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The Impact of Stress & How You Can Avoid It Breaking You Down

Whether you’re an essential worker serving those in need on the front lines or have found yourself at home due to stay at home orders, we’ve all felt the impact of this pandemic in some way.

It’s natural for all of us to be feeling a little stressed right now. At a macro level, it’s hard to ignore the headlines over the past month on the skyrocketing cases of child abuse and domestic violence. On an individual level, many of us are grappling with a sense of grief- the loss of “normal life” and the comfort we once drew from regular day-to-day activities.

Right now, it’s easy to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with uncomfortable feelings and the stress they cause. At the moment, many, out of desperation, are turning to negative attempts to cope, such as drinking, overeating, and misusing substances. However, it’s more important than ever that we utilize our healthy coping skills to ensure that we’re at our best mentally and physically. Both to make it through this storm, and to be there for those we care about.

While there’s certainly a correlation between families spending more time together at home and abuse cases, stress and the inability to cope also play a key role.

In cases of child abuse, often times parents struggle with their own issues and lack the ability to parent effectively during times of increased stress. Additionally, while also playing a key role in child abuse, alcohol often is a precipitating factor in domestic violence incidents. For those reasons, it’s especially important for families to reach out and seek support if they’re struggling.

If you’re struggling, or know of a child or family who is, please reach out to us at 406-245-6539 or contact us through our website. We remain dedicated to supporting youth and families and continue to serve those in need of mental and behavioral health services during this difficult period.

Are You in Need of a Little Inspiration? We’ve Got You Covered With 10 of Our Best Parenting Quotes!

Parenting is both rewarding and one of the toughest jobs out there. Being a parent means holding the destiny of a tiny person in the palm of your hand. What we do with our kids today will most certainly shape their future.

However, parenting is no easy feat. So, if you’re worried that you’ve done something wrong or made a mistake, know that there isn’t a caregiver out there who hasn’t botched it in some way.

That being said, if you are looking for a little parenting inspiration, look no further! Below you’ll find ten of our most powerful parenting quotes!

An Inside Look at What #YDIStrong Looks Like Across the State

The last few weeks have been difficult, but it’s amazing how the creative mind of our Clinical Director of Residential Services, Kevin Wyse, #YDIStrong movement has ignited as a way for our community and group home staff to show support for one another during this difficult period in our history.

So many of our locations have stepped up to support the children and families in our care during this period of uncertainty. In Kalispell, the local team has created support packages for each of our families to hand deliver to their doorsteps. The packages consist of special handwritten notes to each child and caregiver, as well as parenting tips and crafts for the kids.

In Billings, Community Therapist, Joellen Brennan, has been making it a point to write letters to the kids she works with. She reports, “Every child likes to receive mail.”

According to Joellen, the children have even requested that she draw pictures for them. So, in order to meet their requests, she sought out a few tutorials on YouTube and put her new-found art skills to work- drawing magnificent portraits for the kids.

Have you heard of the latest trend of painting hearts in windows? This new fad started as a way for people to show connection to one another during a time when we are all physically separated. In solidarity with those in the community, our Butte team spent a whole day painting hearts in the front windows of their office.

At our therapeutic group homes, our teams have been putting in long hours, sometimes back to back shifts, to support the health and safety of the kids in our case. Each day, they spend countless hours sanitizing and screening team members, youth, and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms. In the midst of ensuring the physical safety of our kids, they’re supporting them emotionally during a time when everyone is grappling with uncertainty and the sting of isolation.

We are so proud of all of our staff for their dedication to the children and families we serve. Physical

distancing doesn’t mean emotional distancing, and they’re certainly embodying this value through the work they’re doing right now!

Therapeutic Foster Care Openings

Billings

1 Opening (Male or Female, 0-18)

Bozeman

No Openings

Butte

1 Opening (Male or Female, 0-18)

Helena

3 Openings (Male or Female, 0-18)

Great Falls

2 Openings (Male or Female, 0-18)

Shelby

1 Opening (Male or Female, 0-18)

Miles City

No Openings

Havre

1 Opening (Male or Female, 0-18)

Glasgow

No Openings

Kalispell

No Openings

Missoula

No Openings

Hamilton

No Openings

Glendive

No Openings

Colstrip

No Openings

Openings can change throughout the month. Please contact Intake Coordinator, Nicole Bergman, at 406-245-6539, for more information or to make a referral.