In social work, the foundation of meaningful change begins with connection. Whether working with clients facing personal challenges or supporting families navigating complex dynamics, engagement is key to fostering trust, understanding, and collaboration.
“And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance…” -from the song “I Hope You Dance” by LeeAnn Womack
A Love for Music and Dance
Like many of you, I’m a big fan of music and dancing. Unfortunately for me, however, I am not the most coordinated dancer. Still, that doesn’t stop me from doing it — especially in my living room or kitchen when no one is around.
I also love to watch other people dance. I sometimes enjoy scrolling through the latest video dance trends on certain social media sites. One trend I enjoyed this year featured men and women of my generation showing off their 80s dance moves to Small Town Boy by Bronski’s Beat.
We’re excited to introduce you to the new CEO of Great Kids, David Bird! As we begin this new chapter, we want to share more about David, his vision for the future of our organization, and how he plans to continue our mission.
Staff training is always a top priority when it comes to successful program outcomes. At Great Kids, we understand the challenges of ensuring your team is equipped to drive positive results. That’s why our CEO, Shawna Donaldson, recently chatted about our comprehensive training solution. She explains 3 key benefits of Growing Great Kids certifications that empower both you and your team.
It is with a mixture of gratitude, melancholy, and excitement for the future that I announce my resignation as the Great Kids, Inc. CEO. My last day will be May 31, 2024.
I am so grateful for my 20 years with Great Kids, working in different capacities – either as a user of the curriculum, a Great Kids’ trainer/consultant or as the CEO for the last seven years.
“Choo! Choo!” my nephew Scotty* called out, “Auntie, come get on the train!” As I made my way into the family room, I saw Scotty instructing my sister where the ticketing line started, eager for us to hop aboard the train. As we each sat in our assigned seats, our train grew longer and longer as we all joined in on the fun!
Since I moved into my own home several years ago, the season I look forward to most is Spring. The previous owner left many lovely plants, trees, and bushes, including a coral azalea that brightens the view outside my office window for a few brief weeks each year.
Don’t you love crawling into bed each night? The weariness of the day seems to soak away as you snuggle under the covers and feel the comfort of your bed envelop you.
According to researchers, our bodies and brains need sleep as much as breathing air and drinking water, but the amount of sleep required differs from person to person.
Upon opening the door to my grandmother’s house on a Sunday afternoon, you are delighted with the sweet aroma of buttery biscuits and the sound of joyful family laughter greeting you. As you enter the kitchen, you will find us all working together to prepare the Sunday Dinner, a treasured tradition that has been passed down from my grandmother’s generation. Childhood memories often play a profound role in shaping our adult lives. These moments have taught me more than culinary skills. They have passed down values, cultural connections, and a sense of togetherness that will last a lifetime.
The other day, I was walking by a local playground. I stopped for a minute to notice all the happy children running around and playing with each other. It brought back such sweet memories of when my own kids were little and played on this playground with my community’s playgroup. Seeing how much the kids loved playing together and their parents bonding was such a heartwarming experience. Playgroups had a significant role in my parenting journey, and I’m so grateful for the memories they helped create.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you picture “playing pretend”? Maybe you conjure up the image of a toddler using a recycled cardboard box as a racecar, or perhaps a preschooler mixing up a questionable potion from rarely used kitchen spices and tap water. I must admit, I have quite a bit of personal experience with the latter. For many adults, I think, we can quickly put together a colorful picture of a young child tapping into their imagination and transforming the world around them into one of their own designs. It’s more difficult, though, to find a similar picture for ourselves as grown-ups. When was the last time you activated that creativity?
“What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.” Alice Miller. I think it’s fair to say that, just like other illnesses, no one wakes up and decides to have a substance use disorder.
So much for lazy summer days! If your family is like mine, the hustle and bustle of summer is in full swing. There are activities to go to, yardwork to keep up with, and general maintenance tasks to get done.
Growing Great Kids®
Why Choose Great Kids?
Proven Success
Over 37,000 people have been trained to use the Great Kids curricula
Protective Factors – GGK Constructs
Research informed constructs embedded in the Protective Factors Framework
Alignment with Head Start
The Growing Great Kids Home Based Curricula Series exceeds all Head Start Curriculum requirements
Evidenced Based Research
As evidenced by seven independent evaluations, the GGK Curriculum produces outstanding results
Specialized Training Programs
On-site and virtual training options available
Healthy Families America
The Growing Great Kids curriculum aligns with and builds upon the HFA model approach