Justin Howell from the Healthy Start Coalition's Team Dad Fatherhood Initiative joins us to share about this new program in Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties.  Justin explains how the 12 week training program works and how it's helping fathers, children, and families locally. Special thanks to Laura Roesch with the Bay County Public Library Foundation for being our guest co-host.  To contact Justin, dial or text (850) 896-9718 To dial Connect, (850) 872-4130 ext 104 Healthy Start Coalition...

Ron Sharpe from The Arc of the Bay joins us to share about how The Arc is providing supports and opportunities for people with disabilities in our community.  Their new campaign "Bay Be Counted" is spreading awareness about the importance of registering children for disability services before they turn 14 years old, due to the ever growing waitlist for adults requiring services.  Listen as Ron shares about how transition planning for these students can make all the difference in their...

Missy Lee from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) joins us to share about the Hope Florida program and the Care Portal.  Listen to learn more about DCF, how Hope Florida works to help our local families find a "pathway to prosperity", and how you or your organization can get involved by utilizing the Care Portal. To reach a Hope Florida Care Navigator, call 850.300.HOPE To seek help for vulnerable adults in Florida, call 800.96.ABUSE To reach the child abuse hotline, call...

Stacey Legg from Elevate Bay, along with mentor, Rosalita Cisneros and her mentee, Ariel, join us to share about their experiences in the Elevate Bay mentorship program.  Listen as mentor and mentee share how this program has impacted their lives and how you can participate as well.  If you are local to the Bay County, FL area and would like to volunteer as a mentor or add your BDS student to the waiting list, please contact Stacey Legg at [email protected] or call  (850) 767-4128....

Christy Myers from the Florida Veterans Support Line (FVSL) joins us to share how her organization is helping Veterans all over the Panhandle find the support and resources they need.  If you are a veteran in need of services, please reach out by dialing 211 or call 1-844-MYFLVET (693-5838). United Way of West Florida FVSL how ya doing? | Alignment Bay County If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out.  Dial the National Suicide and...

Nicole Johnson from BASIC of Northwest FL joins us to share about their RAP Project (Respect, Awareness and Prevention) and how they are reaching area youth to help equip them with skills to make healthy choices.  Nicole details how this integrated HIV and substance abuse prevention program empowers African American youth between the ages of 13 and 24. For more information about BASIC or RAP please contact Nicole, by email [email protected] or call (850) 785-1088 ext. 128. BASIC...

Laura Roesch from the Bay County Public Library Foundation joins us to share all the ways they are connecting children with books.  Listen as we discuss the benefits of reading on mental wellness, the impact books have on a child, and the many ways you can help support their wonderful programs.  To contact Laura or Bay FLOW, please email [email protected] or message them on Facebook.  Bay County Public Library Foundation Facebook Page Bay County Public Library Foundation...

Kristina Williams from the Life Management Center of NWFL joins us to share about the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program offered by the center.  Listen as Kristina shares about this evidence-based training program and the ALGEE process (Assess, Listen, Encourage Professional Help, Encourage Self-Help).  If you are interested in being trained in MHFA, contact Kristina to join a class.  To contact Kristina, please email [email protected] or call (850) 522-4485 ext. 1107 If...

Kelly Langenberg, Executive Director at the Bay Education Foundation, along with Dr. Lynn d'Albertis, a mentor in the Take Stock in Children program,  join us to share about their mentorship and scholarship program at work in Bay County.  Listen to learn more about how to get involved and how Take Stock in Children is impacting the youth in our area by providing opportunities and support to ensure a successful future for their students. If you are local to the Bay County, FL area and would...

Stacey Legg from Elevate Bay, along with long-time Elevate Bay Mentor, Dr. Scott Dean, join us to share about the great work being done for some of the most at-risk students in Bay County.  They explain how this mentorship program works, how to get involved, and how mentoring impacts the wellbeing of the students served. If you are local to the Bay County, FL area and would like to volunteer as a mentor or add your BDS student to the waiting list, please contact Stacey Legg at...

Kynia Gainer and Blair Bell from the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF) join us to share about the mental health resources available through their organization.  Servicing Bay, Washington, Jackson, Gulf, Franklin, Calhoun and Holmes counties, ELCNWF provides support to families with young children through screening and evaluation services.  In addition, ELCNWF also provides equipment and training to teachers in our area.  Listen to learn more about ELCNWF, including their...

Nikki Dickens, Director, and Dakota Januchowski, Clinical Coordinator, join us to share about the amazing Early Childhood Autism Program helping families in Bay County and the surrounding area.  ECAP serves children with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities.  ECAP is the only non-profit Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provider locally and a "hidden gem" for families in need of support and...

Colleen Cox with Therapeutic Measures - Music Therapy, Ministry and Mentoring joins us to discuss her work in music therapy, which she defines as "the use of music to reach a non-musical objective," as well as the many ways music can enrich lives, heal trauma and support wellness.  She also shares many resources, both local and online, that listeners can use to incorporate musical mindfulness into daily life, as well as treating us to a song written in the aftermath of Hurricane...

Tina Ray and Allison Hausner with the Mobile Response Team (MRT) from the Life Management Center of NWFL join us to share how MRT responds to individuals in crisis and how intervention saves lives.  Serving six counties locally, including Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf counties, the MRT is available 24/7/365 for free to help those in crisis.  Listen to learn more about the warnings signs exhibited when someone is having suicidal ideations and where you can go to find help...

Logan Kelly, with Live the Life Northwest Florida, joins us for another discussion about how to strengthen our relationships with healthy communication.  Listen as Logan shares more tools and techniques to bring couples closer together, such as the "Daily Temperature Reading."  Live the Life NWFL offers *FREE* relationship education classes and Logan shares more on how these classes work and what couples can expect. . The Adventures in Marriage, AIM class, is appropriate for couples of any...

David Trogdon from the HOPE Project, along with Kevin and support dog, Loki, join us to discuss the use of equine therapy to bring hope and healing to wounded warriors, veterans, first responders, and their families.  David highlights the many ways his organization provides support and community to people in our area, including chapel services, Battlebuddy support groups, PTSD/TBI (post traumatic stress/traumatic brain injury) education, and counseling.   We’d like to thank Emerald Coast...

Chaplain Zachary Kuster of Craftsman Counseling joins us to share his perspective on counseling from a faith-based background.  Zachary speaks about the stigma associated with seeking mental health services, especially within the church, and how Christians are not exempt from struggles with mental health.  Zachary is not accepting new clients at this time, but can be reached at [email protected] Alignment Bay County | Howyadoing.org Psychology Today Missio Mosaic

Therapists, Jessica Landon and Casi Knowles, share about Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), a new therapy program available through the Gulf Coast Children's Advocacy Center.  Jessica and Casi break this evidenced based therapy down for us, describing how it uses both child directed and parent directed play to build bonds and lower the incidence of disruptive behavior.  Learn about how this therapy is changing the lives of families in as little as four months!  PCIT is provided for FREE...

Kateryna Armenta of Ambitious We Life & Career Coaching joins us in the studio to discuss long terms goals.  She teaches us how to set a long-term goal by finding your vision for your life and making S.M.A.R.T. goals. She also shares valuable tips on how to overcome challenges, set action plans and the areas of your life to examine.  She talks about some of her personal goals and explains that it is OK to change your long-term goal if your life has changed.   how ya doing? | Alignment Bay...

Lacy Watkins, LMHC, joins us in the studio to talk about maternal mental health. We learn how maternal health is much more than just postpartum depression.  She tells us about perinatal mood & anxiety disorders (PMADs), risk factors when it comes to maternal mental health, signs & symptoms we can look for, myths & realities and treatment options.  She also shares her personal journey with PMADs and explains how the “baby blues” are different from other perinatal mood & anxiety...

Chris Hockman of the Oxford House joins us on the podcast to talk about how the Oxford House model works and why it is successful.  We learn about how the homes are democratically, self run and self supporting addiction recovery housing.  We talk about the stigma of recovery, some recent misconceptions in our community regarding Oxford House and how we can help this program flourish and thrive by keeping an open mind and heart....

Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Kelly Goodson from Kelly Goodson Nutrition joins us in the studio.  We cover many topics including how nutrition can impact mental health, intuitive eating and how emotions and behaviors can impact eating habits.  She explains eating disorders, what symptoms to recognize, treatment options and how there is hope for recovery. how ya doing? | Alignment Bay County Home - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (kellygoodsonnutrition.com) As promised in the episode,...

Denise Montford from Angel House Bereavement Center Inc. joins us on this important episode to discuss healthy grieving.  We explore how grief is not a linear process defined by stages and how support and validation can positively impact the journey of grief.  She explains the difference between acute and complicated grief as well as anticipatory grief.  We talk about how death ends a life, but not a relationship and how we can still have a relationship even though that person is not there...

Dr. Melissa Strawser of Counterbalance Visionaries LLC joins us to talk about how she's helping both individuals and organizations make sustainable and creative changes that lead to growth and success.  We discuss how excessive and prolonged stress can lead to burn out and how to heal from that stress.  Melissa shares her personal story of how burn out led her to leaving a successful corporate career and focusing on her purpose and passion of helping others heal.  We talk about the difference...