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Parent Wellness Resources

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UCLA Child Anxiety Resilience Education and Support (CARES)
Provides videos, tip sheets, activities and several other resources related to childhood anxiety. Learn about the most common forms of anxiety in children such as separation anxiety or school refusal, and how you can help your child handle anxiety. Resources are also available in Spanish.
 
Worrywisekids
Great resource for parents who not only want to learn about anxiety, yet also want suggestions for parenting an anxious child.
Erika’s Lighthouse
Parent Handbook on Childhood Depression and Teen Depression
This handbook was developed to help parents understand the signs of depression and provide guidance on what to do if you are concerned that your child may be depressed. The last section of this handbook focuses specifically on strategies for maintaining good mental health and happiness.
En Español:
 
The Child Mind Institute
Provides guidance on how to help children feel comfortable about talking about their feelings and what steps to take on how to engage your depressed child.
LA County LGBT Child Abuse Prevention Council
5 Things to know if you think your child is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning (LGBTQ). This resource is also available in Spanish.
 
Gender Spectrum
This wonderful resource provides answers to common questions to help parents, caregivers or family members learn more about gender and youth. Gender Spectrum also provides online support groups to connect with other parents of the LGBTQ+ community.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI provides mental health education and support. NAMI support groups are peer led and offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences and gain support from other attendees. Groups are offered in a variety of settings and include faith-based support groups. To get more detailed information on the groups and find your local group simply click on the following links:

If you need further assistance or would rather speak to someone regarding the resources available The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or send an email to [email protected]
Cornell Research Program on Self-injury and Recovery
This handout is designed for parents of those dealing with self-injury and how you can talk to your child about his/her self injury.
Information for Parents
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
NCTSN dedicates their research to child trauma. Learn about several trauma types ranging from bullying to community violence. NCTSN’s extensive resource library provides several parent guides on what to do if your child has been exposed to trauma, how you can talk to your child about trauma and what parents can do to keep their children safe.
SCREENAGERS
This documentary reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance. This movie is recommended for kids ages 10 and older.
Watch

Common Sense Media
This organization provides trustworthy education and information regarding privacy and internet safety and answers questions regarding how to set screen time limits based on your child’s age.
Privacy and Internet Safety Parent Concern
Know the Signs
Learn how to recognize warning signs, how to have a conversation if you are concerned for your child or others and what you can do to help.
Suicide Prevention Awareness | Know the Warning Signs of Suicidal Behavior
 
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Facts for Families
A helpful guide on what families can do to make their homes safer to protect children and teens and reduce the risk for a suicide attempt.
Suicide Safety: Precautions at Home

Didi Hirsh Suicide Prevention Center Support Groups
Didi Hirsh’s Suicide Prevention Center provides a variety of services including Crisis Response and support groups throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. Their support groups target Adult Suicide Bereavement, Teen Suicide Bereavement and have a group designated for Survivors of Suicide Attempts.
Therapy & Support
First Things First
First Things Blog provides information and inspiration for parents and caregivers. This blog post provides guidance on helpful parenting strategies and how to cope with stress.

Child Mind Institute
This resource provides guidance on several ways you help your children cope with COVID-19, strategies for supporting learning at home and how to take care of yourself as a parent.
 
Mind Yeti
Mind Yeti is a research-based digital library designed to help kids and their adults (parents or teachers) calm, focus and connect. They are available on several different platforms including YouTube, Vimeo and audio only versions on Spotify and iTunes.
Sesame Street Grief ToolKit
This special guide was created for parents and caregivers to help their children talk about death, and how families can find comfort together. You can also find helpful stories and activities to share memories on their website.
 
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Book Resources for Sibling Death and Childhood Traumatic Grief
This book list was curated to help children and teens who are dealing with the loss of a sibling. There are books for all age groups including preschool and early years.
 
NCTSN
Talking to Your Child About a Suicide Death: A Guide for Parents and Caretakers
This resource provides guidance on how to explain a suicide death to children and includes book recommendations for bereaved children and parents.
 
OURHOUSE Grief Support Center
Grief support information created for all types of grievers including children, teens and adults
Grief Support Pages

Experience Camp
This program provides a free one-week camp for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. Experience camps are held throughout the Summer in Southern California. Their website also provides several helpful grief resources.
Experience Camps for Grieving Children
 
 
Book Resources
 

Book Title & Author

Book Cover

The Remember Balloons 

 

Author: Jessie Oliveros


Amazon Link

The Remember Balloons: Oliveros, Jessie, Wulfekotte, Dana: 9781481489157:  Amazon.com: Books

One Wave at a Time: A Story about Grief and Healing

 

Author: Holly Thompson


Amazon Link

One Wave at a Time: A Story about Grief and Healing: Thompson, Holly,  Crowley, Ashley: 9780807561126: Amazon.com: Books

The Heart and the Bottle

 

Author: Oliver Jeffers


Amazon Link

The Heart and the Bottle: Jeffers, Oliver, Jeffers, Oliver: 9780399254529:  Amazon.com: Books

If All the World Were…

 

Author: Joseph Coelho


Amazon Link

If All The World Were: 9781786030597: Amazon.com: Books

The Garden of Hope

 

Author: Isabel Otter & Katie Rewse


Amazon Link

Amazon.com: Garden Of Hope (9781848577138): Books

The Memory Box: A Book About Grief

 

Author: Joanna Rowland


Amazon Link

Book Review: “The Memory Box: A Book About Grief” by Joanna Rowland -  SevenPonds BlogSevenPonds Blog

The Invisible String

 

Author: Patrice Karst


Amazon Link

The Invisible String: Karst, Patrice, Lew-Vriethoff, Joanne: 9780316486231:  Amazon.com: Books

An Ordinary Day

 

Author: Elana K. Arnold


Amazon Link

An Ordinary Day: Arnold, Elana K., Vukovic, Elizabet: 9781481472623:  Amazon.com: Books

The Funeral

Author: Matt James


Amazon Link

The Funeral: James, Matt: 9781554989089: Amazon.com: Books

The Memory Tree

 

Author: Britta Teckentrup


The Memory Tree

The Memory Tree: Teckentrup, Britta: 9781408326343: Amazon.com: Books

Rosie & Crayon

 

Author: Deborah Marcero


Amazon Link

Rosie and Crayon: Deborah Marcero: 9781441322876: Amazon.com: Books

Waiting for Wolf

 

Author: Sandra Dieckmann


Amazon Link

Waiting for Wolf: Dieckmann, Sandra: 9781444946581: Amazon.com: Books

The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral

 

Author: Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic


Amazon Link

The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral:  Lucianovic, Stephanie V. W., Ermos, George: 9781454932116: Amazon.com: Books

Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children

 

Author: Bryan Mellonie


Amazon Link

Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to children | Centering  Resources