Calithea Steward, M.Ed, MSML, IECMH-E ®️ APC’s Post

Every small action counts! 🌟 Engaging in daily acts of kindness and support can lead to monumental changes in the lives of young people. By choosing to mentor, you contribute to a larger movement that empowers and uplifts youth, fostering a future where everyone can thrive. Dive deeper into how simple, everyday interactions can have a profound impact. Read more about "The Importance of Social Capital in Positive Youth Development" and discover how you can be part of something bigger. 📖 https://lnkd.in/grxaSVnz

Education isn't just a school or parent's job—it's a community effort. From local organizations to families, we all play a role in ensuring our kids succeed. 💯 The link to the full episode featuring Dr. Nicole M. Mancini, CCC-SLP is in the comments section below. ⬇ #BusinessofEducation #CommunitySupport #EducationMatters #CollaborativeEffort

In our latest blog, "Best Practices for Fostering Biblical Thinking by Kids", we delve into the importance of nurturing biblical thinking in our students and offer practical, helpful strategies to implement across all subjects and grades. https://bit.ly/4cTX2qH

What kind of skills, attitudes, habits, and overall benefits do we help teens gain? Hear from Daniel, the 28th Youth Overall Growth Award Winner and discover the significant value & benefits he has gained in the last 8 weeks participating in our Youth Empowerment Course!! Learn why he describes this course as “one of the best things to do in the world!” Check out all we are up to with empowering local teens and how to get involved to help us make an even bigger difference! https://lnkd.in/g_KBPtVF

Empathy can be a powerful catalyst for caring action toward wildlife and nature more broadly. Given the critical developmental period of early childhood, interventions that build the capacity of educators to support empathy development in young children are needed. We report on an evaluation of an empathy-focused Community of Practice (CoP) that engaged 15 regional early childhood professionals (including four zoo preschool staff) in the co-creation of empathy practices that are deepened through a ‘Two-Worlds’ (Indigenous and Western) approach. Ripple effect mapping was the evaluation approach used, as its participatory nature and emphasis on reflection were well aligned with the CoP approach. The results suggest CoP participation influenced teachers’ capacity for supporting empathy development, which rippled outward from teacher-level impacts to positive impacts on children, families, and beyond. We also offer reflections on the use of a CoP approach to build individual, organizational, and community capacity for supporting empathy, as well as on the conduciveness of ripple effect mapping for evaluating capacity-building professional learning in the context of empathy conservation. https://lnkd.in/g9guuydV

🌟 Happy International Children's Day! 🎉 Today, we celebrate the bright futures, boundless potential, and pure joy that children bring into our lives. Every child is a universe of possibilities, and it's our duty to nurture and protect their dreams. Let’s take a moment to reflect on how we can make the world a better place for our children. Whether it's through education, love, or support, every small action counts. ✨ Here are a few ways you can make a difference today: 🌟 Spend quality time with a child – listen to their stories, play games, and be present. 🌟 Support children's education and well-being in your community. 🌟 Advocate for children's rights and raise awareness about the issues they face. Remember, children are not just our future, they are our present. Let's cherish their innocence, foster their growth, and celebrate their uniqueness. 🌈 And here’s a question for you: What does your inner child need to experience life more fully? Our children remind us that life is an adventure, and we should approach it with curiosity and a desire to explore new ways and ideas. Let’s learn from them and rekindle our sense of wonder. #InternationalChildrensDay #FutureLeaders #CelebrateChildren #InspireGrowth #CherishInnocence #InnerChild #LifelongLearning

More on the value of play! Thanks Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

"Educated kids make educated decisions." That’s why we partner with schools and our community of caring neighbors like you to help kids to succeed in school and in life.    Watch as Rene Gellerman, our President & CEO, shares with Johnny Marx the thinking behind our United for Schools initiative – to unite community resources and volunteers to help kids early on, to help them unlock brighter futures for themselves.   And, the results speak for themselves. Dive deeper here: https://lnkd.in/gXpwEqV3

The 2024 Signature Report from Casey Family Programs champions the value of a kin-first culture, describes how various communities are implementing this approach, and provides resources to help other communities begin to cultivate a kin-first culture. Throughout the report, you can find what science tells us about the importance of connection, why a kin-first culture leads to better outcomes for children and families, and how communities around the country are embracing this powerful approach to help children grow up where they belong. In addition, you'll find resources, including ones from our Network cited throughout the report. We appreciate Casey Family Programs for including our resources and hope you find them helpful. https://lnkd.in/gJYTcXw #KinshipCare #Grandfamilies #KinFirst

Register for this free webinar! We have embedded these core principles into our Focusing Action for Positive Change Grant Program and support community based initiatives that can improve mental well-being outcomes for individuals and families living on #PEI