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What kinds of community outreach do you do?
I feel that it is important to give back to the community as much
as I can. One of the best ways that I can do that is by providing my expertise to the public for free. I provide
free seminars to local organizations such as PTSA, church and professional groups that have parents looking to better understand and
raise their children.
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Do you have any upcoming workshops that I can attend?
Yes, I do. The following
is a schedule of upcoming workshops for local parent organizations that have invited me to speak:
- October 7, 2008 @ 7:00pm
Granada Hills Charter High School PTSA
Homework Sucks! Help for Parents, Success for Students
- October 20, 2008 @ 6:30pm
Sherman Oaks Center for Eriched Studies 6th Grade Moms of 2008-2009
Who is this Crazy Person Masquerading as My Teenager?
- October 22, 2008 @ 6:00pm
Calabash
Elementary School PTSA
Parenting without Panic: Setting Better Boundaries with Your Kids
- November 6, 2008 @ 8:30am
Lanai Road Elementary School PTSA
Success...
But at What Cost? Creating a Healthy Balance for Your Kid
- November 24, 2008 @ 8:00am
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies PTSA
Parenting without Panic: Setting Better Boundaries with
Your Kids
- March 4, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Bishop Alemany High School Parent Association
Who is this Crazy Person Masquerading as My Teenager?
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What organizations have you been a resource to?
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Some of the groups that I have
been associated with are:
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- "Because I Love You" - The Parent Support Group
- Granada Hills Charter High School PTSA
- Lanai
Road Elementry School
- Portola Middle School PTSA
- Reseda High School Parent Center
- Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Gifted
Student Program
- Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Parent Center
- Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies PTSA
- Sherman
Oaks Center for Enriched Studies 6th Grade Moms of 2008-2009
- Sierra Canyon School Parent Association
- Taft High School Parent Center
- Woodland Hills Private School
- Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
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What kind of topics do you discuss?
Here
is a list of workshops that I have created that are available for your group to better
help parents:
- Who is This Crazy Person Masquerading
as My Teenager?
- Homework Sucks! Help for Parents, Success for Students
- Sex, Drugs & Violence: The Three Teenagers of the
Apocalypse
- Bedroom Battleground: Getting Kids to Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep in Their Own Beds
- Parenting without Panic:
Setting Better Boundaries with Your Teens / Children
- Success... But at What Cost? Creating a Healthy Balance for Your Kid
- Graduation...
Journey to the Unknown
I am constantly researching new topics to present. So if your group or association is interested in learning
better ways to help your kids, teens and families change and grow, please Contact me. As each organization is unique,
I am able to customize a presentation to fit your interests. In fact I may be working on a topic right now that suits
your needs.
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Are your seminars dry and boring?
No. Actually, I always get great feedback from participants telling
me that these workshops are a lot of fun. Not only are they very interactive, but without fail, there are always great questions
from parents which lead to exciting group interactions. This creates more of a discussion-like atmosphere instead of them
feeling like dry and boring lectures.
I always try to use levity to lighten some of these very heavy and scary topics.
There are three main reasons why I do this:
- Using appropriate and respectful humor can be an effective coping technique for people
when broaching sensitive and uncomfortable topics.
- An occasional joke about the struggles of parenthood can help parents realize
that they are all going through similar challenges with their kids and can lead to a positive bonding and supportive experience.
- It's
just who I am.
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Do you do any community outreach specifically geared toward kids?
As a matter of fact, I have. From 2007
- 2008 I volunteered my time as an instructor for "Our Whole Lives" Lifespan Sexuality Education.
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WHAT?! What is that?
Our
Whole Lives is a series of sexuality education curricula for various age groups from as early as kindergarten and going all the way
to adulthood. In April, 2008, I concluded a 27-week class providing up-to-date information and honest, age-appropriate education
for the 7th - 9th grade class. This program helps kids clarify their values and improve their decision-making skills within
a safe and supportive group atmosphere. Our Whole Lives promotes values of self worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice
and inclusivity. The goal is to help participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and
behavior.
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Why do you teach kids about sex?
I feel that this is a very important issue in today's world. Children (especially teens)
have so much access to information and more importantly... misinformation about sex, leading to very poor decisions. Many of
those rash choices can be drastically life altering. The more real information kids have, the better choices they generally
make.
As I asked in my February 2007 issue of Tips on Teens #004 - "Are You Worried about Your Teen Having Sex?" -- Who
would you rather have (your kid) learn (about sex) from… his 15-year-old ignorant friends? Or you and medical professionals?
That
is a scary question for most parents to face; but it is an important one. I'd rather your kid make choices on what knowledgeableprofessionals teach than on what his friends think they know.
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Are there any other organizations that you donate your time to?
Yes, I
am a volunteer for the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health team in the West San Fernando Valley. That means if there
is ever a local tragedy (anything from a single house fire to a community wide disaster) I am called upon to offer mental
health support to both the Red Cross staff and victims of the event.
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Will you tell me more about your community outreach?
Of
course, I'd be happy to talk to you more about what I do. Please Contact me and we'll talk about how we can collaborate
to design a program that would give back to the community by helping kids, teens and their families change and grow.
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