The Well of PBC - August 2023

How We Can Help Youth Navigate The Mental Health Maelstrom

Feature Story

Understanding The Assignment: Supporting Healthy Social Media Habits For Your Teen

The Reservoir

Digital Vibez

Spotlight

Space Of Mind, Room To Grow

Beyond The Couch

Friendship From The Eyes Of A Teen

The Fountain

Building Bridges Between Parents And Children

The Word

Feelings Of Lived Moments

The Draw

On A Mission From God: Traveling To Serve

The Depth

Letter from the editor

President John F. Kennedy once said that to have children is to give hostages to fate and I’ve been thinking a lot about that quote lately.

The world becomes a scarier place when you become a parent. When my children were small, I used to worry about choking hazards and falls, whether they were putting on enough weight and playground injuries.

And as they’ve grown older, my concerns have evolved. I worry about my son driving, I worry about my kids’ safety at school…and everywhere else and as someone with a background in nursing, I constantly worry about their health - physical and mental.

No matter how old your children are, the life of a good parent is buoyed by an undercurrent of anxiety because while you have control over your destiny, you have no control over fate.

We just do the best we can, hoping all the while that our children will reach greater heights and shine brighter than we did. That they will go further in becoming our ancestors’ wildest dreams.

In working on this issue of The Well of PBC, I was lucky enough to connect with the youth of Palm Beach County as well as folks who work closely with children and teens and in doing so, I realized two important things.

• The kids are smart and self-possessed. Not only do they know it’s ok to not be ok, they’re also passionate about making a positive difference. They’re driven to succeed and above all, they are brimming with compassion and kindness. Look at this month’s Corner Talk column and The Source where Jonathan Eugene offers advice with tremendous empathy about what to do when faced with adversity.

• Palm Beach County is filled with people committed to the growth and success of all of our children. From the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network who develop, support and manage a vast network of behavioral health services to promote

MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR INVESTED PARTNERS

emotional well-being and drug-free living to individuals like Ali Kaufman, founder and CEO of Space of Mind Schoolhousean educational experience which not only fosters academic growth but creativity, socio-emotional development and helps spark the flint of human potential to the parents, therapists and educators dedicated to battling the mental health crisis afflicting our youth.

Our fate might be anchored in the starsunknowable and inevitable - but the lives we create for ourselves and the way we choose to raise our children is all our own.

I chose to raise my children in Palm Beach County because I believe that it does take a village to raise a child and here, my village thrives.

As always, we welcome your thoughts about this month’s issue. The Well of PBC is the premier behavioral health publication in Palm Beach County because of the strength of your voice. I am so proud to advocate for mental health accessibility for our neighbors, friends and family. It is an honor to help elevate your voices to ensure not only a more just and empathetic society for us but a brighter and more equitable future for our children.

With deep appreciation,

Julie Khanna, Editor-in-Chief thewell@bewellpbc.org

“ Thank you for being a part of the mission:

To share feedback, obtain advertising information, or contribute, please reach us at thewell@bewellpbc.org

To be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.

The Mission

The largest behavioral health publication in Palm Beach County, The Well of PBC is a non-profit magazine which aims to be a community-directed resource for Palm Beach County residents. Advocating for mental health accessibility is central to our mission and we believe in “walking the walk” when it comes to ensuring every Palm Beach County resident has the opportunity to have their voices heard. We are proud to use our platform to highlight both national and global concerns while remaining focused on local mental health and wellness issues that matter the most to our audience.

Contributors to The Well of PBC do not need a degree or a background in publishing to have their voice elevated and their concerns addressed - they merely need to reach out and let us know they have something to say. Through crowdsourcing and fully engaging Palm Beach County residents to participate as contributors, The Well of PBC hopes to empower residents to serve as stakeholders who are fully immersed in the transformation of the behavioral health landscape of Palm Beach County.

We are looking for people to contribute to our art, ask the experts, students, self-care, cultural, spiritual, and provider columns. Email us for our contributor guidelines, editorial calendar, or if you’d like to share a career opportunity or community event.

E: thewell@bewellpbc.org | Follow along at @thewellofpbc

Our Team

Creative Team

Lauren Zuchman Publisher

Lauren is the Executive Director for the countywide initiative, BeWellPBC, advancing behavioral health and wellness for all residents in Palm Beach County. The Well of PBC is a passion project for Lauren to increase behavioral health awareness, engage diverse perspectives across the county, and promote solutions to address our county’s most complex challenges.

Katrina, founder & CEO of Unity3 Palm Beach, brings her executive advertising background combined with her love of faith, family, and this vibrant multicultural community to The Well of PBC and BeWellPBC.

Julie Khanna Editor-in-Chief

Julie, CEO of Khanna Connections, enjoys using her creativity to help health and wellness industries communicate with their audiences.

Surej, founder of Photography & Design by Sunman, is the creative visionary that brings life into each page, concept, visual and digital design of The Well of PBC publication.

The information in this issue of The Well of PBC is for information purposes only. The Well of PBC assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, company, product or organization has been provided by such individual, company, product or organization without verification by us.

Melanie, president of Otero Communications, provides consulting services for some of Palm Beach County’s leading nonprofit organizations. With a special interest in behavioral health, she serves as a contributing writer to The Well of PBC.

Jaime, founder of Rosewood Media, is a West Palm Beach resident, creative and contributing writer to The Well of PBC. With a decade of experience in non-profit communications and a lifetime of experience as a writer, Jaime’s work focuses on behavioral health, diversity, equity and inclusion, travel, music, food and parenthood through a pop culture lens.

The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Well of PBC. Therefore, The Well of PBC carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed therein.

Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2023 The Well of PBC All rights reserved.

Katrina Blackmon Marketing Manager

Surej Kalathil AKA Sunman Creative Director

Melanie Otero Contributor

Weston Probst BeWellPBC Staff

Alita Faber BeWellPBC Staff

Jaime Joshi Elder Contributor

Seeking Safe Harbor

How We Can Help Youth Navigate The Mental Health Maelstrom

By: Melanie Otero

Like dark thunderclouds unfurling across a late afternoon summer sky, a heavy gloom is spreading across America’s youth.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tell us a youth mental health crisis is far from brewing. It’s here.

In 2021, more than 4 in 10 students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third experienced poor mental health.

For certain demographics, the numbers are even more alarming. More than 1 in 4 girls reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up nearly 60% from 2011. And suicide rates among Black young people aged 10-24 years increased 36.6% during 2018-2021, with Black children ages 5 to 12 twice as likely to die by suicide as their White peers.

As Kathleen Ethier, director of CDC’s adolescent and school health division, stated, “There’s no question young people are telling us they are in crisis. The data really call on us to act.”

But how?

In the face of behavioral health professional shortages and waiting lists for therapists, community leaders and organizations are filling the void. While they admit they don’t have all the answers in a rapidly changing world where music, technology, and particularly social media have tremendous influence, their insights provide a compass for how adults can help steer youth in directions that benefit their mental health.

Guiding through the murky waters of self-image

Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, executive director of the EJS Project in Delray Beach, Florida, engages minority youth to focus on opportunity, while also seeking social justice. But before youth can fully engage in their future and their community, youth need to discover themselves.

“Youth are trying to keep up with their persona on social media rather than being a real, genuine person,” said Jackson. “I can see them having that internal fight about who they are. As mentors, we get to see their vulnerabilities. We ask them, why do you have to put on that front?”

Source: CDC

Jackson and his colleagues create spaces for youth to be authentic, encouraging them to see themselves through the eyes of others, rather than making comparisons with those they see on social media. In group circles, youth express what they appreciate about each other, boosting confidence and the ability to listen and communicate.

Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson

The Evidence of a youth mental health crisis is alarming

Palm Beach County youth have told us why they are having mental health struggles:

• Relationship with parents

• No friends at school

• Feeling hopeless

• Bullying/cyberbullying

• Feeling unsafe at school

Source: Birth to 22, Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2,100 high school students

“They have to have opportunities to let their guards down,” Jackson said. “Like any muscle, they have to exercise being OK with who they are, being intentional, and listening.”

At Pace Center for Girls Palm Beach, executive director Sara Nunez is impressing upon young women the fallacy of social media. “The images create feelings about how your life should be— the perfect body, perfect clothes,” she said. “We’re empowering girls to believe in themselves. It sounds cliche, but it’s about knowing what’s real and what’s not. We’re trying to share the reality of what social media is all about and help them recognize and build on their strengths.”

Aarif Khan

~ “Chip on My Shoulder,” Rod Wave, American Rapper

“ ”

Remember, I was a small child, we would play That was way before the drama I endured, and the pain Mama had already told me there'll be days when it rains But lately, it's been crazy hurricanes

Learning the ropes

Aarif Khan, program coordinator at the EJS Project, sees the need for education to counter another troubling trend: idealizing mental health conditions. “A lot of social media and lyrics romanticize the idea of feeling pain and popping pills to make it go

Geovanny Romero, Pace Center’s program director, highlights the changes parents and caregivers need to look for. “You have to know your child,” she emphasized. “Have they lost their appetite? Are they complaining about loss of concentration? Have you noticed changes in their hygiene? A decrease in socialization? If you see that drop, it’s huge.”

Khan agrees. “Things like isolating themselves from everyone else when they come into our space is very alarming. We’ve developed a space where our students are highly interactive with each other. So, when one of our students move away from that for a day, we know something is wrong and we look to assess the situation.”

When it’s time for a behavioral health professional to step in, challenges range from waiting lists to the stigma of seeking help for a mental health condition.

The home port advantage

Often the most important partner in a youth’s mental health is a parent. It can be the key that opens the door to help, but youth cite their relationships with parents as a the top reason for their mental health struggles.

away,” Khan said. “The feeling is it’s cool to be sad, to be depressed. They are constantly self-diagnosing, saying ‘I’m bipolar.’ We’re educating youth about what mental health is, that they may feel sad for a day, but not everything is depression.”

Nunez agrees with Khan that educating youth—and the adults in their lives—is vital, especially when it comes to cyberbullying. “Cyberbullying is dangerous,” she said. “Parents sometimes don’t know what to do, they don’t know about technology.” Nunez encourages parents to learn about social media and the need to look at their children’s phones. “There are so many safety issues.”

For cyberbullying in particular, the danger is an increased risk of suicide.

A National Institute of Health study found that young adolescents who experienced cyberbullying had an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts. While the NIH encourages parents and educators to be aware of cyberbullying as a risk factor, Nunez also believes there has to be more open conversation about what is often viewed as a taboo subject. “We have to talk about suicide, we can’t brush it under the rug,” she said.

All hands on deck

Leaders from the EJS Project and the Pace Center for Girls agree that for adults to recognize when youth need help, attention and knowledge are power.

The EJS Project has found a way to introduce mental health education and clinicians into their environment in a non-threatening way. They sought professionals who mirror their youth— African American and Haitian therapists— who are building relationships by sparking conversations during team-building activities and even kickball games, connecting students with someone who knows them by name and can provide one-on-one help when there is a need.

Jackson believes the EJS Project solution can expand to other youth organizations, sharing clinical resources and increasing access to behavioral health care. “If we could get therapists to commit to one workshop a night in an open setting, educating and connecting with youth, and offering access for students who need help in between settings, things will start happening,” he said. “We could pool this together instead of leaving it up to each organization to do it on their own.”

Both Jackson and Nunez agree that new solutions depend on collaboration, funding, and flexibility for spending and outcomes reporting to maximize limited resources. “When things are so restrictive, it’s hard to do the work we do,” Nunez said. “If we band together and use resources wisely, we could support more families. None of us will be able to do this by ourselves.”

“Very often I hear students expressing that they don’t really talk with their parents and spend most of their time at home playing video games or on their phone,” said Khan. “If something is going on and our students can’t or don’t feel comfortable with speaking to their family members at home, it will be very difficult for our students to open up to anyone else.”

Romero believes the Pace principles and values are a foundation for a healthy child/ parent relationship: courage, conversation, and connection.

“Parents need to exhibit courage in connection and conversation,” Romero said. She counsels parents to be transparent about their own feelings. “A parent needs to be transparent and say, ‘I am sad, I am frustrated, how are you feeling?’ At first it will be awkward. Later, children will ask for those conversations.”

Nunez and the others realize it’s not easy for parents, and they need help, too. “We’ve been so hyper-focused on girls, we’re realizing something we already knew. If we don’t work with the parent to help break down barriers, we have nothing. We have to keep them involved and engaged.”

Nunez believes another cliché is true—it takes a village. “With parents and other protective factors—teachers, in collaboration with therapists, guidance counselors, principals—we can work together to have a holistic framework to impact a young person’s life. Our work is going to be double, but so is the result. We are sending the message to youth that you matter.”

Geovanny Romero

Sara Nunez

ABOUT THE EJS PROJECT

The EJS Project promotes success in teen’s day-to-day and school lives, enables them to serve as catalysts for positive change in their community, and encourages them to dream big as they plan for their future.

Learn more at ejsproject.org.

ABOUT PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS

Pace provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy.

Learn more at pacecenter.org.

Understanding The Assignment: Supporting Healthy Social Media Habits For Your Teen

By: Jaime Joshi Elder with Expert Insights from Erinn F. Beck, MS, LMHC

Social media is an inescapable part of modern life and teenagers are usually on the forefront of new technology as a means to connect and find social support, companionship and even emotional intimacy.

Ninety percent of youth between the ages of 13-17 have used some form of social media and a Pew Research Center study from Spring 2022 reports that the most popular social media platforms among teens are YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.

The same study also found that more than half of teens say it would be difficult for them to give up social media with approximately 36% noting they feel they spend too much time on social media.

Practice paying attention to the way consuming social media affects your inner dialogue, mood and behaviors. Making these connections provides us feedback about whether our habits are moving us closer to or farther away from what we value.

West Palm Beach-based Licensed Mental Health Counselor Erinn Beck is an expert on the effect social media has on teenagers and offers the following advice regarding responsible social media consumption, humane usage of technology and cyberbullying.

Be intentional about what you consume on social media in a trance-like state, unaware of how it is making us feel in the moment, or after the fact.

This may be due in part to Screen Apnea - the tendency to breathe in a

more shallow way or hold our breathe while looking at a screen. Pausing and breathing in a more deep and slow manner helps to ground us in the present moment and notice how we feel.

Practice paying attention to the way consuming social media affects your inner dialogue, mood and behaviors. Making these connections provides us feedback about whether our habits are moving us closer to or farther away from what we value.

Be intentional about what you are consuming on social media. The way that we interact with the platform determines what it shows us more of. Cute animal videos and inspirational messages may make us smile, but our feeds also get populated with accounts and advertisements that can feed our insecurities. Give yourself permission to mute, unfollow or snooze accounts that have a negative impact.

We need technology that is designed to support us versus undermine us in making healthier habits for our mental health. It is challenging to place boundaries around screen time in a system that is specifically designed to maximize our engagement. Humane

Erinn F. Beck, MS, LMHC

technology recognizes the unfairness and impossibility of placing all the responsibility on the individual. The Humane Technology Institute, “educates technologists about creating technology that treats attention as sacred, protects wellbeing and builds our capacity to address urgent challenges.”

(www.humanetech.com/technologists)

As social creatures, our brains perceive rejection as a threat to our existence, on par with threats to our physical safety. Cyberbullying is a form of rejection and public shaming that creates strong feelings of shame and isolation. Shame is a destructive emotion because it makes us believe that there is something wrong and unlovable about the core of who we are. When we feel ashamed our ability to practice self-compassion decreases. The more pervasive the bullying, the deeper the feelings of shame may be. People may react to shame with avoidance and isolation or become rageful and lash out. The shame created by cyberbullying makes us less likely to reach out for help.

"We are more vulnerable to relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms when we feel unworthy and are isolated from those that care about us”.

While the intricacies of social media might seem daunting, caregivers can offer the following supports to teenagers in navigating this brave new world:

• Communicate openly and honestly about the positives and negatives of social media. Listen to what your teen has to say and make sure they understand that they can come to you if they have any questions.

• Set reasonable limits on screen-time and encourage a bedtime routine that focuses on self-care and decompression as opposed to connectivity to social media.

• Regularly check-in on your teen’s social media habits while being transparent that you are doing so.

• Be aware of privacy settings and never meet strangers from the internet.

• Encourage in-person interactions with known friends, family and peers.

• Help your teen understand the ramifications of posting on social media. You cannot control how information is shared by those who see it, even if it has been posted privately or deleted later. The internet is forever, so make sure your teens know not to post anything they wouldn’t want their school, college admissions officer or employer to see.

• Be kind. Online as in real life - the golden rule applies: treat others as you would want to be treated yourself.

The Reservoir is the cultural space for contributors to highlight customs, celebrations, holidays, rituals, recipes, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Reservoir” in the subject line.

Feelings Of Lived Moments

By: Megan O’Boyle www.mopaintsgallery.com | @mo_paints

Hydrangea

Since I was a child, drawing and painting has been my form of expression and relaxation. When I feel overwhelmed or just want to spend time in my thoughts I go to paper, canvas, or my iPad. I love to daydream up compositions for my artwork and often don’t know what I am going to create before I start. I am inspired by the world around me, especially people, nature, and organic forms.

The Draw is a space for creatives to share their art, poetry, spoken word, etc. and/or how their art helps themselves and others. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Draw” in the subject line.

I am inspired by the world around me, especially people, nature, and organic forms.

Dreamy Reverie

The Space Between

Megan O’Boyle

Friendship From The Eyes Of A Teen

By Devi Ramprasad | @devibesleeping

Friendships are always a sore subject.

Whether you have many or few, they each come with their own set of challenges. Those with many have the burden of being “perfect” for each and every one in order to keep up their popular persona and those without many feel the stress of having to keep up and constantly maintain the friendship as well as acquire more.

Both are very taxing options on one’s mental health and stress is definitely something you should not be feeling from a friendship.

For one, it’s not healthy but it’s also not worth your energy.

So how do we know if a friendship is costing you more harm than good and how do we find the middle ground?

Think of yourself like a battery.

Is this person draining your battery by doing things like causing you to overthink scenarios, talking down to you, or just overall being mentally exhausting? If so, this might not be a healthy relationship. In fact, it may be causing you anxiety or insecurities.

Be sure to talk to a mental health professional if you think that’s the case!

On the other hand, think of your relationship with this person like a banana. Even though the banana has a couple of brown spots it’s still a good one.

So dig deep and think to yourself - do we just have a couple squabbles (or brown spots) or is this person causing me copious amounts of stress?

Your mental health should never be the cost of a friendship. Sometimes it just takes trial and error to find a good friend. And if you can’t find one, be one.

Devi Ramprasad

Now that we’ve established the status of your relationship, you have a choice to talk to them about their behavior. A simple text that states your feelings is perfect but don’t be accusatory because at the end of the day being the bigger person is more important .

Now the ball’s in their court. If they choose to change, then that’s great, you were able to restore your relationship seamlessly. However, we all know there’s another way they could take this. In that case, it’s time to cut them off for good.

A friend is someone you can lean on when you need it the most and if you realized they’re not that, then it’s time to say bye to a friendship that’s simply not serving you anymore.

You need to understand that being a good friend is a two-way street meaning that you and your friend both have to give to the relationship in order for it to grow and prosper. And if that makes you realize they’re not giving as much as you and also affecting your mental health by causing unnecessary stress, then it’s time to move on.

It’s hard to stomach the thought of losing a beloved friend but most of the time you’re holding onto the memories and not the person.

Remember that all friendships aren’t meant to last. You’re meant to grow apart and change. More importantly you’re allowed to “lose interest” in the friendship - it’s completely normal.

Your mental health should never be the cost of a friendship. Sometimes it just takes trial and error to find a good friend. And if you can’t find one, be one.

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Asurvey conducted by National PTA reveals, in part, that parents want to be a part of school efforts to support their child’s emotional and mental health. The Department of Behavioral and Mental Health in the School District of Palm Beach County agrees! As we look towards the 20232024 school-year, parents, guardians and caregivers are encouraged to reflect on our shared beliefs about youth well-being.

Mental health is our ability to live fully, engage with others, and respond to challenges. Youth mental health can be understood as how they (youth) relate to others (social), how they feel (emotions), and how they act (behavior). It connects to resiliency (the ability to bounce back

after tough times) and is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

It’s OK to be OK. It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to ask for help. Oftentimes young people are OK. They are managing their relationships, emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Sometimes they may struggle with how they relate to others, managing their emotions or managing their behaviors. When this happens, it is OK to ask for help.

Schools have highly trained and skilled professionals in place to support student mental health. Any parent with concerns about the social, emotional or behavioral well-being of their child should contact their child’s school.

The Fountain is a space for youth to share their point of view on things that matter to them. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Fountain” in the subject line.

BeWellPBC launched as a county-wide initiative in 2019. Over the past four years the initiative has evolved into a movement that is transforming behavioral health and wellness in Palm Beach County.

Community Connectors are Palm Beach County residents who emphatically engage community members to have impactful conversations with system leaders, providers, and their fellow residents.

Together we take action to change the status quo and positively impact Palm Beach County’s behavioral health outcome.

Come Join the Community Connectors Team!

Help bridge the gap and connect your neighbors to what they want and need.

What is a Community Connector?

• A Community Connector is someone who is passionate about helping their community.

• A Community Connector is someone who advocates for their community to have more connections to services and support.

• A Community Connector is someone who is ready to increase awareness and decrease disparities in behavioral health.

Contact the BeWellPBC team at bewell@bewellpbc.org.

BeWellPBC Youth Mini-Grants For Youth, By Youth

The BeWellPBC Youth Mini-Grants season has come to an end. Awardees share their event success stories.

more individualized. Nonetheless, I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to create this event and impact other teens in the community. I think it is super important for kids to learn to understand themselves and gain skills to keep their mind at peace.

Madi Wald and I hosted two Reiki Circles on April 21st and April 28th. We sent out flyers to three teen organizations and capped each event at 12 people. We began each circle with an icebreaker to introduce ourselves, get to know one another, and make them feel more comfortable. Madi then spoke about what reiki is, its history, and how it is used to inform the people who don’t know, while I passed out homemade lavender tea.

As a warmup for our reiki journey, we had each person write their intentions/affirmations in Sharpie on candles we provided. We would then go around the circle and allow people to share their affirmations with the group if they wanted to. They would then light their candles, lay down and listen to Madi’s guided meditation. Afterwards a healthy meal was prepared to eat. Comparing the two events, the first one was small and intimate, and the kids felt more comfortable, whereas the second event was a much larger number of people because some people came without signing up and kids were less open to sharing and definitely uncomfortable. For a future Reiki Circle, I believe that it would be more beneficial to keep the groups smaller, that way it is

The Palm Beach Pen Pal Project began on April 28, 2023, in which the group of high school students participating in the Pen Pal Project met and wrote their letters. Thus far the project has gone amazing, some of the most rewarding experiences being having the high school students utilize their creative inner child to pick what they would like to be sent in their letters; another being writing and decorating the letters; as well as receiving the letters back from the foster care youth.

However, one thing I would have changed in this process was the efficiency in communication both ways, sending and receiving the letters. This project is extremely important to the foster care youth of Palm Beach County as it gives the youth the opportunity to share their passions with a high school friend who will hopefully act as a mentor and confidant to the youth.

My event was the Mindfulness Morikami Trip on April 19. During our walk through the garden, students were able to reflect, share, and learn how nature and mindfulness intersect. The majority of our students are seniors, so it was important for them to learn how to apply mindfulness to different areas of life as they prepare to go off into new environments and live on their own. This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students.

- We had lots of engaging music Our event showed teens that they can open up and be themselves. We tried to have fun and really get everyone to let out their energy and unmask their true selves.

The event was held on June 10, 2023.

OUR WINS:

- We had participants in our activities

- We kept the energy up

During the process of completing this project I am hoping to complete both the print and online versions by July 30th. One thing I’ve found to be really successful with the booklet is that the School District of PBC is open to having it available to all on their website once complete! Another success I’ve had is seeing more interest in the Behavioral Health Technician programs from students and parents just by discussing the aim of the project. Lastly, the President of Palm Beach County Medical Society is willing to work with me on expanding the reach of the project!! This project will increase enrollment and interest in these programs and create more professionals in the field of behavioral and mental health.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Merrell Family Foundation and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation for their generosity in supporting the Level Up Youth Mini-Grants. Their support allowed us the opportunity to empower and inspire our youth to pursue their innovative ideas in the area of mental and behavioral health.

Maddy Kristol Project Leader– Reiki Circle

Sofia Scher Project Leader– The Palm Beach Pen Pal Project

Maya Lopez Project Leader– Family Mindfulness In Nature

Bug Greenberg Project Leader– UNMASQ: Masquerade Ball for Teens

Miguel Benavente Project Leader– Behavioral Health Career Bilingual Information Booklet (Project still in process).

What Do You Want Parents To Know About How They Can Support A Teen’s Mental Health?

Don’t judge your teen on simple things because then lead them to believe they tell you about you will immediately Also, make sure your that you are there you support them, actually mean it.

Parents can support teens’ mental health by helping teens spend less time on social media.

Parents can support their teens by supporting them and calming them down when they are in a bad situation.

DAVIEN NICOLA LANTANA

MICHEL RUBIO GREENACRES

LILY WHITTEN

teen too harshly because that will believe that if how they feel, immediately judge them. your teen knows for them, that and that you

Parents should know that your kids need to be taking care of their mental health just like they take care of their physical health. Just like you take your kids to the doctor, it’s also important to make sure your kids are getting the same treatment for their mental health.

Parents can support adolescent mental health by showing interest in the things that their children enjoy. When a teenager who has a niche is already predisposed to how others may feel about their interests, having a parent talk down on said interests doesn’t help at all. If more parents were able to “bend” and take into account their adolescent children’s interests during everyday activities, the teen may feel more comfortable opening up about other topics, not feeling judged in the process.

To have your voice heard from your corner of the neighborhood, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “Corner Talk and north, central, south, east or west” in the subject line.

JAIME MOROS WEST PALM BEACH

GABRIELA ROACHE WELLINGTON

On A Mission From God: Traveling To Serve

By: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Leading young people into authentic relationships with Christ is the primary mission of the youth ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palm Beach Gardens.

Since the formation of the congregation in 1964, St. Mark’s has sponsored robust youth group ministries for high school and middle school parishioners, building bonds of affection with one another while developing a love for Jesus and his command to serve others.

Guided by full-time youth minister Dave Stankiewicz, youth mission trips involve anywhere between 15 and 40 high school youth and can be as far away as Costa Rica and as close to home as rural Appalachia.

By plane, train, van and car, the youth travel with Dave and adult chaperones for up to ten days and the mission of the mission trip varies from year to year. Some years, the youth help rebuild homes in places ravaged by hurricanes while during other years, the youth serve homeless men and women in New York City, Boston, Washington and Chicago and sometimes the mission is to young children when St. Mark’s youth host bible schools.

During trips to Costa Rica, the youth stay in facilities built by St. Mark’s Church in the 1980s. In rural San Ramon, the youth serve by pouring cement for flooring in small homes, they build bunk beds for families or they offer Bible School for children.

“In all aspects of our youth programs, the goal is to transform our hearts and minds into the likeness of Christ,” says the Rev. Jim Cook, rector of St. Mark’s. “In service to others, we are changed by God’s grace as hearts soften and we serve with sacrificial love.”

Younger students such as our middle school youth spend a week together each summer in mission work locally.

St. Mark's youth mission trips involve anywhere between 15 and 40 high school students and can be as far away as Costa Rica and as close to home as rural Appalachia. Younger missionaries (middle school students) stay closer to Palm Beach County helping their neighbors paint, landscape or serve wherever they are called.

travel to wherever there is need in Palm Beach County, be that working at a small school in Pahokee or helping to paint a home in Riviera Beach.

Whatever the work, the youth return to St. Mark’s for worship, prayer and study in the evenings as they reflect on their experiences during the day.

St. Mark's youth mission trips involve anywhere between 15 and 40 high school students and can be as far away as Costa Rica and as close to home as rural Appalachia. Younger missionaries (middle school students) stay closer to Palm Beach County helping their neighbors paint, landscape or serve wherever they are called.

Sleeping in the Youth Center and Gymnasium on the St. Mark’s campus, these younger youth in middle school serve locally around Palm Beach County.

Through the Hearts of Palm Ministry, as many as 30 middle school students will

By walking in the shoes of others, even if for a day, youth get a chance to experience God’s abiding presence as they bind themselves to the heart and mind of Jesus Christ.

“Our life as Christians is to recognize the beauty and wonder of God’s amazingly beautiful and diverse creation and to find our common roots of humanity through

the love of Jesus,” Cook says. “At St. Mark’s, that transformation is most powerful when our youth move out of their ‘comfort zones’ into a world abounding with God’s grace.”

Since 2013, St. Mark’s has also served as a host church for other church youth groups from around the country engaged in mission work. For about five weeks each summer, the congregation’s Hearts of Palm Ministry hosts as many as 75 youth and chaperones weekly who travel to Palm Beach County for service opportunities, while staying in the “luxury” of the St. Mark facilities with basketball courts, air conditioning, showers and kitchen facilities.

Through Hearts of Palm, St. Mark’s finds mission work from Belle Glade to Riviera Beach and from Okeechobee to West Palm Beach.

“Whether the youth are from St. Mark’s or from out of town, we do everything we can to ensure that our young people encounter Christ while serving others,” Cook says.

The Depth is a space for faithbased leaders and individuals to share their thoughts, guidance, encouragement, what they’re witnessing, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Depth” in the subject line.

In service to others, we are changed by God’s grace as hearts soften and we serve with sacrificial love.

“ ”

St. Mark's youth mission trips involve anywhere between 15 and 40 high school students and can be as far away as Costa Rica and as close to home as rural Appalachia. Younger missionaries (middle school students) stay closer to Palm Beach County helping their neighbors paint, landscape or serve wherever they are called.

St. Mark's youth mission trips involve anywhere between 15 and 40 high school students and can be as far away as Costa Rica and as close to home as rural Appalachia. Younger missionaries (middle school students) stay closer to Palm Beach County helping their neighbors paint, landscape or serve wherever they are called.

Building Bridges Between Parents And Children

By: Christian E. Sanon

Owner/Clinical Director - Look Up! Therapy, LLC

As a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), I’ve witnessed the transformational power of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) firsthand in countless lives across Palm Beach County. This evidence-based approach not only profoundly impacts individuals with developmental or behavioral issues, but it also provides invaluable insights and techniques to foster healthier relationships between parents and their children.

The crux of ABA is understanding the “why” behind behavior. Each action, response, or emotion your child exhibits is influenced by both their internal feelings and their surrounding environment. By focusing on the connections between behavior and its antecedents and consequences, ABA empowers parents to create environments that naturally encourage positive behaviors and discourage negative ones.

To optimize parent-child relationships, here are three key strategies inspired by ABA that you can put into practice today:

1 Consistent Positive Reinforcement:

Rewarding positive behavior is the cornerstone of ABA. When your child performs a desirable behavior, immediate and consistent reinforcement - whether through verbal praise, a hug, or a favorite treat - can increase the likelihood of that

behavior recurring. This principle extends beyond academic or developmental achievements; it also includes behaviors that promote bonding, such as open communication, mutual respect, and shared activities.

2 Clear Communication and Expectations:

Children thrive on predictability and structure. Clearly communicating your expectations about behaviors and outlining potential consequences for not meeting them can minimize misunderstanding and conflict. It’s crucial, however, to ensure that these expectations are age-appropriate and realistic, and that they consider your child’s unique abilities and strengths.

3 Active Engagement and Observation:

ABA encourages active engagement with your child to better understand their behavior patterns. Spending quality time together, observing your child in different situations, and participating in their favorite activities can provide valuable insights into their behavioral triggers. Equally importantly, it shows your child that you value them and are interested in their world.

In addition to these strategies, seeking professional guidance from a BCBA can be beneficial. They can provide a customized approach based on your child’s unique needs and your family dynamics.

At Look Up Therapy, we believe in the potential of every child and the power of every parent to foster love, understanding, and mutual respect. As we continue to empower our Palm Beach County community with knowledge and resources, we urge you to explore ABA’s potential in your own family.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach in parenting. Patience, persistence, and adaptability are key. And at the end of the day, the core of ABA— and indeed, the essence of parenting—is love and understanding. So, let us utilize these behavioral insights to build bridges, not walls, to create a family environment where every member feels valued, understood, and loved.

The Word is a broad topic space for contributing writers (a.k.a the community) to share your stories of behavioral health or anything self-care related i.e. fitness, health, educational, parenting, hobbies, wellness, etc. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Word” in the subject line.

At Look Up Therapy, we believe in the potential of every child and the power of every parent to foster love, understanding, and mutual respect.

Space of Mind, Room To Grow Space of Mind, Room To Grow

By: Ali Kaufman www.findspaceofmind.com/ | @findspaceofmind

Adecade before COVID popularized homeschooling and learning pods, Space of Mind was pioneering an alternative to traditional education in Delray Beach. Dubbed social homeschooling,TM the Space of Mind Schoolhouse was born from the company’s roots in coaching children and adults to manage inattention, disorganization and anxiety.

After working to help clients develop critical life skills in homes, workplaces and schools since 2004, founder and CEO Ali Kaufman identified a painful problem: school-related stress was at the root of most of the chaos she encountered.

In 2010, the Space of Mind Schoolhouse launched with three high school students in Kaufman’s living room. Within months, the program outgrew her home and met daily at the Delray Beach Public Library

until moving into its current location, Delray’s oldest home, the Clarke House (circa 1896) in the Old School Square Historic Arts District. In the fall of 2020, the campus expanded to a total of 10,000 square feet of creative learning space when The Hub at Space of Mind opened next door.

What happens at Space of Mind?

Something incredible.

Students are learning without the common stressors of traditional classrooms. Families are connecting in after school hours instead of fighting over homework. Parents are discovering the talents and passions their children have instead of the weaknesses and challenges school typically shines the spotlight on. There’s less fighting and more creating. Creativity, after all, is the cure for stress.

When learning is student-led and experiential, core memories made through projects replace memorization of facts as the tool for retention. When one then shares what they know with peers, and they share in return, this collaboration leads to social skill development, and learning is now mirroring real life. In a traditional classroom, students are left to independently consume information and demonstrate mastery from report-based work, quizzes and tests, none of which are really how we communicate what we know in real life. There’s no free exchange of ideas, communication of one’s creativity or most importantly, self-discovery in the traditional classroom. Without these, there really is not much learning.

When Space of Mind hit the scene, it was an outlier, homeschooling students full-time outside of their homes. Kaufman found homeschooling the way to “school the system” outside of the traditional boundaries. Having now completed its 14th year and created a model that many pods and independent schools are following, Space of Mind has expanded its mission to reduce school-related stress for all communities, students and their families with the launch of Community Classroom Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Working together, SOM and CCP are committed to changing the way communities and classrooms engage students and families and best prepare

them for the real world engagement and lessons faced every day.

This isn’t an easy task, and the school system is changing communities quickly now. As mental health challenges grow amongst students, teachers leave a broken system and families try to find schools equipped to handle the changing needs students have and their busy, anxious and overwhelmed brains.

Wealth is no longer any predictor of at-risk behaviors. Socio-economic status seems to matter less when we discuss school-related stressors. Every student, everywhere is feeling the effects of COVID-induced PTSD, fears of school shootings, technology addictions, sleep deprivation, social pressures and learning challenges. Stress reduces working memory, which is our brain’s ability to remember to pay attention to what we’re paying attention to, so everyone’s

attention is fractured, fuses are shorter and anxiety higher. This is all before stepping into a classroom.

Homeschooling (whether in or outside of a home) is not the only path to experiential learning. Many schools are making strides in creating opportunities for students to do hands-on and project-based work. However, the culture of a learning environment must be set to support real-life skills, and this is where many traditional schools are struggling to meet student and educator needs.

Space of Mind has set a standard for a community-based culture both on campus and for its virtual students. At its root: creativity. Without a passion (and an ability to communicate what you love to the world), it’s hard to find purpose. Without purpose, it’s even harder to commit to learning. Students also learn best when focused on learning about what is interesting, and in a world where technology has rendered everything an option and attention is fleeting, keeping a student’s interest is priority number one.

At Space of Mind, students are preparing for college and the workforce by designing and completing learning projects that demonstrate mastery not only of academic standards but also the creative, social, emotional and life skills that are needed to survive in our modern, changing world. Integrity, organization, communication and emotional regulation are just as important (if not more so) to daily survival than fact-based knowledge. When working memory is compromised from stress, learning is impossible, and when learning feels impossible, kids stop wanting to go to school.

To thrive in an adult world, one needs to already be a lifelong learner, seeking to be better and grow personally and professionally by seeking knowledge and opportunities. This also means knowing how to manage stress, change and emotions, none of which sounds fun to a child, but as Space of Mind has proven, with a little creativity, a lot of flexibility and the autonomy of educators dedicated to a student’s overall success, schools can teach students to ace life.

Beyond The Couch highlights non-traditional mental health outlets and resources in Palm Beach County. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “Beyond the Couch” in the subject line.

Students also learn best when focused on learning about what is interesting, and in a world where technology has rendered everything an option and attention is fleeting, keeping a student’s interest is priority number one.

National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health: Who To Call For Help

By: Sharon L’Herrou

Mental Health of Teens and Young Adults

In the fall of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) declared a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health.

Over a year and a half out from this declaration, teens are still experiencing challenges with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Anxiety, depression, trauma, tics, obsessivecompulsive disorders, eating and other disorders have continued to increase.

Parents may find it hard to pinpoint whether the symptoms their teens are experiencing are related to the social and biological changes normal during adolescence, or perhaps from the prolonged effects of the pandemic, the ensuing lockdowns and school closures.

Other challenges may contribute as well.

With the current economic challenges, more families struggle to meet their basic needs of stable housing, food, and money to cover their bills or medical expenses and some families experience domestic violence.

Palm Beach County providers have a trauma informed model of care- and have acknowledged that previous childhood trauma can adversely impact the mental and physical health of children, teens, and adults. (The US Preventive Services Task Force now recommends regular anxiety screenings for youth 1 to 18 years of age and regular depression screenings for adolescents ages 12 to 18 years of age).

Young adults are reporting more depression, stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Though more young adults are getting back to a somewhat normal pre-pandemic life, a recent national survey (Institute for Policy Research-published Feb 2023) noted that among 18 to 24 year-olds, 44% reported levels of depression that should be a flag for evaluation and treatment. Twenty-four percent of these meet the criteria for moderate to severe or severe depression. Thirty-four percent reported having thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Young adults were consistent in reporting the highest level of stress and anxiety beyond any other age group.

Young women reported higher levels of depression, stress, and anxiety than young males.

Those 18 to 24 year-olds identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual reported the highest levels of depression and stress of all age groups and substantially more than

those identifying as heterosexual. While young people reported higher rates of depression across the board, those with lower household incomes are the most likely to meet the criteria for depression. Forty-nine percent of 18-24-yearolds with a household income of under $25,000 meet the criteria for depression.

Whether a parent, friend or loved one notes changes in behavior that could be warning signs for suicide or self-harming behaviors…It is important that people are aware of available resources and services.

211 and the new 988 number

211 is that central access point where individuals and families can turn to whether they are looking for crisis support, mental health providers or help with basic needs.

211’s highly trained staff also respond to the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If someone is concerned about themselves or someone they know who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis, or is struggling with substance use, they can dial 2-1-1 or 9-8-8, 24/7.

The local center receives close to 350 requests for help daily. 133 people on average are requesting help for mental health or substance use.

With the national promotion of the new 988 number, 211 staff have seen an increase in crisis calls from an average of 10 per day to close to 12.

Housing has also become the top need expressed and is a contributing factor for some of the mental health concerns staff are seeing. (211 2022 Annual Regional Report)

We want to let Teens and Young Adults know that 211 is there for them any time

Teens and young adults can reach out for help, look for resources, or if they just want to talk. They can remain anonymous. Calls to 211 are free, confidential and available 24/7 and multilingual. Simply dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898211. They can chat online at www.211palmbeach.org.

The Providers is a space for providers, practitioners, thought leaders, and systems change leaders to share. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Providers” in the subject line.

211 is that central access point where individuals and families can turn to whether they are looking for crisis support, mental health providers or help with basic needs.

Raising children is hard and balancing a busy life is complicated. What are some good self-care and mental health strategies parents can employ to protect the mental health of their families and prevent parental burnout? – WJ

This is a great question because starting to think about your self-care is the first step of practicing self-care. I am a big advocate for what I like to call “simple self-care.” Simple selfcare is really asking yourself, “What practices am I already doing that I can add more of, or what are small things I can do to add 5-10 minutes of self-care into my week?” Try to find times in your day where you can take 5-10 minutes to do something you enjoy, and be present in that

Get Your Questions Answered Here

The Source is a place for Palm Beach County residents and experts to connect and exchange information

moment. Don’t forget that it is okay to ask your support system for help. Whether that help is watching your children for 5-10 minutes so you can take off your “parent hat” or joining you in your self-care activity. Taking small steps can create big strides in your resiliency. - Jamie-Lyn

Richartz, M.S., LMFT, CCTP

What do I do if the help I seek isn’t helping? - JL

Honestly, there are some times where we will receive an answer that really doesn’t help or make us feel better. However, you can always build on those answers. Ask others around you for their opinion on a situation or a thought process and let them know how you feel about their answer. They can help you understand what they

mean a little better or at least help you connect their answer with others you’ve received. Combined, it will help you form a better view on the topic or event and allow you to get through it while not feeling too overwhelmed. You can always get through any adversity so if you have a willingness to accept help, then you will be able to allow it to guide you.

- Jonathan Eugene.

This is an excellent and complex question. There can be many reasons why you feel that the help you are seeking isn’t helping. If you’re working with a therapist, counselor, social worker, or recovery peer, the first thing I would encourage you to do is to talk to them about how you are feeling. Research shows that a

large piece of positive therapeutic outcomes is due to the relationship between the therapist and client. Having these conversations can help to lead therapy into the direction you may be hoping for, or help you to decide if that therapeutic relationship isn’t the best fit. Keep in mind that every therapist is different, and you may have to try different therapists to find the best fit for you. It’s also important to consider that it can be harder to see change in ourselves than it is for others to see changes in us. Having the conversation with the clinician you are working with can create a space where the two of you discuss the ways that you both have noticed change in your life.

Palm Beach County is fortunate to have a number of nonprofit organizations offering mental health services at little to no cost.

Organizations such as Center for Family Services of PBC, Alpert Jewish Family Services, Center for Child Counseling, and COMPASS are just a few of the places you can find services if you are uninsured. The best place to start is by calling 211. They can help navigate you to the appropriate resources for your needs and location. -

Jamie-Lyn Richartz, M.S., LMFT, CCTP

How does your mental health affect your relationship with your partner? What can you do to build a healthier relationship? - JV

Mental health is a huge part of any relationship. Your mental health can impact your relationship with yourself, so just imagine how it impacts your relationship with your partner. When our mental health is feeling unbalanced, it can lead to a number of different behavioral patterns including communication struggles, frustration, stress, sadness, fatigue, and more. When we then interact with our partners- who are experiencing their own relationship with their mental healththese factors can multiply. Healthy relationships look different for every person, and every relationship. Deciding what healthy looks like to you, and communicating with your partner is a great way to start building healthier pathways. If you and your partner can work collaboratively to decide what healthier looks like for the two of you, you can start to lay

Ask An EXPERT

Jonathan Eugene Jonathan Eugene was born and raised in West Palm Beach. Seventeen-year-old Jonathan is a recent graduate from Inlet Grove Community High School where he was part of the first graduating class of the new Behavioral Health Technician Medical Academy programming. He is now preparing to be a freshman at the University of Florida. He is of Haitian descent and lives with his four siblings, parents and grandmother. Fascinated by all things medicine and math, he hopes to be an anesthesiologist and is currently studying to take his LPN boards so he can start his medical career journey.

the groundwork for the relationship. Adding more of what you both enjoy into the relationship, or finding small ways to support each other in your self-care routines can be a positive way to improve both your mental health and your relationship.

- Jamie-Lyn Richartz, M.S., LMFT, CCTP

A lot of times, people use a relationship to improve their mental health. Even though this may work for a small percentage of people, it will be very damaging to the relationship and eventually, the mental health of both partners in most cases. A poor mental health can cause instability and insecurities to arise in the relationship. This may cause tension, lack of trust, and misunderstandings. To build a healthier relationship, make sure that you’re not entering it while not having a good view of the world, life, but more importantly, yourself. Without love for yourself, you will be unable to fully receive or reciprocate love. Proper communication is another way to build a healthy relationship. Without it, you won’t be able to enjoy the relationship without worry. Always put your mental health at the forefront and ensure you are doing well. Keep aiming for proper communication and you will have a healthy and loving relationship.

- Jonathan Eugene

Jamie-Lyn Richartz

Jamie-Lyn Richartz, M.S., LMFT, CCTP is the Vice President of Programs at Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County, Inc. Since 2013, she has been providing mental health services within the nonprofit community in Palm Beach County. Her specialization includes providing therapy to court-involved populations, and families impacted by trauma. Her clinical passion is working with culturally diverse families. She implements a collaborative approach from a systemic lens to help individuals and families acknowledge their personal strengths and resilience.

The Source asks YOUR questions to a lived and learned expert. Lived experts have experienced behavioral health challenges and/or are family members, caregivers, faith-based leaders, neighborhood champions, and influencers. Learned experts are behavioral health professionals, nonprofit agencies, local government, educational institutions, system leaders, and funders. Email thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Source” in the subject line to ask a question or contribute as an expert.

The information presented is for the purpose of educating people. Nothing contained in this publication should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified healthcare provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this publication.

UNITED FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES

The Palm Beach County Youth Services Department, in partnership with Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures and the Becoming a Trauma Sensitive Community Action Team, celebrated the eighth annual “Get Your Green On” (GYGO) campaign and invited Palm Beach County to wear green on May 18. The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring May 2023 Mental Health Awareness and Trauma Informed Care Month in Palm Beach County.

The GYGO campaign aims to raise awareness by creating visible support and fostering safe spaces to talk openly about mental health and trauma. Lauren Zuchman, Executive Director of BeWellPBC, and Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of NAMI Palm Beach County, chair the campaign.

This year the campaign committee, in collaboration with Deon C. Jefferson and Kenya Madison, hosted a countywide signature event on May 18 called the ‘Express Yourself Fashion Art Ball 2.0.’ The theme of the Art Ball was ‘Super Hero,’ where guests were encouraged to wear their favorite superhero costume or create a new mental health superhero. Attendees were entertained with special performances supporting mental health awareness from Palm Beach County talent. Special giveaways were awarded to the “Best Expressed” attendees; treats to eat and a live DJ for dancing were also provided. The event was free, open to the public, and held at the ARTS Warehouse in Delray Beach. Sponsors for the Fashion Art Ball were Palm Beach County Youth Services Department, BeWellPBC, NAMI of PBC, United Way of PBC, Healthier Delray Beach, Birth to 22, United Way of PBC, and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County .

Youth Services Department’s Public Relations Specialist, Tevin Ali, worked with the Palm Beach County ISS web services team to update the Get Your Green On website to feature 2023 mental health events hosted in Palm Beach County, mental health resources, and a newly recorded 2023 Channel 20 promo video for the County Connection Channel 20 show in support of Mental Health Awareness & Trauma-Informed Care.

The Youth Services Department’s Education & Training Center held four Lunch & Learns to celebrate. These events offered presentations on topics related to mental health, such as “Child Abuse Awareness and Presentation,” presented by Allie Picardi, M.S.; “Using Inclusive Language to Create Equitable Spaces,” presented by Dr. Danniella Jones, Psy.D.; “Take Control of Your Coping: Steps for Coping with Anxiety & Depression” presented by Emily Deming, Ph.D.; and “Body Esteem: Ways to Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem,” presented by Megan O’Connor Szuma, M.S.

Among those that got their green on were Palm Beach County Commissioners and many County Departments, BeWellPBC, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach

County, Faulk Center for Counseling, The School District of Palm Beach County, Healthier Delray Beach, United Way of Palm Beach County, NAMI Palm Beach County, Alpert Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, Community Partners of South Florida, Center for Child Counseling Palm Beach County, City of Greenacres, Healthier Boynton Beach, Palm Health Foundation, 211 Helpline Palm Beach and Treasure Coast, The Lord’s Place, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, Neuro Behavioral Hospitals, Health Care District of Palm Beach County, Families First of PBC, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies PBC, HCA Florida JFK Hospital, West Palm Beach Center for Arts & Technology, Genesis Community Health, Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, Unity3 Palm Beach, Florida Department of Children & Families, Miss Palm Beach County 2023, American Association of Care Giving Youth, West Palm Beach Mental Health Coalition, Pathways to Prosperity, Love Hope and Healing, and many others.

To view all of the “Get Your Green On” photos shared in May, visit the Get Your Green On campaign’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Palm Beach County Mentoring Program Receives National Award

Palm Beach County Mentoring Program Receives National Award

Palm Beach County’s Level Up mentoring program received “Best in Category” recognition for Children and Youth Achievement from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award honors innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Youth Services Department and United Way of Palm Beach County’s Mentor Center launched the Level Up Enhanced Mentoring Program in 2021 to offer mentoring opportunities for youth ages 11 to 19 who are involved with or at risk of entering the juvenile justice or dependency systems. The goal is to match youth with a long-term, positive role model, make referrals to community-based services, and provide opportunities to continue education or career exploration. When a young person has a consistent supportive adult in their life, they can overcome adversity and build resiliency. Often young people involved in the dependency or delinquency system lack that supportive adult.

Level Up is available through mentoring hubs around the county. The program served 273 youth last year, 149 of which had mentors. Ninety percent of all youth served did not become involved in criminal activity, and 87 percent of parents/guardians and mentors who attended the program’s training sessions improved their knowledge of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.

“We are beyond proud to support such strong partnerships in Palm Beach County,” said Dr. Lisa Williams-Taylor, Children’s Services Council’s CEO. “Level Up is a perfect example of what can happen when we come together as a community to address the needs of our children and youth.”

Level Up is a component of the Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures Safety and Justice workgroup, which saw a need for additional support for youth. Birth to 22, a Palm Beach County collective impact initiative, also received NACo’s Achievement Award in the Children and Youth Category in 2018.

“Collaboration is key in providing opportunities for young people in Palm Beach County, and we are very appreciative that the NACo recognizes this unique collaboration with United Way and the Children’s Services Council,” said Tammy K. Fields, Director of Palm Beach County Youth Services.

Founded in 1935, The National Association of Counties serves nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million employees. NACo’s Achievement Awards are given in 18 categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health, civic

engagement and more. One program is selected as Best in Category in each of the categories from all the submissions from across the nation.

“It is such an honor to be recognized by The National Association of Counties for our collaboration on the Level Up program,” said Dr. Laurie George, President & CEO of United Way of Palm Beach County. “Our intentional focus on youth and mentoring is truly making a significant impact in our community.”

For more information about Level Up, click here Mentor | United Way of Palm Beach County (unitedwaypbc.org).

Wilford Romelus Executive Director

Wilford Romelus, known as Mr. Wil in the community, is the founder and Executive Director of Digital Vibez, Inc. Over the past 16 years, Mr. Wil has served youth and families in and around Palm Beach County in various capacities ranging from Afterschool Counselor, to Coordinator, Youth Liaison, and then Program Director before he started his own business. In 2010, he started teaching computer literacy classes and hosting family nights at local schools and community-based organizations. That business has now grown into a well-known, innovative nonprofit organization that encompasses dance fitness, creativity, mentoring, arts and technology as a way to engage youth in positive activities. Mr. Wil recognized a need for more positive alternatives when he was robbed at gunpoint by local teens. After the robbery, he looked into it and learned that there was a lack of access to positive opportunities for youth in this

community. This experience motivated Wil to keep pushing the mission of Digital Vibez and to keep growing. Mr. Wil focuses on hiring staff from the local community who can relate to the youth that he serves. He knows all too well what it is like not to have positive influences around as he struggled to raise himself and his brother from a young age after leaving Haiti. He feels compelled to make sure that more youth get opportunities for positive and creative outlets.

Now, Digital Vibez not only brings a plethora of programs to afterschool and summer camp sites, but also holds family and community events, organizes countywide health initiatives like Let’s Move PBC, operates multiple specialty summer camps and hosts the largest annual youth event of its kind: KidsFit Jamathon. The mission of Digital Vibez is to empower youth in diverse and underserved communities through dance fitness, technology and the arts.

Visit Digital Vibez on YouTube or online at www.digitalvibez.org.

The Spotlight is the space to recognize the amazing people and diverse work of behavioral health helpers and careers in Palm Beach County. To nominate someone, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Spotlight” in the subject line.

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