Category: Family Corner

Family Corner 7/22/15

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: From Adversity to Resilience – Part II

Program Topic: Seeing Things Differently

Key Discussion Points:
a) We all face challenges and some degree of trauma in our lives that sometimes can cause us to trip, stumble and even fall for a period of time
b) We have a choice – we can “focus on the fall” or we can focus on the way that we recovered from the fall, and learn from that
c) We all need help and encouragement from others to “flip the mirror” in the way in which we see ourselves and see our strengths, and the strengths of others, and celebrate and promote them.

Guest: Chris Trout, Strengths in Focus

Family Corner 6/24/15

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Program Topic: From Adversity to Resilience: (First in a series)

Key Discussion Points:
a) Many studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family.
b) Relationships that create love and trust, provide role models and offer encouragement and reassurance help bolster a person’s resilience. Importance of one relationship can make all the difference
c) Maine’s Conference on ACEs/Resilience is Nov. 3-4, 2015

Guests:
Karen Heck, Senior Program Officer, The Bingham Program
Patrick Walsh, Director of Prevention Services at Broadreach Family & Community Services

Family Corner 5/27/15

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Daily unseen environmental hazards

Program Name: Healthy Environments: Protecting Children from Unseen Dangers

Broadcast Date: May 27, 2015

Broadcast Time: 10-11:00 a.m.

Program Topic: Environmental Diligence

Key Discussion Points:
a) Many of the hazards – lead, water and soil pollutants – aren’t visible, have odor or taste
b) These toxins can be very damaging to young children especially because of the dose-intensity relationship to their physical size, but long-term exposure over time can be equally damaging to
adults and seniors causing, for example, cancer and lung problems
c) There are resources in Maine to help residents test for and mitigate these dangers

Guests:
Andres Smith, State Toxicologist and Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Program within Maine CDC
Nikki Fox, Community Health Coordinator with Healthy Acadia

FMI: http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/15115/20150612/insecticides-may-affect-cognitive-development-in-children.htm

Family Corner 4/22/15

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Food Security for All Ages! Examining summer options for families and young children

Program Topic: Food insecurity, healthy growing, cooking and eating

Key Discussion Points:
a) Maine is among the highest states in its rate of food insecurity, 43% higher than in other New England states.
b) Maine is 3rd in the county in terms of low food insecurity – still contributes to hunger, poor nutrition and obesity
c) 1st in New England for true food insecurity – People are hungry on a daily basis.
d) Opportunities for “gleaning” in the region
e) Opportunities for summer childrens’ food programs in the region
f) Farmers’ Markets and use of EBT cards for low-income residents
g) CSA availability for seniors

Guests:
Christina Fortin with Healthy Acadia, an Anti-Hunger & Opportunity Corps/Maine Hunger Initiative VISTA working to reduce hunger and improve food security throughout Hancock County
Hannah Semler, with Healthy Acadia who launched The Gleaning Initiative
Shannon Grimes works in farm viability for Maine Farmland Trust

Family Corner 3/25/15

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Circle of Security: The Importance of Attachment

Key Discussion Points:

a) Within relationships children learn what to expect in their world about being safe, lovable, capable and meaningful. Research indicates that these are building blocks for being able to thrive in good conditions and to survive and continue to grow in adverse settings. Some call that resilience.

b) Circle of Security-Parenting guides caregivers in providing a secure base from which children can go out to explore their world and safe harbor to which they can return.

c) When children expect to be safe they can focus on all the interesting things in their world, without having to be preoccupied with watching out for danger or with protecting themselves. Parents learn to Watch Over and Protect
children.

d) goals. Parents learn to Help build successes and Comfort frustrations.

e) Children with positive attachment to their parents and other caregivers exhibit increased empathy, greater self-esteem, better relationships with parents and peers, enhanced school readiness, and an increased capacity to handle
emotions more effectively.

Guest: Charlie Slaughter, MPH, RD

Family Corner 11/26/14

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Healthy Social/Emotional Skill Development

Program Topic: Hungry for Love: Mealtime is more than an opportunity for food

Key Discussion Points:

a) Mealtimes provide opportunities for parents and care givers to instill “executive

functioning” skills in children

b) These skills are the foundation for learning and include Focus and Self Control,

Perspective Taking, Communicating, Making Connections, Critical Thinking, Taking on

Challenges, being Self-Directed, and the ability to Engage in Learning.

c) “The food is important, but your love, your care and your connections are far more

important than the food.”

d) Parents who use their power and love to build mealtime environments help their children

to be better equipped to thrive in life.

Guest: Charlie Slaughter, MPH, RD

Family Corner 10/22/14

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: The impact of Poverty in Maine on Young Children and Families

Key Discussion:
a) Importance of listening to others as they share their perspectives, opinions and questions
b) Open discussion of the many diverse opinions about poverty and encouraging robust dialogue to generate solutions and support for Mainers
c) How many local Maine communities are working to address poverty

Guests:
Marjorie Withers, LCPC, Community Caring Collaborative
Karen Heck, Mayor of Waterville

Family Corner 9/24/14

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Poverty in Maine/Effects upon children, families

Program Topic: The impact of Poverty in Maine on Young Children and Families

Key Discussion Points:
a) Connections between poverty and children’s nutrition, health, growth, success in school, language development, social/emotional skills
b) Integrated, long-term and meaningful public support programs
c) Improving the public’s understanding of poverty

Guests by name and affiliation:
A) Donna M. Beegle, EdD, Communication Across Barriers
B) Marjorie Withers, LCPC, Community Caring Collaborative
C ) Karen Heck, Mayor of Waterville