Advertise on podcast: Connecting for Kids

Does your child have a diagnosis or developmental disability, but you’re unsure what county resources are out there? Or is your child already approved for services, but you don’t know what you need or how to get it? Join CFK and the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities for a workshop and get your questions answered.Program Includes: Getting the facts and dispelling the myths about disability resources Learning what support exists and the steps to get what you need Break-out groups to get your questions answered and connect with other families A rundown of disability services from birth through transition age

Acompañe a Raisa Santana, MA, CCC-SLP —patóloga de habla y lenguaje clínica bilingüe (español/inglés) de la Cleveland Clinic— en una charla dirigida a los padres sobre cómo apoyar las necesidades de comunicación únicas de su hijo.

Join Anne Fleming Anderson, MA, CCC-SLP, Senior Speech Pathologist and Raisa Santana MA, CCC-SLP, Bilingual (Spanish/English) Clinical Speech Pathologist, both with the Cleveland Clinic, for a parent-friendly talk on how to support your child's unique communication needs. Parents will learn ways to support speech goals through connection, shared interests, and real-life moments. We’ll talk about different communication styles, including gestalt language processing, and how to move away from “one-size-fits-all” ideas about speech. Families will leave with practical, affirming, and empowering tools to support communication.

What are Medicaid waivers, and could your child qualify? What services do they cover, and what can you do if your application is denied? Join us for a fun and informative evening designed to help families better understand Medicaid waivers for children with disabilities. Ginger Wilson and Julie Keys, attorneys with Disability Rights Ohio, will break down the basics of waivers, eligibility, what they cover and how to navigate the appeals process if needed.

Join Abby Schultz, MS, EIS, of Purposeful Growth & Wellness for a helpful talk about understanding your child as a whole person. Parents will learn how neurodivergence affects daily life, including learning, big feelings and self-control. Schultz also discusses how different therapies, such as Polyvagal Theory and DIR/Floortime, can work together in ways that fit your child, not just a diagnosis.

Has your child been struggling with increased social anxiety and screen addiction since the COVID pandemic? Do they struggle to make friends due to distance-learning during their early years? Then you might be raising a COVID kid! Join Rob Adams, PsyD, of Barlow & Adams Behavioral Health, for a conversation on the lasting effects of COVID-19 on kids’ anxiety, social development and emotional well-being. Learn tools to support your anxious or disconnected child and connect with other families raising the COVID kid generation.

Struggling with sleep in your household? Looking for practical tips to help your child — and your entire family — get a better night’s rest? Join Bridget Bowling, certified Family Sleep Institute Pediatric Sleep Consultant from Little Snoozers, who will discuss bedtimes, nap times, sleep transitions, as well as what sleep should look like from birth to school age. A Behavior Specialist from Silver Lining ABA will also be there to help answer questions and offer tools to support children with autism. Learn about the importance of a calming routine, a peaceful bedroom environment and other tools for helping your child achieve healthy sleep. This program will also discuss the unique sleep challenges faced by children with disabilities, with discussion groups for families navigating these experiences. You'll leave with practical strategies to make restful nights a reality for your household.

Has your child been identified as gifted or twice-exceptional? Could you use some tips for navigating what that means and how to meet the needs of your child at home and school? Join Jessica Esway, Director of Menlo Park Academy, as she guides families through what it means to be gifted or twice-exceptional and how to work together with schools to get the best support for your child. Jessica will also share practical tips for creating a supportive home environment, highlight common mistakes to avoid, and offer strategies for handling complex emotions.

Does your child forget to turn in homework or constantly blurt out answers in class? Do they become easily upset over small things? If so, your child might have executive function challenges. Join Tori Cordiano, Ph.D., who will discuss how core executive functioning skills impact daily life, including homework completion, following directions, time management and emotional regulation. She will also explore typical executive functioning struggles at different developmental stages and what red flags may signal a need for support. Learn practical, effective ways to help children build executive functioning skills at home and school.

Does your child struggle to attend school due to stress, anxiety or bullying? Are you facing daily battles to get them out the door each morning?  Join Rob Adams, PsyD from Barlow & Adams Behavioral Health and Rebekah Bryson, LISW, therapist and school social worker for Avon Local Schools, as they discuss the factors contributing to school avoidance both in and out of the classroom. Families will learn how to improve communication, adopt positive coping strategies to manage stress and collaborate effectively with educators, counselors, and therapists to support their child's success.

Do you worry about how screens and digital devices are impacting your child’s mental health? Are you struggling to help your child navigate the online world while also supporting their development? Join Dr. Nicole Pucci, Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Kelly Christian and Dr. Emily Lauster, of the Ethan D. Schafer Center for Learning Differences at Lawrence School, for a discussion on how to lessen the negative effects of screen time, as well as strategies to promote development, mental health and social interactions.

Do your kids constantly fight with each other? Does the competition among siblings in grades, sports or any activity drive you crazy? Do you have a child with a disability who has differing needs and other siblings get jealous? Join Nikki Rotshtein, Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, and Parent Coach and founder of Kavana Parenting, as she teaches you tools to support all of your children whether you are dealing with sibling conflict, jealousy or competition. She will also discuss how having a sibling with disabilities impacts others in the family and ways that a new baby changes the family dynamic.

Is your child a master at procrastination when it comes to bedtime? Is demanding a drink or snack the norm every night just before bed? Does the process of putting on pajamas and brushing teeth take what seems like hours? Join Ochanya McRoberts-Wells, MEd, as she discusses the ugly hour—that time before bed where chaos reigns and your little angel turns into a bedtime monster. She will provide you with tools to support a smoother bedtime for the whole family. You will also learn nighttime rituals to help establish predictability for all involved.

Shavaun Tucker, LISW, will discuss practical ways to help your child build better coping skills at home and in the classroom. She will also address ways to manage intense emotions and decrease the causes of anxiety. Learn the importance of self-care routines like hydration and sleep in a child’s day.

Did your child recently receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis? Or, are you trying to navigate new territory with a child previously diagnosed? How can you best support your child in whatever stage they are currently in?  Join Nathan Morgan, MSSA, LSW, of Milestones Autism Resources, as they present facts, debunk myths and provide the most up-to-date terminology currently available on ASD informed by their experiences as both a licensed social worker and autism self-advocate. Each autistic person is unique. Learn about differing strengths, lagging skills and accommodating ever-changing support needs.