International Day of Non-Violence
Be a Peacemaker in a Conflict-Filled World People complain about the evening news; it’s all bad news, there’s too much violence and it makes them feel helpless. It’s easy to see why. According to the Peace Alliance, 1.6 million deaths worldwide every year are the result of violence. It is one of the leading causes of
Youth Crisis Center Teams With Feeding Northeast Florida To Fight Childhood Obesity
Learning more about nutrition can be helpful in avoiding childhood obesity.THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The Youth Crisis Center (YCC) and Feeding Northeast Florida are teaming up to combat obesity in Jacksonville’s children. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. About one in five children over six in the U.S. are considered
“Family Means Nobody Gets Left Behind or Forgotten.” – Lilo & Stitch
During her fifteen-plus years in the mental health field, Cecelia Stalnaker-Cauwenberghs, LMHC, has met her share of people who feel lost, sad or abandoned. As a licensed mental health counselor and current Director of Program Services at the Youth Crisis Center (YCC), she says those feelings can often be indicators of suicidal thoughts. The Questionnaire
World Suicide Prevention Day
Something Was Wrong Justice’s parents could tell, even as a child, that their bright and precocious daughter was struggling with something. They didn’t know what it was, and she couldn’t explain it. They had her tested for everything from ADD to autism and nothing showed up. When Justice turned 12, her behavior was so extreme that
Family Is Where You Find It
Most people would admit to preferring the company of happy people over grumps. But did you know that happiness is contagious and can spread to an entire group of people from just one happy person? National Happiness Happens Day encourages us to recognize happy moments and think about happiness in our daily lives. This “happy-holiday”
How Friends Can Save Your Life
The popular show Friends featured a group of friends who experienced the everyday struggles of life, love and growing up. The theme throughout the series was finding support in each other despite obstacles or disagreements. Those virtues of a good friendship are celebrated on the first Sunday of August during National Friendship Day, set to
Minority Mental Health Month
Young people face many potentially overwhelming challenges, including peer pressure, cyber bullying and grade anxiety. For some, these problems are further exacerbated by a mental illness, posing a simultaneous challenge to their maturation, development of life management skills and emotional stability. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that 21% of young adults have a
YCC and the use of Civil Citations
Do Civil Citations work? Is the program seeing success? First Coast Connect guest host, Charlene Shirk and Juvenile Director of the 4th Judicial District State Attorney’s Office, Laura Lambert discuss these issues with YCC’s President and CEO, Kim Sirdevan. Click below to listen to the latest discussion regarding the use of Civil Citations instead of
What is Touchstone Village?
18 Years Old, Alone and Afraid When Andrew was 18 years old, he found himself adrift. A high school dropout, at odds with his dad, he left home with no real knowledge about how to take care of himself. “I was on the streets,” explains Andrew. “I was just lost and alone.” Andrew saw some
Why Girls are More Likely Than Boys to Suffer in Silence
Numerous studies, spanning decades, have found that girls talk more often – and earlier – than boys. So, when girls are suddenly quiet or withdrawn, it truly can be a cause for concern. “Boys act out externally – they are more aggressive or destructive, and their behavior is directed outwards toward others,” explains Sterling Hurst,
SNAP Expands to Elementary Schools
Conflict is a normal part of a child’s life. In fact, it can be a healthy way for them to learn how to manage their emotions, problem solve and compromise with their peers. However, when conflict is not managed correctly, either at home or at school, it can impact a child’s relationships, self-esteem and ability
Warning signs that your child may be a target for perpetrators
In the midst of a 12-year old girl from Jacksonville that had gone missing, Youth Crisis Center’s Director of Programs talked to Channel 4 News about warning signs that your child may be a target for perpetrators. Young children are “perfect victims for perpetrators that are looking for a child that may have a low
Bad Attitudes Don’t Mean Bad Kids
Bad Attitudes Don’t Mean Bad KidsWe’ve all heard these terms: “kids will be kids”, “it’s just a phase, they’ll grow out of it” or “it’s a teenager thing.” Sure, we hear it, but it is no fun to live with this behavior or be the parent of a child or teen acting in this way.
Top Reasons Why Parents Don’t Get Help for Troubled Kids
Parenting is a tough job – even beyond the obvious sleepless nights, endless laundry and constant worry. It’s a job made even more difficult by the seemingly never-ending presence of people who want to tell you how you “should be” parenting your child. From your favorite eatery to your own home, they love to share
A Graduation Like No Other
A Graduation Like No Other There are few things more exciting than a graduation ceremony. It represents accomplishment, achievement and an investment in a better future. For families in the Youth Crisis Center’s (YCC) SNAP® program, SNAP® graduation is a time they can reflect on how far they’ve come over the past 13 weeks, and
What is SNAP®?
Getting Help When Your Child Is Acting Out New mom Octavia was excited about starting her family. She was a proud momma – to say the least – when she had her first child. Smart and sweet, her son was well behaved at church, during visits to his grandparents and when he played with friends.
Nonprofit Seeking More “Safe Place” Sites Across Northeast Florida
The Youth Crisis Center, located in Jacksonville and founded in 1974 is seeking additional Northeast Florida locations to be Safe Place sites where at-risk youth can get immediate help. Area Safe Place sites are characterized by the yellow and black Safe Place sign, and include police and fire stations, public libraries, local businesses, Walmarts, Sam’s
Warning Signs Someone Could Commit a Violent Attack; How to React
“If you see something, say something- it could save someone’s life.” Kim Sirdevan, President and CEO of Youth Crisis Center spoke to CBS 47’s Jenna Bourne about the warning signs that could indicate someone may be capable of a violent attack. Some signs include loss of temper on a daily basis, announcing threats, plans for
Kids and Officers Work to Address Misconceptions
In 2012 the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) launched focus groups centered around Gaining Appreciation by Adjusting Perspectives, otherwise known as GAAP, with the goal of establishing positive relationships between youth and law enforcement. On Monday, February 12th, 20 kids from the Youth Crisis Center took part in a GAAP discussion covering everything from
First Coast Connect Interview for National Runaway Month 2017
For National Runaway Month, YCC President and CEO Kim Sirdevan stopped by First Coast Connect to talk with Melissa Ross about youth homelessness and how YCC is helping to tackle this issue. Nationwide over 3 million children run away each year. In Duval County, 74% of the 3,000 plus missing person reports filed involve youth
Jacksonville’s Youth Crisis Center to Add Area’s First LGBTQ Emergency Shelter
About 60% of Jacksonville’s homeless youth population identify as LGBTQ, when the national average is 40%. To combat this, the Youth Crisis Center has joined forces with JASMYN and Changing Homelessness to establish a safe space. Read the full Times-Union article here to learn more about this effort and what it means to the Jacksonville
First Coast Living Interview on World Mental Health Day 2017
Kim Sirdevan, President and CEO of Youth Crisis Center stopped by First Coast Living on World Mental Health Day to talk with Charlene Shirk about YCC’s rebranding and focus on early trauma detection while supporting children and their families. The interview also covers ways to acknowledge and help people suffering from trauma in the workplace,
How to Calm Your Child’s Anxiety while Prepping for a Hurricane
Hurricane season is a very anxious time for adults, but moreso for children who have a limited understanding of hurricanes and their impact. Channel 4 News stopped by Youth Crisis Center to get advice on ways you can minimize your child’s anxiety in these stressful times.
Jacksonville BUZZ Magazine interviews YCC President and CEO, Kim Sirdevan
On September 8th, Kim Sirdevan spoke with Chelsea Vance from BUZZ Magazine. She discussed YCC’s history as a haven for children since 1974 and how YCC is maintaining this status by adding more programs designed to help children and their families. Click here to read the article. The Youth Crisis Center is open 24/7 and has staff available daily to
The Youth Crisis Center, Butterfly Garden Luncheon: Celebrating the Wings of Change
Join the Youth Crisis Center on Friday, November 17th 2017 for our Butterfly Garden Luncheon, Celebrating the Wings of Change. YCC has a lot to celebrate, including our new focus towards awareness on the impact of trauma for youth and families and our recent collaboration with Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN). Enjoy a
First Coast Forum Interview with Kim Sirdevan, President and CEO of the Youth Crisis Center, and Brian Middleton
On August 30th Kim Sirdevan stopped by First Coast Forum to chat with Brian Middleton about the programs that the Youth Crisis Center offers and the repositioning of their brand. In 1974 former Councilwoman Gwen Yates founded the Transient Youth Center which was a safe shelter space for runaway youth. In 1982, it became Youth
Youth Crisis Center CEO and President Kim Sirdevan interviewed by iHeart Radio
On Sunday August 6, 2017, Kim Sirdevan, President and CEO of the Youth Crisis Center, was interviewed by iHeart Radio about their current happenings, the repositioning of their brand, and new collaboration with JASMYN. The Youth Crisis Center, founded in 1974, is known as Florida’s first runaway program, has grown to be one of the
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, this blog post will focus on getting rid of the stigma surrounding mental health. Mental Health Awareness Month was started in 1949 and continues to share resources to help people and heal emotional and psychological wounds. Those who are affected by mental illness continue to be
Art Therapy
Art therapy is defined as “…a treatment based on the interaction of the creator, the creation, and the therapist” (Freilich and Schechtman, 2010, p. 98). There are many ways to define art therapy and the definition itself is debated on across the field, along with the difference between an art therapist and a creative counselor.
Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are guidelines, rules or limits that a person can create that that teach us acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It’s important to set boundaries in order to communicate what you will and will not tolerate from a person or a relationship. It’s a way of setting limits in a way that is healthy and