MiKid is a local non-profit that provides support and assistance for families with children and teens with behavioral health challenges. Every holdiay season, MiKid provides toys, games, sports equipment or anything else that a needy child might want in a “Santa’s Elf Bag.” The Office Manager at MiKid, Jennifer Neely, explained that this year donations for our teen populaton are especially limited. “Many of the teens on our list are currently living in group homes and don’t have family members providing special gifts for the holiday season,” said Ms. Neely.

What do teens want?  Sports related items like soccer balls and baseballs, movies, toiletries, curling irons, sweatshirts (hoodies), colored socks, lip gloss, chapstick, combs, brushes, books, gift certificates, board games, playing cards, colored pencils, sketch pads, inexpensive jewelry, scarves, cookies etc. MiKid will also accept cash donations for the purchase of necessary items.

MiKid is a 501(c)(3) organization and is affiliated with the Federation of Families for Childre3n’s Mental Health and their philosophy is that most families are multi-stressed, not dysfunctional.  When working with famlies, MiKid staff focuses on strengths, not flaws and believes that planning and obtaining of services should be a joint effort of family and professionals. MiKid staff know that parents know their child best.

To donate please call the MiKid office at 882-0142 or stop by with your donation during regular business hours from 8am to 5pm at 4500 E. Speedway, Suite 58.  The website is www.mikid.org

FIRST OF ITS KIND

FOR MOMS WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (TPDC) and CODAC Behavioral Health Services will host the Grand Opening of Mother’s Oasis: Center for Emotional Wellness on Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 4:30-6:30at 1067 E Silverlake Drive (85713).

Senator Linda Lopez, Elizabeth Jiminez (State Director for Healthy Families), and mothers who have experienced severe postpartum depression are scheduled to speak about the importance of a center dedicated to the emotional wellness of mothers.

“This is the first center of its kind in the entire country,” says founder Carole Sheehan, President of the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition. “Mother’s Oasis is now open to meet the special needs of women who are experiencing the troubling effects of pregnancy- and postpartum anxiety and depression.”

Maternal Depression is the number one predictor of future behavioral and cognitive problems in children. Therefore, a mother’s mental and emotional wellness are key to family health and survival. Unfortunately, however, each year around 4,000 women in Pima County suffer with anxiety and depression around childbirth. Many are not identified or treated, leading to chronic depression for the mother and challenges for the child(ren) as well.

Mother’s Oasis will offer support groups, therapy, doula services, yoga and zumba classes and connections to other community resources, such as parenting classes and behavioral health services. Services are offered at no cost.

CODAC is providing physical space to TPDC for the Mother’s Oasis free of charge, which compliments CODAC’s Healthy Families, Mother’s Caring About Self (intensive outpatient) and Las Amigas (residential treatment) programs.

All media are invited to attend the grand opening to learn of this first-of-its-kind center. For more information, please contact Kristine Welter at kwelter@codac.org or 260-2771.

My best friend, Kathy Johnson,  just passed. Actually, she was more of a sister to me and a mom to my kids.

After living in Douglas for over a year back in my early 20′s, I was ecstatic to finally find a friend from that area that I had something in common with. We were pregnant at the same time. Our kids grew up together. She gave me the strength to go on after my husband was killed in 1986.  She and her family continued to visit regularly after we moved to Tucson.   I always felt supported by Kathy. She  stood by me though my roller coaster emotions and never once judged me.  As my daughter recently said, she taught us about functional family relationships.

So many people looked to her for guidance. It was a huge mantle to carry and she did it with grace and elegance. Kathy never said anything negative about anyone and continued to have a positive outlook even after liver cancer was diagnosed one month ago. She was focused on seeing her first grand baby born and was determined to “beat this  thing.”

Family and her huge circle of friends are experiencing intense grief right now.  Some people are conflicted about their pain, thinking that close family members are the only people that have the right to feel so intensely.  I have always said, “you can’t compare pain,” and I believe that you also can’t compare grief.  We all experience it in our own way and no matter the degree of intensity, pain is pain and grief is grief.  Mine is not easier or more difficult than yours and we can all support each other in these times of sadness.

The person that shared so much of our life is no longer with us physically, but I believe those that pass on are still with us in spirit.  And, our Kathy has one strong spirit.  She leaves a legacy of love and compassion and I am so honored to have had her as my loyal friend.