September Staff Recomendations
Our September 2023 staff picks tackle difficult, but extremely important, topics and recent events that impact our families and children.
Podcast Pick: Inside America’s critical shortage of foster care homes by WBUR On Point
On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti discusses the current shortage of foster homes across the United States with guests including former foster youth, foster care advocates, and other stakeholders within the foster care system. This crisis has led to many unconventional housing facilities for children waiting for beds in foster homes, including hotels, offices, and hospitals. Listeners explore what may be causing the decline in foster care homes and what can be done about it.
One person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Despite the impact of suicide across global communities, suicidal thoughts are still widely misunderstood and discussions about suicide are few and far between. Author Rory O’Connor’s decades of research and work in suicide prevention culminates in When It Is Darkest. From Goodreads, “This book will untangle the complex reasons behind suicide and dispel any unhelpful myths. For those trying to help someone vulnerable, it will provide indispensable advice on communication, stressing the importance of listening to fears and anxieties without judgment. And for those who are struggling to get through the tragedy of suicide, it will help you find strength in the darkest of places.”
In the wake of one of the worst natural disasters in Hawaii’s history, children and families in Lahaina are struggling to find normalcy. This article shares the story of Sarah Verrastro and her six-year-old son, Myles, who were displaced when they lost their home in the fire. Parents don’t know when they will find housing and children don’t know when they will return to school. For the Brillantes family, the devastation has caused 27 family members to live under one roof. Lahaina residents of all ages are mourning the island and what it used to represent in their lives.