make that lowered bar perfectly acceptable”.
This episode is packed with helpful information and how-tos that every parent needs to hear to help navigate the ever-changing landscape of marijuana. Join us!
Things we mentioned during our conversation:
Selena (also from Caron) did an interview with about all things vaping
We mention PAYS data and DASD marijuana and vaping use (pgs. 14-17)
Gretchen talks about Delta-8 and its risks; learn more about its risks here and here
Delta-8 is currently sold similar to dangerous substances K2 and Spice.
We talked about how marijuana can make anxiety worse and negatively affect mental health.
We talked about arrested development, which adolescents are at risk for when using substances and/or developing dependency on a substance.
Chrissie mentioned Jessica Lahey’s book The Addiction Inoculation when talking about your own use/non-use history and making sure not to glamorize the experience.
Gretchen talked about Caron’s Blog
Caron is an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education. Learn more about Caron here: www.caron.org
Caron’s free digital education and prevention classes on their website
Caron has a free marijuana and vaping trends and prevention course
Follow Caron on:
Sign up for CTC’s First Annual Snowball Shuffle Family 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk
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.