In this episode, three members of the Maine team who participated in the Prevention Mindset Institute take us behind the scenes of the bold new vision to create a culture of shared responsibility for the safety and well-being for children and families in Maine.

Listeners will hear how this mindset shift is gaining momentum— from the Governor’s office to local Prevention Councils to individual parents and practitioners—creating a wave of change across the state. At the heart of this effort is building trusting partnerships with parents through authentic engagement and shared language. Tune in to discover how collaboration, relationships, and truly listening are driving this transformative work.

FRIENDS PAC members Valerie Lebanion and Michael Cupeles wrap up the episode by sharing their key takeaways from this inspiring and insightful discussion. If you're passionate about strengthening families and creating lasting change, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Hosts:

Paula Bibbs-Samuels, FRIENDS National Parent Advisory Council Member

David Armstrong, FRIENDS National Parent Advisory Council Member

Participants:

Heidi Aakjer, Executive Director of the Maine Children's Trust

Christine Theriault, Family First Prevention Services Program Manager, Maine Office of Child and Family Services

Joe Whitmore, Parent Leader, Penquis Prevention Council, and FRIENDS National Parent Advisory Council Member

Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The third and final podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience addresses the outstanding resilience demonstrated by black families in the United States during a long history of traumatic events. Practitioners can affirm the resilience of black youth and help youth see the power they have in their own lives and to make change in society.

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The second podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience focuses on a trauma-informed approach and how white allies and others working in solidarity can support black youth and establish trusting relationships.

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The first podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience focuses on historical trauma and the pain that is still felt from the past and current day occurrences, white supremacy’s contribution to pain in the black family, and how this pain shows up today for children, clinically, in school, the home, and child welfare settings.

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Additional resources on this topic can be found on the FRIENDS website, including Historical Trauma Among African Americans, ACES, and Hope, a podcast that was released in 2019, https://friendsnrc.org/resources/?_sf_s=African

Two Resources mentioned in the three-part series:

EMBRace – Engaging, Managing, and Bonding Through Race is a 5-week program that focuses on racial socialization, racial stress and coping, and family functioning in order to reduce the discriminatory tension we may experience on a daily basis. Click the link to learn more https://theembraceprogram.wixsite.com/embrace/goals

Our Mental Health Minute seeks to reduce stigma about mental health in the black community and provide resources in access, utilization, and quality of mental health care. Spanning three seasons, more than 30 video and podcast episodes on mental health have been produced. Click here to learn more. https://www.ourmhm.com/

In this episode, Dr. Paul Lanier has a conversation with Dr. Lindsay Huffhines about unique stressors for families during these difficult times and practical tips parents can use to support infants and toddlers in handling stress and emotions. Parents and caregivers will find this podcast helpful.

Dr. Paul Lanier is the Wallace Kuralt Distinguished Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Lindsay Huffhines is a postdoctoral fellow at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University

(Originally shared May, 2020)

Experts:

Dr. Paul Lanier

Associate Professor/School of Social Work

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Lindsay Huffhines

Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Psychology

Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University

Resources: https://jordaninstituteforfamilies.org/ and https://friendsnrc.org/media-library/

https://friendsnrc.org/prevention/protective-factors/

https://newmomhealth.com/

In this episode, Dr. Paul Lanier has a conversation with Julie Smith and Brooklyn Crawford, Clinical Home Visitors, based in eastern North Carolina about challenges families are facing with parenting young children during difficult times. This conversation is followed by one with Maxine Eichner, the Graham Distinguished Professor of Law at University of North Carolina School of Law, about federal policy changes needed to create stronger supportive systems for children and families.

Administrators, other leaders, and advocates for families and children will find this podcast most helpful.

Dr. Paul Lanier is the Wallace Kuralt Distinguished Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

(Originally shared May 2020)

Experts:

Dr. Paul Lanier

Associate Professor, School of Social Work

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Brooklyn Crawford

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Easter Seals Newbern

Child First Clinician

Julie Smith

Licensed Clinician

Child First

Maxine Eichner

Professor of Law,

University of North Carolina School of Law

Resources: https://jordaninstituteforfamilies.org/ and https://friendsnrc.org/media-library/

https://friendsnrc.org/prevention/protective-factors/

The Free-Market Family: How the Market Crushed the American Dream (and How It Can Be Restored) by Maxine Eichner available at Amazon or your bookstore.

In this episode, Dr. Todd Jensen interviews Dr. Deborah Barrett, a licensed clinical social worker who has extensive experience conducting individual and group therapy. She shares her thoughts about family loss and grieving, particularly during the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr. Jensen is a Family Research and Engagement Specialist in the Jordan Institute for Families and a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Barrett is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Social Work and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Originally shared April, 2020

Experts:

Todd M. Jensen, PhD, MSW

Research Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Family Research and Engagement Specialist, Jordan Institute for Families

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Deborah Barrett, Ph.D.

Clinical Associate Professor, School of Social Work

Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Resources: https://jordaninstituteforfamilies.org/ and https://friendsnrc.org/media-library/

https://friendsnrc.org/prevention/protective-factors/