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Quieting the Silence: How to be a Source of Support
May Mental Health Awareness Month
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | 7:30-9:00pm | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: The Wellness Institute
In honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, 4Front is partnering with The Wellness Institute and Blue Dove Foundation to invite you to “Quieting the Silence: How to be a Source of Support.” Join us to hear the moving stories of two parent-teen duos who faced mental health challenges with strength and resilience. What supported them through their ordeals? How did they support each other through their crises? Dr. Jonathan Singer, a leading expert in suicidology who has been working with children and teens for many years, will moderate the event.
Social Media Wellness: Talking With Teens About Social Media Use
Parenting Unpacked Spring Series 2 of 2
Date: Wed. May 25, 2022 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
It’s tough to keep track of all the social media trends and technology tools children have at their fingertips today. Navigating online and IRL (in-real-life) worlds can pose unique challenges, especially as it relates to learning, identity, socialization, community, and family. Join noted author Ana Homayoun (That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, The Myth of the Perfect Girl, Social Media Wellness) as she joins us to discuss how parents and caregivers can better understand tween and teen social media use. Her pragmatic approach and accessible solutions aim to support teen’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness. The first 30 participants will receive a FREE copy of Ana’s book Social Media Wellness.
Suicide Safety: Early Warning Signs
May Mental Health Awareness Month
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 | 8:00-9:30pm | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: The Wellness Institute
In honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, 4Front is partnering with The Wellness Institute and Blue Dove Foundation to invite you to “Suicide Safety: Early Warning Signs.” This event will feature Dr. Arielle Sheftall, principal investigator at the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Sheftall will teach us to recognize warning signs in young children and how to practice prevention and intervention with the latest research and best practices.
Past Programs & Events
Social Savvy: Navigating Parenthood in a Tech World
Parenting Unpacked Spring Series 1 of 2
Date: Wed. April 27, 2022 | Time: 7:00-8:30pm | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
Join parenting coach and expert, Cindy Shuster of Partner in Parenting, for an opportunity to discuss the groundbreaking documentary Childhood 2.0. Childhood 2.0 is required viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the world their children are navigating as they grow up in the digital age. Featuring actual parents and kids as well as industry-leading experts in child safety and development, this documentary dives into the real-life issues facing kids today — including cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more. The 1 hour documentary will be shared with registrants for advanced screening on your own schedule, followed by an opportunity to gather virtually for facilitated discussion and learning.
Parenting Unpacked PhD in Parenting with Erica Hruby
Date: February – April 2022 | Time: 12pm OR 7pm Options | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
Wednesdays at 7:00pm – 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6 OR Thursdays at 12:00pm – 3/3, 3/10, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
Join 4Front for this exciting 6-week, virtual, cohort-based experience to earn your “PhD in Parenting” teens and tweens! Erica Hruby of Anchored Parenting leads parents through six sessions of proven parent education methodologies, enhancing parent-teen relationships, improving parenting skills, and enabling parents to create a healthy, peaceful, and respectful home environment.
Parent Workshop: Practicing Radical Self-Acceptance with BaMidbar
Date: Wed. Feb 16, 2022 | Time: 7:00-8:00pm | Virtual | FREE | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
As humans, and especially parents, we’re hard on ourselves and are often our own loudest critic. Join 4Front for a virtual Parenting Unpacked session with BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy on February 16 at 7:00pm and learn how to “turn down the volume,” practice radical self-acceptance, and nurture self-compassion during times of insecurity or self-doubt.
In this session, parents will learn about the concept of radical self-acceptance and build practical skills to help both yourself and your teen interrupt the cycle of negative self-talk. BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy works with Jewish youth and young adults to ensure they have the confidence, skills, and community support to navigate life’s challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.
What Grandparents Need to Know About Teens and
Mental Health
Date: February 15, 2022 | Time: 7:00pm ET | Virtual | Hosted by: Jewish Grandparents Network
Join teen experts Dr. Betsy Stone and Erica Hruby for a sensitive and frank look at teens and mental health. In this live session, we will explore the most common mental health disorders in teens and the impact on teens’ mental health of living with Covid for two years, the pressures of social media, and, for some, grappling with issues of gender identity.
Stone and Hruby will specifically address what grandparents can do to support their teen grandchildren and the teens’ parents. For example: how to use productive language to let adult children know you have observed something concerning and specific questions you can ask your teen grandchildren to better understand their struggles.
A Healthier Approach to College Admissions
Date: Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021 | Time: 7:00-8:15pm ET & 4:00-5:15pm PT | Virtual
The college admissions process can be a source of stress and anxiety for students and parents alike. This research-based workshop addresses many of the important questions families have. What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend more selective colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? Participants will learn practical strategies to help reduce unnecessary pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support their student’s overall well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond.
A recording of the workshop will be sent to all registrants on December 15.
On the Other Side of the Door is the Inspired Life: Conversation with Dr. Lisa Miller
Date: Tuesday, Nov 2 | Time: 7:00pm EDT
Join Dr. Lisa Miller, nationally renowned psychologist and author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain, for a lively and optimistic conversation about finding larger purpose and meaning in everyday life, and passing the moral torch from the older generation to the younger.
Navigating the Social Media Storm: Anti-Israel & AntiSemitism
Date: Wednesday, Nov 17 | Time: 7:00-8:30pm | Location: Zoom | Cost: FREE
Join this panel conversation with influencers who are at the forefront of combating hate online. Featuring Julia Jassey, founder of Jewish on Campus, Jess Green, founder of Challaback Girls, and Becca Hurowitz, CEO of Vibe Israel USA.
Questions? Contact Jeffrey Blavatt at jblavatt@associated.org or 410-369-9208.
Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster
Parenting Unpacked Fall Session 2 of 2
Date: Thursday, Nov 18 | Time: 12:30-1:30pm | Location: Online | Cost: FREE | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
Join us as we delve into tangible ways to best support your teens throughout the ups and downs of teenage years, while fostering a sense of resilience, and providing our teens with the tools they need to succeed now and in the future.
Everything You Need to Know about Teens and Mental Health
Parenting Unpacked Fall Session 1 of 2
Thursday, Oct 14 | 12:30-1:30pm | Free | Location: Online | Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
As we continue to navigate the impacts of Covid-19 and what this looks like for your family, we know that mental health is a priority. In this session you will gain a better understanding of the most common mental health challenges facing teens today and discuss strategies to support your teen through them. This session will offer real life tips and techniques as you support your teen’s mental health and wellness.
Back To School: Managing Stress, the Grind & Expectations
August 30, 2021 | 7:00-8:30pm ET | Free | Virtual
Hosted by: We Need to Talk, Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit, Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit
We Need To Talk invites you to a virtual (Zoom) panel discussion, “Back To School: Managing Stress, the Grind, and Expectations”. Children and teens have more on their plates than ever before; managing the demands of schoolwork and extracurricular activities, all while continuing to cope with a global pandemic. Join our panelists, Dr. Natasha Kendal, Ph.D, LMFT, Brenda Mann, MA Ed, Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, and Laura Milner, LMSW, to learn concrete strategies to help youth in your life manage anxiety, stress, and challenges that may arise during their transition back to school. This event is free and open to everyone!
We Need To Talk is a program of Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, focused on raising awareness about youth mental illness, and providing tools and resources for those in need of care.
Parenting in Times of Crisis: Creating a Sense of Safety for your Child
June 17, 2021 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Free | Virtual
Hosted by: Center for Jewish Education
When there is violence and conflict in the world and community, parents often find it difficult to talk with their children about it or answer their questions. This session will help you discover what to say and how to offer a feeling of safety and connection. Join Dr. Anne Townsend and Jenny Barrett of Mariposa Education, as we explore together how adults can build resilience and what kids need to hear when they ask hard questions.
Virtual College Road Trip 2021!
Throughout June 2021
High school students and their families can explore college and Jewish life on campus on a Virtual College Road Trip, the second annual monthlong series. Each day from June 1 – June 30, the Virtual College Road Trip will offer student-led college tours, virtual information sessions with university admissions and Hillel professionals who will share insights on Jewish and general campus life, new engaging webinars on college preparedness, and other resources. For a comprehensive list of the 40 plus participating campuses across the country, visit roadtriptocollege.org.
Managing Re-Entry Stress and Anxiety for Your Teen
May 19, 2021 | 8:00-9:00pm | Free | Virtual
Hosted by: BBYO
In the second of our two-part series hosted by BBYO’s Wellness and Inclusion and Parent Advisory Councils, parents are invited to join BBYO wellness professionals and Nicole Glick, PsyD, for an interactive program on raising resilient teens. The program will examine the unique needs and stresses faced by today’s adolescents, as well as the challenges of re-integration in a post-COVID world, and will explore strategies for raising resilient teens. Nicole Glick is a licensed psychologist with expertise in child development and family systems and helps provide parents with the tools and support they need to raise healthy children.
Come and Learn2: A Greater Baltimore Virtual Shavuot Experience
Sunday, May 16 – 17 | 7:30pm – 5:00am | Free | Virtual
Join Jewish organizations around Baltimore for a very special Shavuot experience for the second year in a row. There will be speakers on many different subjects throughout the night, click for more info.
Parenting Unpacked Spring Session 3: “I Hate the Parent Covid Has Made Me” Parenting During a Pandemic
Thursday, April 15 | 7:00-8:30pm | Free | Location: Online
Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
The third of our 3-session series with renowned teen psychologist and educator Dr. Betsy Stone on How to Care for Yourself and Your Children in a Pandemic. Rules of parenting have changed in the Pandemic. Share the challenges of navigating parenting when everyone has different ideas of safety and discuss how we make difficult decisions as parents.
Parenting Unpacked Spring Session 2: “That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief”
Thursday, March 25 | 7:00-8:30pm | Free | Location: Online
Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
The second of our 3-session series with renowned teen psychologist and educator Dr. Betsy Stone on How to Care for Yourself and Your Children in a Pandemic. In this extended period of loss- of safety, of friends, of lives- how do we grieve? Discover what helps us to recover and why it’s so hard.
Parenting Unpacked Spring Session 1: Trauma In Your Brain and Body
Thursday, March 4 | 7:00-8:30pm | Free | Location: Online
Hosted by: 4Front Baltimore
The first of our three session series with renowned teen psychologist and educator Dr. Betsy Stone on How to Care for Yourself and Your Children in a Pandemic. In this first session, we’ll learn what happens under times of sustained stress or trauma, how our bodies and our brains respond, and discuss what helps.
The Well-Balanced Student: Avoiding Stress & Overscheduling during the Pandemic and Beyond
Wednesday, February 24 at 8pm | Cost: $10 | Location: Online
Hosted by: Challenge Success
When we are too focused on grades and performance, we deny our children the time and energy they need to tackle the demanding work of growing up. In this presentation, you’ll learn how you can establish a healthier home environment for your school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase your child’s resilience, creativity, and well-being. Participants will examine the tension that parents, students, and teachers often experience during remote and in-person learning over issues such as homework, grades, and the culture of competition.
JVC’s Community Mitzvah Week
Sunday, December 20 – Friday, December 25
Hosted by: Jewish Volunteer Connection
JVC’s Community Mitzvah Week will run from December 20-25, 2020. This week-long event will enable us to meet the vital needs of community nonprofit/service agencies and engage volunteers in a variety of events and projects through meaningful direct service, indirect service, and learning experiences. Arranged options will allow for safe involvement while accommodating different scheduling needs and preferences.
Amplifying Voices: Stories of Exclusion, Stories of Change
Sunday, December 6, 2020 | 12:30pm | $12 JCC Member/ $18 JCC NM
Hosted by: Gordon Center
Jews of Color Speak about Moving from Welcoming to Belonging. Panelists April Baskin, Gamal Palmer, and Evan Traylor will be in discussion moderated by Candace Manriquez Wrenn about their experiences as Jews of Color and sharing strategies to combat Racism and Anti-Semitism.
Navigating School During Uncertain Times
Thursday, November 12, 2020 | 8:00pm | $10 Registration
Hosted by: Challenge Success
How can parents best support the personal and academic needs of their children while also attending to their own professional and family needs? In this presentation, parents will receive strategies for remote, in-person, or hybrid school and will learn how they can establish a healthier home environment for their school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase resilience, creativity, and well-being.
Learn About College Financial Aid During COVID
Sunday, November 15, 2020 | 7:30-8:30pm
Hosted by: JELF – Jewish Educational Loan Fund
JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) will host a live financial aid session, addressing your options — and where to start in these uncertain times. As most of you know, JELF offers financial aid for college, graduate and vocational students. During this 1 hour webinar, we’ll discuss paying for college including scholarships/grants and the varying types of student loans, including JELF’s interest-free option. We’ll also have time for Q&A. Please share this with those of your members who may be in, or going into, any higher educational program.
18 Days Exploring Racial Justice
18 Days: October 14 – Nov 2
Hosted by: The Baltimore Jewish Council
Jewish organizations and individual community members are invited to participate in 18 days of learning and reflection on racial justice. Participants will receive an email a day featuring an article, video, and/or reflection question that surfaces one aspect or experience of race, racism, antisemitism, power, or privilege. With a commitment of just 30 minutes a day, participants will build a shared set of resources and tools to begin or continue the work of pursuing justice inside and beyond the Jewish community.
Connecting Generations: Difficult Conversations About Race
3 Session series: June 30 – Sept 15
Hosted by: Jewish Museum of Maryland & The Baltimore Jewish Council
A Free Three-Part Series- The events of recent weeks have brought to stark relief the issue of racial inequity in the United States. As uncomfortable and fraught as conversations about race can be, those conversations are necessary, especially now. The wisdom, experiences, and perspectives of different generations within the Jewish community can deepen our understanding of race and racism within Jewish and broader American contexts.
Members of all generations are invited to this three-part series. Ahead of each month’s session, participants will be asked to read or listen to a pre-selected article or podcast that will frame the conversation.
Back to School in 2020: Tips and Tools for the Year Ahead
Monday, August 31 | 8:00-9:00pm | Online | Hosted by: Associated Women, the JCC and JCS
Regardless of what we have chosen for our children, there is still a lot of concern about how this school year will play out. Join us for a virtual discussion to receive support, guidance and practical skills from JCS mental health clinicians, Ahuva Radzyner, LMSW, and Stacey Meadows, LCSW-C. Participants will learn to reduce stress and strengthen flexibility and resilience for the months ahead. Please note this this is a women’s event designed for female identifying caregivers.
Sexual Citizens – Helping Teens Make Mindful Choices
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 | 8:30-9:30pm | Hosted by: Moving Traditions
Sex, flirting, and romance are of central importance to teens—and, even in this time of social distancing, teens still need their parents’ guidance to navigate this important aspect of their lives. Please join Moving Traditions’ CEO Deborah Meyer along with Moving Traditions staff and Kol Koleinu Teen Fellows—as we speak with Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Kahn, coauthors of the landmark study, Sexual Citizens, who will share their research findings and discuss implications for teens and their parents.
The webinar is geared toward parents of 7th to 12th graders—and clergy and Jewish educators are welcome.
4FrontU – The Well-Balanced Teen
Thursday, May 23, 2019 | 7:00-8:30pm | Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, Teen Lounge
Learn research-based strategies for raising healthy teenagers in today’s fast-paced world. For Parents of Teens
Dor V’Dor: How is this Generation Different From All Others?
March 27 | 7:00-9:00pm | Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC
With Josh Miller, high school junior and Director of Gen. Z studies for XYZ University (Minneapolis, MN). This session is ideal for parents, rabbis, educators, teens, and other youth professionals.
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Adolescent Spirituality and Mental Health
February 27
With Dr. Lisa Miller (Columbia University), Author of The Spiritual Child. This session is ideal for parents, rabbis, educators, and other youth professionals.