Programs are provided in an effort to increase awareness
and understanding. A variety of opportunities are offered for both
growth and skill enhancement.
WomenSafe
is dedicated to eliminating domestic violence in our community and
supporting its victims. WomenSafe offers presentations to the general
public, schools, businesses, agencies, churches, and senior and
youth organizations to learn about abuse-free dating, dynamics of
domestic violence, date rape, elder abuse, effects of domestic violence
on children, how to assess domestic violence, and how you can help
someone who is being abused. All presentations are free of
charge. For more information or to schedule a presentation,
please contact Julia Hazen at 440-285-0211.
The
Family Planning Association
of Northeast Ohio, Inc.
with
funding from The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery
Services
BRINGS TO GEAUGA COUNTY...
THE
ABC'S OF HIV
HIV/AIDS
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
SESSIONS FOR ALL TYPES OF COMMUNITY GROUPS!
- Schools
- Client
Groups
- Social
Services
-
Staff
Training
3
Options Available:
- 1 period - 45 minutes - The
Truth About HIV
- 2
periods - 90 minutes - HIV IN THE "REAL" WORLD
- 3
periods - 135 minutes - Understanding HIV
We'd
be happy to personalize the workshop to better meet the needs of
your group or fit your curriculum. For further information or to
book a workshop for your group, please call Debbie or Emily at The
Family Planning Association (440)352-0608.
The Mental
Health Association in Geauga County offers many educational programs:
The Facilitator newsletter,
issued two times annually.
Contents include: current information about timely mental health
topics and issues, community events, local mental health resources,
profiles of local agencies, and articles offering tips on topics
ranging from substance abuse to parenting to senior mental health
issues. Call (440)285-3945 to sign up today. It's free to all Geauga
residents through a grant from the Geauga County Board of Mental
Health and Recovery Services.
The Panorama Newsletter - is
co-produced with the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery
Services, this newsletter is published two
times annually and covers both state and national trends in the
mental health field.
The ParenTalk Newsletter is an
educational newsletter mailed to most first time parents in Geauga
County. Issues arrive to correspond with baby’s age and developmental
stage. Topics cover developmental milestones, nutrition and changing
family needs.
The Very Important Kid Program
- currently helps to support the development
of self-esteem of Geauga County preschool classrooms. VIK offers
teachers a variety of activities and lesson plans to reinforce the
message that each child is special and unique. VIK is provided free
to all Geauga County preschools through a grant from the Geauga
County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services. The VIK program
is also available to preschools and Day Care centers in other counties.
If you would like to have your childs preschool participate in this
self-esteem building program, encourage them to contact us at (440)285-3945.
The Professional Workshop Series
- offers the Geauga professional community ways to earn continuing
education units locally and affordably. Workshops have addressed
such themes as: marital therapy, anger management, attachment and
bonding, suicide prevention and verbal de-escalation (handling the
violent individual). MHA will be offering two new workshops this
summer. Call for details.
For more information on MHA's
programs or to be added to our database please call (440)285-3945
or visit our website at www.mhageauga.org.
BULLYING & Relational Aggression
Although educators have long been aware of the
problem of bullying, most research in the past indicated that girls
were not bullies. That was because bullying was originally defined
as physical aggression. Research now shows that girls can be just
as aggressive - although in more subtle ways. Girls use non verbal
means - such as spreading rumors, writing nasty notes, ridiculing
and ostracizing other girls as a form of bullying. This form, also
known as relational aggression, uses the weapons of social
manipulation on a "battleground of personal relationships". This
method of bullying also strikes directly at the goals that are most
important for developing female - social relationships.
These behaviors, while rooted in elementary school,
are more damaging and dramatic in the high school years. Victims
often suffer many long term consequences from the aggressive behaviors.
Emotional torment can lead to depression, eating disorders and even
suicide.
What Adults can do for
a Child that is Being Bullied
- Ask about it. Often, due to shame or fear, a
victimized individual doesn't alert an adult. Signs: sudden school
phobia, lack of friends, changes in friendship relationships,
fearfulness and anxiety.
- Contact school authorities immediately. School
administration should outline consequences for bullying and ongoing
monitoring.
- Further develop the social network of the child.
Participation in group activities will integrate the individual
into the social life of the school and encourage new and positive
friendships with other students.
What to do for the Child
who is the Bully
- Deal with the problem early to prevent long
term and more damaging behaviors.
- Talk with your child and be clear that you and
the school will not tolerate any more of these behaviors.
- Outline consequences should the behaviors continue.
- Utilize school administration, teachers and parents
and form a communication network.
- Praise non-bullying behaviors and appropriate
social interactions.
- Eliminate role models who demonstrate poor communications
in these areas. Remember that role models may include TV, movies,
video games and printed materials.
- Consider psychological counseling to assist your
child in developing socially acceptable interactions with both
male and female friends.
One excellent resource in this area is the book,
"The Friendship Factor - Helping our Children Navigate Their Social
World - and Why it Matters for Their Success and Happiness" by Kenneth
H. Rubin, PH.D.. Suggestions skills for parents from this book include:
- Let your child decide whether taking part in
sport, club, or other school activity is truly important.
- Be aware of their friendships and relationships
with other students.
- If your child is abandoned by their friend, be
sympathetic.
- Foster their sense of security in your home relationships.
- Help your child step back and take a broader
view of malicious talk and behavior - including those happening
with peers.
- Generate discussions with your child.
- Teach your child to counter teasing and malicious
words with humor or any other useful tools they may have available
to them.
- Know the signals for bullying - both aggressive
bullying most often found in males, and relational aggression
and social manipulation more commonly used by females.
- Encourage your child to talk and provide many
opportunities for dialogue about these subjects in your home environment.
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