Submitted by HKYFS
(January 4, 2025) — Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services is pleased to share services, programs, and resources to meet social emotional needs as we continue to envision a connected community where youth & families are resilient and feel safe, supported, and empowered.
CLINICAL SERVICES
Counseling services are available in the later afternoon and evening at HKYFS- 91 Little City Road, Higganum. We are thrilled to have two skilled and compassionate contractual clinicians on our team to support our community.
Denise Grodzicki, LPC, has been serving HK youth for more than a year and brings a wealth of knowledge with over twenty-two years of experience working in the middle school setting. Her journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to fostering the academic, emotional and social development of students. As a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2010, she has played a crucial role in supporting the mental health and well-being of children, teens and young adults. Her work involves providing counseling services and implementing intervention strategies with both the client and family. Denise is passionate about empowering people to overcome obstacles, develop resilience, and reach their full potential.
Ashlyn Elliott is a licensed clinical social worker who is passionate about empowering people to be the person they want to be. Her philosophy is that people are not defined by their worst moments or biggest mistakes, and showing ourselves and others compassion is an important part of growth. Ashlyn is formally trained to work with youth and families in Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and is experienced in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing. She is also working toward becoming a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Ashlyn is passionate about community mental health and supporting the mission of Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services.
HKYFS currently has openings for counseling. Please call 860-345-7498 to learn more.
The Great Rewiring of Childhood: Support and Strategies for Raising a Confident and Self-Reliant Child
This virtual parenting series is a call to action, with steps that parents with children of all ages, as well as professionals, can take to stop the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more resilient childhood.
Dr. Alicia Farrell, a nationally recognized speaker and psychologist, will lead this series for parents with children of any age. You will walk away with tools, tips and parenting philosophies that help you regain your sanity and that you can apply immediately. This includes:
- Understanding the impact of the digital age and social media on our kids with the book, The Anxious Generation, as a guide for discussion and practical steps.
- How to reduce conflict and encourage self-reliance in children of any age.
- How not to get trapped by taking responsibility for what your children can do for themselves.
- How to create a family philosophy that helps you navigate technology use, establish age-appropriate boundaries/expectations, and inspire healthy choices.
This talk is worth your time. It is appropriate for parents of any-aged child or young adults, grandparents, teachers, counselors, administrators, community leaders, and mental health professionals. It is helpful to know about The Anxious Generation by Jonathon Haidt, but absolutely not necessary.
Dates: January 15, 2025 and February 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Register for both virtual events at www.hkyfs.org/event/
VIRTUAL SCREENAGERS and HKHS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION:
We are all becoming increasingly aware of the impact of the Digital Age on the mental health of today’s youth. The news, research studies, and experts are highlighting the importance of understanding the current youth mental health crisis to take steps together as families, schools, and communities. Conversations are being held on the local, state-wide, and national level to address our kids’ decline in mental health and develop strategies for their well-being.
The 2023 Youth Voices Count Survey helps us understand HK students in grades 9-12 who completed the survey.
- 1% of surveyed HK youth reported having anxiety in the past year “always” or “almost always”
- 2% of HK youth surveyed reported feeling sad or hopeless so much that it stopped them from doing usual activities two or more weeks in a row.
- Over 35% of HK youth surveyed reported having a hard time stopping constant social media use.
Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services is partnering with RSD17, school administrators, and mental health professionals to host a virtual screening of the film Screenagers Next Chapter: Addressing Mental Health in the Digital Age. This national award-winning film addresses the issue that millions of young people are experiencing high stress, anxiety and depression. It helps viewers understand the challenges in our current screen-filled society, and how parents and schools empower youth to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience.
Dr. Alicia Farrell, nationally recognized clinical psychologist, says “Parents face powerful competition raising their children. There’s the toxic, bottomless pit of social media that children often lean on for guidance, in place of their parents. There are the dysfunctional societal norms that impress upon children and parents that anything less than perfect will result in failure. And that’s the tip of the iceberg. No wonder parents feel helpless, and kids are anxious and depressed. The good news is that there is so much that parents can do differently to reclaim their role and navigate parenting in this crazy. mixed-up world.”
The film is recommended for children ages 11 and older to watch with their parent/caregiver. Screenagers is available for viewing online from January 6, 2025 to January 20, 2025.
Haddam-Killingworth Middle and High School administrators are joining HKYFS and Dr. Farrell to host a Community Conversation about youth mental health in the digital age and a joint discussion regarding cell phone policies in the high school. All middle and high school parents are encouraged to attend this virtual conversation.
Date: January 30, 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Please register separately for the virtual film and community conversation at www.hkyfs.org/event/
