Conversations with KidsPeace
By KidsPeace
Conversations with KidsPeaceJul 11, 2019
Reflections on Education | Episode #59
On the latest Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, KidsPeace teachers from Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maine reflect on the role education plays in KidsPeace’s treatment programming.
LVHN Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow | Dr. Joseph Venditto | Episode #58
In addition to providing kids in crisis therapeutic help, KidsPeace also offers opportunities for real-world training to medical professionals beginning their careers in mental healthcare. In 2024 KidsPeace serves as a clinical rotation site for physicians in Lehigh Valley Health Network’s new fellowship program in child and adolescent psychiatry.
On the latest edition of our podcast series Conversations with KidsPeace, Dr. Joseph Venditto - the first fellowship participant to complete a rotation here – talked about his experience, why he chose the specialty of child and adole
Autism Awareness Month | Episode #57
April is Autism Awareness Month, and on the latest Conversations podcast Rob Harvey, Director of Intensive Behavioral Health Services, offers his perspectives on the state of autism programming in the post-pandemic period, how the continuum of autism services KidsPeace provides is addressing a rapidly growing demand, and how new research is challenging the view of autism as primarily an issue for male children.
Toxic Friendships with Madelyn Almonte | Episode #56
What is a “toxic friendship?” How can I tell if a friendship is toxic … and if it is, what can I do about it? These are questions addressed in a new “learning” section of KidsPeace’s therapeutic support service TeenCentral.com.
TeenCentral’s Madelyn Almonte discusses the concept of toxic friendships and ways to help teens recognize and deal with them, on the latest edition of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast.
Lobbying for more funding to support child welfare professionals | Episode #55
As program manager for KidsPeace Foster Care in Kingston, NY, Jennifer Udvardi-Morris works to connect kids in need with foster families and other services. But she’s also taken on a different task – lobbying legislators in her state to address the needs of those working in the child welfare field.
In the latest installment of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast, Jennifer talks with host Bob Martin on the critical issues facing those who work in the field, and her outreach on those subjects with lawmakers in the Empire State.
In December, Jennifer wrote a guest column for the Times-Union newspaper in New York’s state capital of Albany. You can read her column here.
https://fostercare.com/turnover-in-child-welfare-workforce-is-hurting-vulnerable-children/
KidsPeace President and CEO Mike Slack discussing highlights of 2023 | Episode #54
The sixth season of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast kicks off with KidsPeace President and CEO Mike Slack discussing highlights of 2023 and what challenges he expects the organization and the mental healthcare field will face in the new year.
Autism Focused Foster Care | Episode #53
According to a recent study, children with autism are more than twice as likely to enter foster care than those without that diagnosis. In one county in Pennsylvania, KidsPeace is launching an effort to meld its expertise in foster care with its understanding of the needs of kids with autism.
On the latest episode of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast, host Bob Martin talks with Heather Einsig, a family resource specialist in the KidsPeace Foster Care office near Reading, PA, about the “Autism Focused Foster Care” program – why it’s needed, and what challenges it faces in recruiting and training foster families to care for this population.
Miss Pennsylvania Alysa Bainbridge | Episode #52
The reigning Miss Pennsylvania, Alysa Bainbridge, recently toured KidsPeace’s Orchard Hills Campus facilities, and sat down for an interview about her advocacy for greater awareness of mental health concerns, especially in children. You can learn how her social issue focus has its beginnings in her own family’s experience, on the latest “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast.
KidsPeace Fayetteville Auction | Episode #51
Supporters of KidsPeace’s foster care operations in Fayetteville, North Carolina will come together again this fall to celebrate local artists and raise funds to help our office care for foster families in the region.
Host Bob Martin talks with Program Manager Mike Edelman about the 9th annual KidsPeace Fayetteville Auction, on the latest episode of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast.
Hear it now here, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Helping kids at KidsPeace just be kids | Episode #50
KidsPeace and its clients benefit tremendously from the generosity of donors and philanthropic-minded people – whose contributions often make it possible for our kids a chance to just be kids, if only for a little while.
In some locations, support is provided by groups known as Boards of Associates. On the latest episode of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, Lehigh Valley BOA Co-chair Shawn Hughes of BSI Corporate Benefits discusses the group’s work and its current efforts to raise funds to improve recreational facilities at KidsPeace’s Children’s Hospital and the Pennsylvania residential treatment campus.
Listen here, or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
The Lehigh Valley BOA has two fundraising events coming up – the “Sunset Social” reception on August 24 and the 37th annual KidsPeace Golf Classic, both at Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville, PA. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Missy Hartney at Melissa.hartney@kidspeace.org, or 610/799-8071.
Employee engagement during the pandemic | Episode #49
On the latest installment of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, host Bob Martin talks with the head of a nonprofit arts organization about how they faced the challenge of retaining and motivating employees when COVID-19 threatened to end everything they and their organization does.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Adulting 101 | Episode #48
Navigating the transition into young adulthood isn’t always smooth or obvious, and many of us rely on parents and families to help us make sense of that all. But kids ageing out of foster care may not have that support system, and KidsPeace Foster Care in New York is addressing that need with a new program called “Adulting 101.”
Celebrating National Foster Care Month, the latest episode of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast features the program’s leader, Ariel Helman, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services supervisor in KidsPeace’s Kingston, NY office. Ariel talks about the rationale for the effort, how it’s organized, and what she hopes will be its impact on its young participants.
You can hear the podcast here, or subscribe to it wherever you get your podcasts!
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
140 years of Hope, Help and Healing | Episode #47
KidsPeace kicked off the celebration of its 140th Anniversary at the end of January, following the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic that has remade the landscape of mental healthcare in America. Host Bob Martin welcomes KidsPeace President and CEO Michael Slack to discuss the significance of the anniversary and what he expects for the organization in the year ahead, in the premier episode of the fifth season of the Conversations podcast.
Four Years of Life Hacks | Episode #46
A favorite saying … an inspirational quote … maybe a tip to do something around the house better. For the past four years, guests on our Conversations podcasts have shared their wisdom and expertise by providing visitors with “life hacks.” In this last episode of 2021, we revisit some of our favorite life hack suggestions, to provide our podcast audience with some guidance and hope for the coming year. Bob Martin hosts.
Conversations with KidsPeace returns for a fifth season in 2022. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts!
OUR SPONSOR
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
The Power of Telling Stories | Episode #45
The latest issue of Healing Magazine has been published (at www.healingmagazine.org), with a special section examining the therapeutic power of telling stories.
On the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, several of the issue’s contributing authors give their perspectives on stories and storytelling as a tool to overcome trauma and strengthen mental wellness.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Substance Use and Addictions Treatment at KidsPeace | Episode #44
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to forget other issues continue to affect our society. One of those issues: substance abuse and addiction, and on a new episode of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast we discuss how KidsPeace’s treatment programs are serving clients in need in the COVID age.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Suicide Prevention and QPR | Episode #43
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the latest edition of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast discusses an approach described as “CPR for suicide prevention.” Host Bob Martin and suicide prevention trainer Jessica Racine also discuss some of the prevalent myths around suicide in our society, and how to combat them.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicide crisis:
- Call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.)
- Or contact Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741 (www.crisistextline.org.)
Oasis Services | Episode #42
One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and organizations has been a renewed interest in the emotional and mental health of their employees. In the latest Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, we discuss a new initiative by the consulting practice Spyglass Solutions to equip and train groups to help their workforces practice effective self-care to address the effects of stress and anxiety.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Healing Roundup
In the latest installment of Conversations with KidsPeace, host Bob Martin talks with three contributors to the just-published issue of KidsPeace’s Healing Magazine -- discussing how games can help train new direct care employees, and how education and art therapy have been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And you can find the articles from the newest issue at https://www.healingmagazine.org/issue-47/
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Dungeons and Dragons and Therapy
The Spring/Summer 2021 edition of Healing Magazine has been published at healingmagazine.org. The magazine’s “Spotlight” section looks at how games can be beneficial in a therapeutic sense, and its lead article highlights KidsPeace’s leadership in using the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons in its group sessions with individuals with autism.
Last fall KidsPeace’s Rob Harvey discussed his work in this area on the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast.
You can download the new “Games People Play” issue or read and share individual articles from the magazine at www.healingmagazine.org
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Families First legislation | Episode #41
It’s described as the most significant reform in federal child welfare policy in decades. How will the Families First Prevention Services Act change programs like foster care and residential treatment across America? KidsPeace’s Ken Olson joins the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast as part of our commemoration of National Foster Care Awareness Month, to discuss the law’s impact on caring for kids in need.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Has foster care been changed forever by the COVID-19 pandemic? | Episode #40
May is National Foster Care Month and, after a year of pandemic, how has foster care changed? On the latest Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, we talk with two KidsPeace foster care experts on what adjustments were made to deal with the impact of COVID-19, and which of those adjustments are likely to remain after the pandemic eases.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Imposter Syndrome | Episode #39
Amid the issues surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on our lives, some people appear to be handling all of it exceptionally well – demonstrating a high level of quality and leadership in their chosen field. They may be considered experts and leaders by everybody, everywhere … … except in their own minds.
On the latest edition of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, a discussion of the phenomenon of “imposter syndrome” – when high-performing individuals doubt their own worth. Host Bob Martin is joined by Dr. Ashleigh Anderson to explain what this condition involves, how it might be made worse by the pressures of the pandemic, and what those who may experience it can do to ease its impact on their lives.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
Telehealth: Therapy’s Next Frontier? | Episode #38
Healthcare organizations have had to adopt new approaches to serving their clients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But will those new ways to deliver care continue to be an option after the crisis eases? In the case of outpatient mental health treatment, the answer for one option appears to be “Yes.”
On the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, host Bob Martin discusses the future of telehealth in outpatient care with KidsPeace’s Breannah Allen.
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast is sponsored by Spyglass Solutions. www.spyglasssolutions.org/conversations
KidsPeace has launched a new consulting practice | CWK#37
KidsPeace has launched a new consulting practice – aiming to share its expertise and insights with other organizations. On the latest “Conversations” podcast, host Bob Martin talks with Spyglass Solutions principal consultants Patrick Slattery and Ben Steefel about expectations for the new venture and what organizations can benefit the most from working with Spyglass.
2020 to 2021: Looking Back, Looking Ahead | CWK#36
2020 will go down in history as a remarkable and challenging year for all of us … including KidsPeace. What will be the lasting impact of 2020 on the organization – and what can we expect from 2021?
On the latest edition of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, President and CEO Mike Slack joins host Bob Martin for a look back, and look ahead, for KidsPeace and mental healthcare in general.
TeenCentral Stories and Responses | CWK#35
KidsPeace’s TeenCentral.com service has provided needed support to young people struggling with anxiety and stress from the COVID-19 pandemic. On the latest Conversations with KidsPeace podcast host Bob Martin checks in with TeenCentral’s Jodi Whitcomb and Jessica Racine on its continuing efforts to provide hope and help to youth, and they explain the process for the centerpiece of the service – the stories submitted by teens and the response they received from the service.
Being Prepared for Mental Wellness Amid a Pandemic | CWK#34
The latest issue of KidsPeace’s Healing Magazine looks at the impact COVID-19 has had on mental health in America, and proposes a new way to look at safeguarding our mental wellness in the face of the stress of the pandemic. On the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Koval discusses how we can adopt a set of actions to protect ourselves against the effects of COVID-19 – call it “mental health protective equipment,” or MPE. Bob Martin hosts.
Dungeons & Dragons and Autism | CWK#33
It’s a role-playing game that’s been around for more than forty years, but Dungeons & Dragons is finding new popularity these days -- and at KidsPeace, it’s also found a new role in helping young people with autism. On the latest installment of Conversations with KidsPeace, therapist Rob Harvey describes how he’s turned his passion for Dungeons & Dragons into a surprisingly successful approach to learning and practicing social skills and teamwork for his clients – who are having fun at the same time! Bob Martin hosts.
Interview with Dr. Scott Reines | TeenCentral Donation | CWK#32
The heart of KidsPeace’s TeenCentral.com service lies in the stories shared by visitors, and the therapeutic support responses they receive. In the latest installment of our podcast series Conversations with KidsPeace, host Bob Martin talks with KidsPeace Board of Directors chair Dr. Scott Reines about his family’s donation to the service aimed at keeping its heart beating for future visitors.
Cards CONNECTING Humanity | CWK#31
Amid COVID-19 and other challenges that are dividing our society, the latest edition of Conversations with KidsPeace podcast tells an inspirational story of connection.
Host Bob Martin talks with a recreational therapist about how kids in our residential treatment program found a way to share a message of hope with residents of local nursing homes, as both face the stress of pandemic lockdowns.
KidsPeace Virtual Hug | CWK#30
Just in time for Mother’s Day, KidsPeace is rolling out a unique initiative to help people connect across the divide of social distancing – The KidsPeace Virtual Hug.
Vice President Ann McCauley joins host Bob Martin in a new special edition of “Conversations with KidsPeace” to explain how an offhand comment from a client in treatment led to the Virtual Hug – and to demonstrate it by sending one out to a special group of heroes.
Special Edition COVID 19 | Walk in Assessments | CWK#029
A mental or behavioral health crisis is terrifying enough for an individual or their family in the best of times, but it’s even worse during a global crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. KidsPeace’s outpatient offices in the Lehigh Valley and Monroe County offer free walk-in assessments for those in crisis – providing guidance on their next steps in resolving the crisis while keeping them out of hospital emergency rooms at this critical time.
KidsPeace Outpatient Program Manager Harvie Oliver discusses what happens during one of these assessments, in a special episode of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast. Bob Martin hosts.
TeenCentral and the COVID-19 Crisis | CWK#028
On a special edition of the “Conversations with KidsPeace” podcast, we discuss KidsPeace’s TeenCentral.com service and the role it can play amid the COVID-19 crisis.
TeenCentral.com leader Jodi Whitcomb offers insights into how her team is providing specific information on coping with COVID-19, while continuing to give young people a safe place to ask questions, share stories and seek advice in a time when they may feel more alone than ever before. Bob Martin hosts.
How to SURVIVE teenage attraction and angst | CWK#027
The Conversations with KidsPeace podcast returns for its third season just in time for Valentine’s Day 2020 – and examines the phenomenon of “young love”…
Therapist Breannah Allen discusses how young people deal with romantic attraction and attachments, and ways parents can help them navigate those situations. Bob Martin hosts.
Pets, Animals and Nature | Helping People Heal And Thrive | CWK#026
Interview with Adrienne Pauling and Michelle Callahan on Family Therapy | CWK #025
Interview with Bennie Eliason of LVHN Street Medicine | CWK#024
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More information about the Street Medicine initiative can be found at www.lvhn.org/community-health/street-medicine-program
Interview with Dr. Caron Farrell | CWK#023
On Location At the Sensory-Sensitive Playground | CWK#022
Things teachers wish parents knew | CWK#021
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
Recruiting for Mental Health Professionals | CWK#020
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
40 Years of Foster Care | CWK#019
To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
The Spring/Summer 2019 edition has a special section, “Foster Care at 40” – which looks at fostering from a variety of perspectives:
An examination of how the service has evolved from the 1970s to today
Views of a Member of Congress on how policy initiatives can support families better
An hour-by-hour description of “a typical day in foster care” (proving there’s no such thing), by the voices behind the popular Foster Talk blog series
And ideas and suggestions from the most important people in the discussion – foster kids themselves.
KidsPeace also announced that starting June 15, Healing Magazine will be carried in the magazine racks of the Barnes & Noble Booksellers store at the Promenade Shops in Center Valley, PA, as a free community publication. It’s the first time in the history of Healing Magazine that it will be available in a retail setting.
A Mother’s Story | CWK#018
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
A Conversation with KidsPeace Interim CEO Michael Slack | CWK#017
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.<br />
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No Appointment Necessary | CWK#016
Combating Mental Health Stigma | CWK#015
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How a depression emerged for one of the guests during college, and how he got past “self-stigma” to seek help. <br />
The role Robin Williams’ suicide played in prompting Schlossberg to become a public advocate for viewing mental illness as a chronic condition, and how his latest writing venture carries that message into the realm of young adult science fiction.<br />
The need to humanize depression in order to combat the stigma against treatment, especially among men and minority communities: <br />
Why primary care physicians need to be ready for what’s called “the doorknob comment,” as the opening to learning what may truly be troubling their patient.<br />
And why turning around the old saying, “Don’t just sit there, DO something!” can reveal a path to help individuals suffering in silence because of stigma.<br />
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
Gender Diversity | CWK#014
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Mental health professionals, along with many families and individuals, are dealing with the implications of gender diversity, as society moves from a binary view of gender to multiple gender models. On this Conversations podcast, therapist Jonna Finocchio and psychiatrist Ashleigh Anderson discuss the changes in how we view gender and their impact on caring for the gender-diverse. Bob Martin hosts.<br />
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
Holiday Stress Is Coming To Town | CWK#013
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To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace.” Also check out our YouTube channel for more content.
De-Escalation | CWK#012
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1:22 - Jamie Pfister, KidsPeace - Addressing Suicide Amid Popular Culture<br />
11:40 - Kim Sanders, Ukeru Systems - Creating an Environment of Comfort vs. Control<br />
23:36 - Eric Sell, KidsPeace - Book Review: Fighting Back by Kayla Harrison, et al.<br />
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Listen here, or to subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes or Google Play and search “Conversations with KidsPeace”<br />
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Ukeru Website: https://www.ukerusystems.com<br />
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The new issue of Healing Magazine was published November 19; to view it and back issues of the magazine, visit www.healingmagazine.org.