Social media connects people across the globe, but it can negatively impact the mental health of children. Excessive use of social media platforms among children is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Part of this is the proliferation of cyberbullying, and victims being subjected to harassment and abuse that can have […]
Clairton City Superintendent Named to Pa Family Support Alliance Board
Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas joins statewide board to #ProtectPAKids from abuse HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pa Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the commonwealth’s leader in child abuse and neglect prevention, has appointed Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas to its governing board of directors. “Dr. Allen-Thomas recognizes the impact of a strong platform of family policies, providing concrete support and positive […]
Talking to Children About Racism and Injustices
Children notice and can understand injustices to people at an early age. Therefore, it is important that we start conversations with them about race, racism, and injustices at an early age. They are never too young to model positive relationships with people of all backgrounds. Specific conversations about racism and injustices can – and should […]
WTAE (Pittsburgh): Fayette County parents arrested for allegedly abusing daughter and keeping her locked in a dog crate
Parents of a 6-year-old girl were arrested after state police say they abused, starved, and locked her up in a dog crate. Jacob Weight Jr. and Mimi Frost were arrested Tuesday morning. The two are charged with unlawful restraint of a minor, aggravated assault and child neglect as well as several other charges. This all […]
PA Newsmakers: Youth Mental Health Crisis, Social Media, and Family Digital Wellness
Justin Donofrio, Prevention Services Manager for the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, joined host Terry Madonna to discuss the youth mental health crisis, social media & mental health, and family digital wellness. https://www.newsmakerstv.com/shows/energy-prices-30-by-30-and-youth-mental-health.html From PA Newsmakers, February 4, 2024
Family Digital Wellness: Updates on Social Media Legislation & Lawsuit
2023 was the year that powerful tech companies and their platforms began to be held responsible for their roles in the ongoing youth mental health crisis. Across the country, state attorneys general and school districts filed lawsuits against Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (parent company of TikTok) and Snap, Inc. which operates […]
Centre Daily Times: Is your child old enough to start babysitting? Here’s how it works in Pennsylvania
Babysitting is becoming increasingly common across the U.S. as busy parents try to find care arrangements for their children. A 2019 study from the National Center for Education Statistics, for example, found roughly 59% of children ages 5 and younger and not yet enrolled in kindergarten were in at least one nonparental care arrangement each […]
WHP: PA officials work to address racial disparities in Child Welfare
Nationwide and in Pennsylvania, there are racial disparities in the child welfare system, meaning kids and families of different races or ethnicities could have different experiences in the system. A 2021 Racial Equity report from DHS says, “Black children represent 35 percent of Pennsylvania’s foster care population, despite accounting for just 13 percent of children […]
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LehighValleyNews.com Grandparents raising grandkids: ‘Unless you live it, you don’t know it’
It’s estimated that more than 100,000 grandparents now are raising their grandchildren in Pennsylvania, according to a statewide organization working to get more resources for those people in the new year. “The grandparents get nothing,” Beth, a 71-year-old grandmother from northeast Pennsylvania who raised one grandson and now is raising another. She asked that her […]
