The Child Advocate - March 2013

Child Advocate

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March 2013 Issue 6, Volume 21

Raising Our Youth to Overcome Today’s Obstacles

News Briefs

Contents:

WSPTA Selects New Executive Director

T he Washington State PTA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Captain Kathryn Hobbs, USN, (RET) as

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WSPTA’s new Executive Director to begin on March 25, 2013.

CAPT Kathryn Hobbs brings a wealth of experience in leadership and management to the WSPTA. Some of these experiences include serving as Commanding Officer at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, Illinois and Chief of Staff for Navy Region Midwest from 2003-2005, providing strategic planning and oversight for Navy organizations; and as Chief of Staff and Commander of the Fleet Air Mediterranean and Navy Region, Europe, from 1999 – 2001, serving as administrator of seven Navy bases in over seven different Mediterranean and European countries and providing critical policies working with Embassies and personnel from other countries. From 2005-2007, she served as Executive Assistant for the Director of Logistics, Department of the Navy, Pentagon, Washington D. C. CAPT Kathryn Hobbs has also extensive experience in communication and education. She served as Dean of Students/Executive Director of Programs, Naval Postgraduate School, providing oversight for a diverse student body of 1,700 in-resident Masters/ PhD level students from over 37 different countries, in Monterey, California from 2007 – 2009 and was Director of Strategic Planning Divisions and Operations, Strategy and Policy, Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, Florida from 2001 – 2003.

More recently, she served as Executive Director of Veterans Family Fund of America, a non-profit foundation, which works to enhance the quality of life for veterans and their families, from 2011-2012; and Senior Account Executive, United Way of Pierce County from 2009 – 2011, during which time the organization repeatedly met fundraising campaign goals. Currently, she is Chairman of the Washington State Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and serves as a consultant to non-profit organizations.

The

Child Advocate

a Washington State PTA parent involvement publication

Washington State PTA 2003 65th Avenue West Tacoma, WA 98466-6215 Website: www.wastatepta.org Email: wapta@wastatepta.org Phone: (253) 565-2153 or 1-800-562-3804 Fax: (253) 565-7753

VISION:

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Making Every Child’s Potential a Reality 3 Depression and Our Young People

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Help Your Teen Develop a

Healthy Body Image

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Raising Healthy, Drug-Free Kids

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Safe Surfing: Keeping Kids Safe in the 7

Information Age The Child Advocate is published online every month from September through May by the Washington State PTA, 2003 65th Avenue West, Tacoma, WA 98466-6215, (253) 565-2153. Contributors are welcome. Call the State PTA office for guidelines. Whenever PTA is used it also refers to PTSA. PTA is a registered trademark of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

Novella Fraser, Washington State PTA President Kirk Miller, Interim Executive Director Karen Fisker-Andersen, Editor

“Making every child’s potential a reality.”

MISSION:

PTA is: n A powerful voice for all children, n A relevant resource for families and communities, and n A strong advocate for the well-being and education of every child.

The Washington State PTA accomplishes the mission of PTA by:

• Speaking on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; • Supporting parents* in developing skills to raise, protect and advocate for their children; • Encouraging parent*, teacher, student and community involvement; • Promoting opportunities for positive outcomes for children; and • Being a financially stable, well-managed organization that promotes diversity, provides quality service, models best practices and values its members and employees. *Parent may include adults who play an important role in a child’s family life since other adults (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or guardians) may carry the primary responsibility for a child’s health, welfare, education and safety.

Making Every Child’s Potential a Reality E

very child deserves a chance to reach his or her potential, despite learning disabilities, family’s income level, ethnicity, or anything else. It is the vision of the WSPTA to do just that. Turning this vision into action is a challenge because we naturally want what’s best for our own children and sometimes are too busy to consider the needs of other people’s children. However, if PTA doesn’t consider the needs of all children, the chances are that no one else will. PTA has a real opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of children and the future of our nation.

Engaging Low-Income Families

According to the OSPI, there are 472,246 students in our school system receiving free or reduced lunches, indicating they live at or below the poverty line. The stress involved in trying to make ends meet is often physically and emotionally draining for these parents. Children from low-income families sometimes don’t have the opportunities to develop the social skills and confidence that after-school sports or enrichment programs provide. Many children living at or below the poverty line come from single parent homes. These parents may not have the time or energy to be involved in their children’s education or in the PTA.

The Child Advocate, March 2013

Often what these children need most is someone to help them with their homework. Consider hosting free after-school homework tables for all interested students a couple afternoons a week, manned by volunteers who are available to help students with their homework.

After-school sports club or enrichment classes are other ideas you could consider. Talk to your PTA membership and principal to generate ideas that could help provide success to all children at your school.

Addressing the Achievement Gap

The U.S. Department of Education defines the achievement gap as “the difference in academic performance between different ethnic groups.” In Washington state, racial disparities exist for all subjects tested and at all grades. It is also present in course selection (for example, who enrolls in honors classes), discipline and dropout rates.

In your own schools, PTAs can take on this problem by having the courage to address it. Studies have shown that parent involvement is the number one factor in determining student success. If your PTA doesn’t reflect the diversity of your school, then it might be a good time to

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consider the reasons that families may not be participating. Perhaps in the past PTA has been exclusive. Be sensitive to these very real feelings.

Work to reverse the damage that has been done in the past by actively emphasizing your PTA’s desire to include all parents.

Members of your PTA should go out of their way to greet and engage in conversations with new parents at PTA events to make them feel welcome, rather than just talk to their own circle of friends. The PTA isn’t a social club; it is an advocacy organization that speaks with a powerful voice for all children and is a relevant resource for the needs of all families. There is a place for everyone in PTA. Building Partnerships With ESL Families

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2025, about a quarter of the students in our school system will come from homes who don’t speak English as their primary language. These children are especially at risk in our schools. Many families from other cultures have a limited experience with schools in this country and some may not even be aware of the importance our schools place on the home/school partnership or what it means to be involved in their children’s education. With a language barrier, they may be even more reluctant to be involved at the school and PTA events.

PTAs can address these issues by identifying the languages spoken in their school communities and provide materials translated into these different languages and translators at PTA events. The best approach to make this happen is to identify an individual in each language group

who is proficient in English, and appoint that individual as your PTA’s outreach chair for communicating with families in that language group.

Remembering Students with Disabilities

Another group of students who are often overlooked in our schools and communities are students with disabilities. There are a number of different disabilities present in our schools from physical disabilities, learning disabilities, to mental or behavioral disorders or social difficulties. These students are found in every community and are an important and vibrant part of their schools.

All parents want their children to develop to their fullest potential and have as normal a childhood as possible, despite their children’s disability.

Parents of children with disabilities may be overwhelmed with doctors appointments and therapy sessions. PTAs can provide support for these families and children by making their activities accessible for everyone.

Consider disabilities when you plan your PTA events. Is the location for the event accessible for students with physical disabilities? Are there activities your PTA could do to help support students who have learning disabilities? What events may help a student with social difficulties feel they have a place in the school or make connections with other students?

In Conclusion

Thank you for doing what is needed to make PTA’s vision a reality in your school community. The Washington State PTA is grateful for your service and passion for children. The WSPTA is available to help you if you have questions about planning your PTA events (253) 565-2153. n

Depression and Our Young People What Parents Can Do

s If you think your child may be struggling with depression, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician. Your child’s pediatrician may refer you to a specialist if needed. s Teach kids to manage stress. Make sure kids have plenty of time in their schedules to do homework as well as rest and relax. To manage their workloads at school, encourage them to make a realistic plan that would help them spread their work over several days. s Avoid an overemphasis on performance and competition. Instead, emphasize that you love your children unconditionally and only desire for them to do their best.

Other Possible Complications

D epression is a very real health issue for our young people. If your child suddenly isn’t interested in doing things with friends, is more emotional that usual, or suddenly experiences changes in eating and sleeping habits, your child may be depressed.

Any child can develop depression. However, most at-risk are students with a history of depression in their family or those who have had significant loses or changes in their lives, such as divorce, loss of a close friend, or a recent move. Also, more at risk are students with learning difficulties, those who have Attention Deficit Disorder or other underlying health issues, or who have difficulties making and maintaining friendships. It is also not unusual for students to become depressed after an illness, when they are facing an overwhelming amount of make-up work.

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s Suicide. It is very difficult to know if your child has suicidal thoughts so parents should take time to check-in with them regularly, asking questions like how things are going, how they have been feeling, what’s causing them to feel so badly, etc. If your child drops hints of having suicidal thoughts either verbally, by giving prized possessions away, or in writings at school, parents need to take these signs seriously and get help from a mental health professional. s Cutting. This is a form of self-injury that is used a way to cope with extreme mental or emotional pain or anxiety. Parents who discover signs of cutting (unusual cuts on their child’s body or the presence of sharp objects, such as broken glass, in his or her bedroom for no apparent reason) should be loving toward their child and withhold criticism, but seek the help of trained medical professionals to help the child learn positive coping mechanisms. n

a Washington State PTA parent involvement magazine

Help Your Teen Develop a Healthy Body Image Iingt istodifficult for young people to get away from issues pertainbody image. The uncomfortable truth is the way we look often makes a difference in how we are treated. Overweight people are often discriminated against in our country. Thin people are featured on the covers of fashion magazines, some of which have been digitally altered to unnatural proportions. Not only is weight a factor, but height, the shape of person’s nose or lips, whiteness of teeth, the presence of muscles and many other factors play into this body image battle that threatens our children. We need to be clear to our children that we want them to be active and healthy, without regard to all the frenzy of having a perfect body image.

Obesity

A lot of attention has been drawn to obesity in our nation, and we need to be sensitive to how we address this issue. We should never berate obese people, discriminate against them or point out to children that they are overweight. Chances are that these kids already know they have a weight problem because of their interactions with other kids on the playground and at school.

As parents, our focus should remain on being healthy, not losing weight.

Never make children feel that they are unlovable or second-class for their weight. You cannot force children to eat less or shame them into losing weight. What they may lose instead is their hope for life. Watch your words and actions; they can hurt even if your intention is to help.

As a family, make a plan to engage in fun exercise habits, such as going for walks, going to the pool, taking up a exercise class together. For kids who come home to an empty house and are not able to play outside after school because their parents are at work, provide some fun exercisefocused video games for your kids to play that will get them moving, instead of sitting around and watching TV. Learn about the nutritional pyramid, how to make healthy food choices and what healthy portion sizes are. Experiment with recipes with your kids. Plan your meals with their help so you are making healthy foods they enjoy. Make it fun and you will be drawn closer as a family in addition to seeing positive results for your family’s health.

Eating disorders

Anorexia is an intense fear of being fat that causes individuals to severely restrict the amount of food they eat. Bulimia is binge eating, followed by purging of some sort, such as vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimics can be of normal weight. Both Anorexia and Bulimia have severe consequences to an individual’s health.

People with eating disorders are often very good at hiding this from their

The Child Advocate, March 2013

families. Recognizing the signs of eating disorders is important because early detection is often the key for positive rehabilitation. If your children lose a lot of weight or are underweight, or often say they have already eaten or that they are not hungry, weigh themselves frequently, often go to the bathroom after meals, or develop unusual eating habits such as taking food apart before eating it or taking extremely small bites or suddenly refusing to eat things they have enjoyed before, then an eating problem might be present. Discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician.

What Parents Can Do

s Take the emphasis off the body image in your home by encouraging your child’s interests and talents in sports, arts, and music. Help your child to find his passion and his unique abilities and interests. s Help your young person remember that an individual isn’t defined by her outer appearance, but more importantly, her inner character.

Help your child find role models who have worthwhile inner qualities. Tell your child what qualities you most value. s Don’t emphasize weight or make comments about body shapes. Accept your children as they are. Encourage healthy eating and exercise in your home, but not to an extreme. s Help your child with his appearance by making sure he has clean clothes, deodorant and other grooming supplies and is encouraged in good grooming habits. s Explain to your children how fashion magazines use techniques to edit photos to remove blemishes and alter appearances. s Talk to your kids about the risks of plastic surgery, using steroids and tanning beds. s Finally, don’t get caught up in your own body image battle. Be a good role model for your children. n

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Raising Healthy, Drug-Free Kids

Smaking tudies have shown that a portion of the brain that processes decisionis not fully developed until individuals are 25 years old. This may help explain why good kids sometimes make bad decisions and why so many teens experiment with drugs.

Teens (and tweens) experiment with drugs for many reasons. Among the most common reasons are:

whelmed, lack coping skills and feeling a sense of hopelessness, they may engage in risky activities, such as experimenting with drugs. s Enhancement. Some kids turn to drugs as a means of enhancing their performance, such as using steroids to gain muscles, or abusing stimulants like taking meth to help them stay alert and focused. This is a recipe for disaster and can cause permanent damage to students.

Parents’ Message to Kids

s Culture. Our culture seems to subscribe to the notion that if you have a problem, there is a medication to fix it. Popular entertainment also contributes to the general acceptance of alcohol and drug abuse as TV shows and movies often depicts young people drinking at parties or using drugs.

s Acknowledge that growing up today is difficult and that you are available to listen if your kids want to talk about the pressures they are facing. Be sure to listen without judging, lecturing, or getting angry.

s Availability of drugs. Students who want to abuse drugs can do so with products already available in their own households or friends’ households. The abuse of inhalants is on the rise, as well as the abuse of prescription drugs. Alcohol is another drug that is readily available in many homes. With the passage of Initiative 502 in our state this past year, marijuana may be easier for young people to access as well.

s Talk to your children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse. Drugs can be addictive and alter brain chemistry. They can also lead to high risk activities, such as unprotected sex, drunk driving, and violence. Abuse of some drugs can cause sudden death or permanent brain damage. Addiction can occur after the first use of some drugs. Prescription drugs and inhalants are as dangerous as any kind of drug, and can have devastating consequences, even death, after the first use.

s Peer pressure. Teenagers depend on their friends for acceptance and a sense of belonging. In their strong desire to have connections with their peers, they may be negatively influenced to try things they normally wouldn’t do on their own. s Using drugs can be a form of escape. When kids are feeling over-

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s Explain the cycle of drug abuse. Drugs such as alcohol and marijuana are referred to as gateway drugs. As the brain gets used to the effects of these drugs, it requires more substances to achieve an elevated feeling. This is when some teens turn to harder drugs, and as a result, often lose their friends, their interest in social connections and life in general.

a Washington State PTA parent involvement magazine

s Most teens know they shouldn’t drink and drive, but don’t know how to handle the situation when they are a passenger in a car whose driver has been drinking. Teens need to be informed that even one beer can inhibit an individual’s ability to drive safely and that you will always be available pick them up with no repercussions if they call you for a ride.

What Parent Can Do

s If students experience a sudden drop in grades, lose interest in sports and extra-curricular activities, exhibit a significant change of behavior, has a sudden change of friends and suddenly seems uninterested in their appearance, parents should look for possible signs of drug abuse. This may include unusual smells on clothes or on breath, missing alcohol or prescription pills from your home, the presence of empty aerosol cans or drugs in your child’s room, changes in appetite, bloodshot eyes or the ap-

pearance of being high or drunk. Talk to your child’s teachers or friends to see if they have seen anything that would be cause for concern. s Teach refusal skills. Asserting oneself in the face of peer pressure is difficult. Your children will need a game plan and some practice at home to be successful. Help them come up with some ideas of ways they could refuse drugs, such as: “It may impact how I play basketball, so I’m not interested” or “I like you, but it’s not for me.” s Always store prescription pills in a locked and secure location in your home. Properly dispose of unused prescriptions. Remove alcohol from your home or keep it secure as well. Pay attention to substances in your home that could be used as inhalants. s Get professional help if you suspect your child is experimenting with drugs. This is not a problem you can solve on your own. n

Safe Surfing:

Keeping Kids Safe in the Information Age

M any of our kids use the Internet to access online textbooks, the school SkyDrive, or use Edmodo to turn in homework or communicate with their teacher.

Technology is here to stay, and parents are scrambling to keep up to make sure their kids are safe online.

With parents working, kids are often home alone with the computer and need Internet access to do their homework. Additionally, cell phones provide unsupervised Internet access as well. Parents simply can’t keep tabs on their children’s activities on the Internet all the time, so it’s a good idea to set up boundaries and explain to your kids why those boundaries are important.

The volume and content of inappropriate material available on the Internet is much greater than in the past. A simple error in typing a website can innocently take your child to a site that contains pornography.

Parents need to prepare their children for the event that they will accidentally land on an unintended site by telling them what to do: Turn off the screen or flip the laptop lid down and go tell mom or dad, or if they are at a friends house, tell their friends’ mom or dad. If this event happens, let your kids know they didn’t do anything wrong.

Avoiding Scams

s Students should be instructed not to click on pop-ups from websites. Additionally, they should not download PDFs or pictures from a website they are don’t know is safe. s Explain to kids that if they don’t know who sent an email, delete it. If it looks like it’s sent by someone they know, but something seems wrong about it, then have them call the person to ask them about it. They should not open any attachment until they have received confirmation that it is safe from the person that sent it. s Kids should not answer surveys or give out identifying information in chatrooms, websites, or on social media sites. s Tell kids to be wary of an email that looks like it comes form a

The Child Advocate, March 2013

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bank or any institution that asks for personal information. They should never give private information out via email.

Make sure your anti-virus protection and firewalls are updated regularly. Use filters to cut down on the amount of spam your student receives.

Tell your students not to share passwords with others.

Make sure they know to use Wi-Fi networks that are secured with a password.

Kids should never meet anyone face-to-face that they first met online in a chatroom. They should assume that people they meet in a chatroom are not whom they say they are.

On social media sites, instruct them to never ‘friend’ someone they don’t already know in person and have them set their privacy settings so only their friends have access to material on their profile.

Encourage your kids to trust their instincts. If they suspect someone is posting threats or has hinted of impending violence, instruct them to tell a parent or teacher. n

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REGISTER TODAY at www.wastatepta.org

Photo: 37th Annual WSPTA Convention, (Tacoma, May 2, 1950) Courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room

Attend WSPTA’s 100th Annual Convention May 3-5, 2013 Bellevue Hyatt Hotel (located next to Bellevue Square)

An inspiring weekend with a variety of training opportunities, engaging keynote speakers, and plenty of fun!

Photo courtesy of University of Puget Sound

Looking Back...

In June 1911, the Washington Congress held its first Annual Convention in Tacoma. At this convention, delegates were taken for automobile rides for entertainment.

Wartime restrictions made it impossible for the State PTA to convene its Annual Convention during 1944 and 1945, which is why we celebrate the WSPTA’s 100th Annual Convention in 2013, rather than 2011.

Early Bird Discounted Registration Deadline is April 1, 2013.