A Salute to Pride Month

June is a month for remembering how far we’ve come while being aware of how far we still must go.

This is not only true of the Juneteenth holiday, it is also a fact of life for many in the LGBTQ+ community.

Hayden Ellis of the Crisis department was generous enough to share their thoughts on what Pride Month means to them and what the future may look like for Pride Months a few years down the road.

Hayden was proud to be part of a team who saw the importance of recognizing this significant month. They believe it is proof positive of how far the LGBTQ+ community has come.

Hayden hopes in the near future cultural stumbling blocks of today such as discussing pronouns, understanding those who identify as having a non-binary gender, and close-minded conversations will disappear opening the door for a more inclusive, dynamic, and accepting society.

Part of building an accepting and inclusive community is respectful communication.

Here are some examples of preferred language within the LGBTQ+

Pet Connection

Meet Zane Muse (an intern with the Drop-In Center) and his pup Jack Jack.

Jack Jack is a great companion. He always greets Zane with excitement. He loves playing tug-of-war with his toys and chasing away the rabbits in the neighborhood.

The Second Annual Coordinated Intake Community Health Fair

Parenting for Success’ second annual community health fair was a brilliant success. A well-deserved congratulations goes out to Rachel Linzy who spearheaded this year’s event. We can’t overstate how successful this year’s fair was.

• Over $3000 in cash and donations were secured to support the event. Thanks so much to all of the CBHC family who donated!
• It showcased over 50 vendors from throughout the community.
• Over 100 unique potential consumers also attended.

Ms. Rachel and the team from Parenting for Success team would like to send out a big “virtual round of applause” to all the team members who lent a hand in preparing and cleaning up: HR, Security, Maintenance, the Reception staff, Fathers and Families.

They would also like to extend a tremendous thanks to Mr. Harper for giving his blessing for the fair.

Summer Time Tips

1. Get Outside

Step 1 for making the most of the warmer-weather season is getting out into it. “My advice for summer self-care is to try to go for daily walks,” says Risa Williams, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles, and author of The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit. Being surrounded by nature, plants, and greenery can lower your stress quickly, as can physical activity, she says.

A review published in 2018 in the journal Health & Place analyzed data from existing studies and found that spending time outdoors can immediately lower stress levels, and that outdoor walks in green spaces are particularly effective.

“It can be very easy to overextend ourselves,” says Hope Weiss, LCSW, a therapist based in Longmont, Colorado. That’s true any time of year, but especially in summer, when friendlier weather inspires many to do more, she says.

Many people are excited to get back to travel this summer after the previous years’ pandemic disruptions. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that air travel is expected to match pre-pandemic levels for the first time this summer, and may even exceed numbers from 2019.

Do have summer adventures and connect with friends and family, Weiss says. But, don’t forget to take time to slow down when you need it, so you don’t exhaust yourself. “Sometimes that may mean reading a book in a hammock,” she says. And remember: It’s okay to say no to invitations or other plans if that’s what’s best for you.

3. Socialize IRL Rather Than Online

Try working on being more present in the moment by reducing social media use and socializing more in person, suggests LaWanda Hill, PhD, a psychologist based in San Jose, California.

“Schedule pool parties, barbecues, or time together at the beach for rejuvenation and restoration,” Dr. Hill says. Doing so can have major benefits; research shows that friendships are positively associated with life satisfaction, and that both the quality of your friendships and how often you see your friends play a role.

4. Buy Summer Clothes That Fit

A lot of people who struggle with body image experience more distress during the summer months when we tend to wear clothing that exposes more of our bodies, like swimwear, says Brianna Campos, licensed professional counselor, a body image coach and educator based in Waldwick, New Jersey. If this is you, show yourself some self-compassion.

“Finding comfortable clothing is a good place to start,” Campos says. You don’t have to break the bank; consider shopping sales or secondhand options, like Poshmark.

And remember, it’s okay if you don’t love the way your body looks. Many experts suggest working towards body neutrality — that is, living your life without strong feelings (good or bad) about your appearance ⎯ to have a healthier body image. “Regardless of body size, it’s important to find clothes that fit your here-and-now body rather than trying to fit into clothes from summers past,” Campo says.

5. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Summer heat and humidity can cause dehydration, which can lead to a host of problems (like heat exhaustion), says Mia Finkelston, MD, a family medicine physician and the senior medical director of Amwell Medical Group who is based in Leonardtown, Maryland. And even low levels of chronic dehydration can make you feel tired and dizzy.

The amount of water you should drink each day varies from person to person, and a hydration calculator can give you a good idea of how much you need. Once you know that, Dr. Finkelston suggests making a routine for yourself that will eventually become a habit.

Here’s what her hydration routine looks like: Finkelston says she likes to keep a water bottle on her bedside table, so that she can drink about 16 ounces as soon as she wakes up. She refills the water bottle throughout the day, aiming to drink another 16 ounces before noon and the same amount again between noon and 5 p.m. She also drinks tea and flavored seltzer water throughout the day.

“And remember, you can get water from food too, especially fruits and vegetables,” Finkelston says. Try including water-rich produce like cucumber and watermelon in your daily meals and snacks.

6. Be Sun Savvy

When outside, be sure to apply sunscreen liberally and regularly. You’ll be helping protect yourself from certain cancers, as well as lessening signs of skin aging (like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation).

The American Academy of Dermatology (ADD) recommends using broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Most adults need about 1 ounce of sunscreen to adequately cover the entire body and face, and the AAD recommends reapplying every two hours, and after getting out of the water.

7. Find Your Summer Schedule ⎯ but Make It a Relaxed One

If your usual routine is disrupted in the summer — maybe you’re a full-time parent, student, or teacher and school is out, or maybe you work for a company that lets you work remotely or has more flexible summer hours — getting into a new one (even a loose one) can help you feel less overwhelmed and keep up with healthy habits you want to make time for.

“Stay on a regular sleep schedule and socialize regularly,” says Dana Colthart, LCSW, a therapist based in Mahwah, New Jersey. She recommends planning things that you’ll do daily, like getting in some kind of movement, reading, writing, or practicing meditation. Your summer schedule doesn’t have to be a strict or rigid one, but daily habits can make you feel more grounded.

8. Move in Ways You Find Fun

Summer yields a lot of opportunities to move indoors and outdoors, so don’t force yourself to move in a way that you hate. If you’re unmotivated to hit the gym when the sun is shining, find an outdoor workout you enjoy, like hiking, walking, running, a pickup game of basketball in the park, or an al fresco yoga session.

 Center Stage: Fathers and Families

Mr. Aubrey Yates is responsible for running The Fathers and Families satellite programs here at The Center.

As you might imagine, the program’s focus is on reuniting and re-engaging fathers with their families. The men in this program learn the importance of a father figure in well-adjusted families. The offerings of this program extend far beyond the family dynamics needed to facilitate a happy and healthy family unit.

The fathers are also taught skills necessary to be capable providers. Résumé training and job development are provided to help students get a job and create a career. Education regarding financial credit is also part of the course. Students not only learn how to make money, they learn how to get loans and managed debt correctly.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the program is each participant is connected with a family counselor. The counselor can assist the student and their families with the challenges that arise. Even more impressive is the counselors follow students and families for one year after graduation. This is vital to helping families get accustomed to their new lifestyles and dynamics.