Resources to Support Children, Youth, their Families & Caregivers During the Holiday Season!
Each week this month experts from the Institution for Innovation and Implementation at The University of Maryland School of Social Work are sharing their tips on helping children, youth, families, and providers thrive during this winter season. Visit their holiday resource page for more resources. We wish you a safe & peaceful season.
For Caregivers & Parent Peer Support Partners
For families who are parenting children, youth, and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs, a busy holiday season can increase levels of stress. Parent Peer Support Partners may face additional stress as they juggle the needs of the families they are supporting with the needs of their own families. Efforts to nurture emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual wellness can be improved through creating and maintaining balance between activities and downtime.
For Caregivers & Parents of Infants & Young Children
The holidays can be an exciting and magical time for young kids with presents, holiday activities and gatherings, family and friends. Sometimes we adults get so excited about making the holidays fun for kids that we overdo it and forget that what kids really need is consistency in their environment, routines, and relationships.
For Caregivers & Families of Youth in Foster Care
Holidays can be extremely difficult for children and youth placed in foster care and for their families of origin. During the holidays, children and youth may feel sad or displaced, and may display increased behaviors because of not being in their own home or with their family of origin for the holidays. The following tips are designed to support youth in foster care.