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.
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.
My trip of a lifetime was in a small town on the coast of Croatia that was once a part of the Venetian trade route. It has a beautiful coast for summer visitors and ancient buildings for tourists.
The city of Split was where I spent my 50th birthday with a group of friends. We had a tour guide to take our group through Diocletian’s Palace. Tour guides in Europe often have to be trained and licensed. They must prove their knowledge, and they have to be certified.
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails” – Dolly Parton
I love this Dolly Parton quote because, over the years, I’ve most definitely learned that while I can’t control the weather, I can do my best to make choices about how to adjust my sails. I’ve learned that in order to not just survive but thrive, I have to stay in a continuous state of learning. A state where I am present to observe and listen to what is needed. And when necessary, partner with others to figure out the best ways to adapt and adjust.
Recently, my friend and I completed a much-anticipated hike along the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland. We’ve been hiking together for years. And to date, this was the most physically challenging and picturesque trail we’ve ever completed. It required more preparation than usual, and during the planning process, I realized this was about something more than just a hike. My friend reached out because she was going through some difficult life changes and needed to talk to someone.
HOW WE ARE with people is as important, and perhaps more so, than what we say or do. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Imagine you’re approaching the checkout at your small local grocery store after grabbing a few items. There’s only one cashier working, and the line is long.
Thank you to 14 News for featuring the Pre to 3 program that is working to lower the area’s infant mortality rate through a home-visit program for new moms.
RISE (Recovery, Impact, Support, and Empower) is an online course developed by Great Kids, Inc. to support the early childhood field in learning more about the opioid crisis and SUD.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start has given the Growing Great Kids Next Generation Curricula
Products their highest Evidence-Based Ranking on the latest Parenting Curricula Review
Databases.
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