NEWS & UPDATES


It's happening at the Y.

Posted on: Monday, October 3rd, 2022

Mental Health at our Y

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING NETWORK

The Hockomock Area YMCA’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Network provides a safe space for parents and/or caregiver discussion around youth mental well-being strategies.

What is the SEL Network?
Monthly, open dialogue sessions with topics including emotional intelligence, resiliency, compromise, expressing emotions and social emotional behaviors, talking about mental health, and emotional management for caregivers and children. Sessions are designed to discuss topics and challenges in general terms, including skills and techniques to apply in the home and providing resources for caregivers. The network will not provide assessment, diagnosis, direct support, or speak about individual children. Our YMCA’s Social Worker, Brynne Kirwan, LCSW, and Sarah Henesey, Senior Director of Inclusion, will facilitate the sessions.

Who can join the SEL Network?
Any parent/caregiver looking to gain strategies around overall youth mental well-being and discuss with other caregivers.

Can I bring my child?
YES! We will have a structured, supervised activity and a light dinner for children and caregivers.

When is it held?
Once a month per location, Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm
Bellingham Middle School, 130 Blackstone St. (1st Wed/each mo.) – Nov 2, Dec 7, Jan 4, Feb 1, Mar 1, Apr 5, May 3
Martin School, 37 Landry Ave., North Attleboro (2nd Wed/each mo.) – Nov 9, Dec 14, Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 8, Apr 12, May 10
Foxboro Regional Charter School, 131 Central St. (3rd Wed/each mo.) – Nov 16, Dec 21, Jan 18, Feb 15, Mar 15, Apr 26*, May 17. (*April is 4th Wed due to school vacation)

What is the cost?
This program is offered at no cost to families, thanks to the philanthropic support of CHNA6/Greater Milford and the Bristol County Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.

How do I register for the SEL Network?
When registering, please choose 1 location to attend monthly.
To register or for more information, please contact BrynneK@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5225.

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MINDING YOUR MINDS PARTNERSHIP SERIES

The Hockomock Area YMCA is proud to partner with Minding Your Mind to provide education through community workshops that focus on mental well-being, resiliency, and supportive strategies.

Workshops are free and open to all! No YMCA membership required.
Thank you to CHNA6 (Greater Milford Area) for their philanthropic support.

Upcoming Workshops
MINDFUL CAREGIVING OF K-5 YOUTH, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 5:30-7:30PM

Linda will provide practical strategies for managing family life, including mindful parenting/caregiver techniques, identifying & reducing your child’s stress & anxiety, and creating balance for your entire family or those in your care. Geared towards parents, caregivers, and community members. Includes time for questions.

Linda will be joined by Youth Speaker, Elizabeth. She believes her purpose is to share her experience with others to help then recognize that they are not alone, that hope and healing are worth more than perfection, and that they, too, have an important purpose in this world.

To register or for more information, please contact BrynneK@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5225.


CREATING A CALM HOLIDAY SEASON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, 5:30-7:30PM

Join Linda to learn to understand the emotions around the holiday season and prepare for the New Year. Discussion will include common mental health challenges during this time and resources to cultivate inner calm and supportive connections with others. Geared toward parents, caregivers, and community members. Youth ages 14+ are welcome.

Linda will be joined by Youth Speaker, Mallory. She uses her own personal experiences and storty to reach back and help others so they know their voice is powerful, they are allowed to be human, and healing does indeed exist.

To register or for more information, please contact BrynneK@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5225.

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Bio: Linda Price Linda Price, M.Ed., CAGS, LEP, E-RYT, YACEP Program Facilitator, Minding Your Mind

As a Licensed Educational Psychologist, Linda provides individual and group counseling, social emotional learning groups, and parent consultation and workshops through her private practice, Wellness Empowerment in Scituate, MA. She specializes in working with youth coping with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, anxiety, social and executive function struggles, and learning differences. Linda earned her Master’s of Education Degree in School Adjustment Counseling and her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in School Psychology in 1993 at Northeastern University. In building her expertise, Linda became certified in Children’s Yoga, Yoga Nidra meditation, is an Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher and Continuing Education Provider, received intensive training in Mindfulness, and Train the Trainer in Calm Classroom, Resilient Schools from the Benson-Henry Institute through Massachusetts General Hospital, and Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying through the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center.

In combining her vast experience in counseling and mindfulness and provides workshops and presentations with helpful, hands-on strategies for Minding Your Mind for parents and caregivers, school personnel, corporations, and the community at large. Linda is a warm, approachable, and compassionate presenter who is very relatable and engaging. With thirty years of experience in working with schools, Linda understands the stress level and demands placed on students, parents, and school personnel first hand. Her presentations address topics in mindfulness, trauma-informed social emotional learning, mental health, and anxiety with titles including “Trauma-Informed SEL”, “SEL and Mindfulness for a more compassionate school climate”, “Surviving to Thriving”, “Coping Skills for Current Times: Supporting the Mental Health of K-6 Youth”, and “Mindful Parenting”. No matter the audience or topic, Linda ensures that participants leave with resources and skills they can implement immediately.