Parents are the ultimate teachers. From a young age, our kids are watching us, modeling our behaviors, and looking to us for answers on how to navigate life. No pressure, right?
 
As a parent and attorney who works with parents, I have found learning how to provide these answers to our kids is critical. Education is huge, whether understanding social media and technology to be on a level playing field with our teens, learning the risks associated with prescription drug abuse, or even knowing how to deal with law enforcement.
 
When it comes to teaching our children how to interact with police officers, parents tend to fall into a few different camps. Some do not think it is applicable and are oblivious to the notion that their child could have an encounter with the police. Others may feel that embracing this topic is introducing and even condoning the topic of misconduct and should be left alone. Others feel it is necessary or even vital for our kids to be equipped with this knowledge. And I wholeheartedly agree with this last point of view—knowledge is a powerful tool.

Happy Friday! I am excited to introduce you to Vicki Steine with Your Healthy Structure! I also want to explain a change in our "Friday Feature" segment schedule. We have been busy at Boortz Law with juvenile court and school board hearings, so will now feature incredible youth-focused professionals on the fourth Friday of the month. We are always accepting nominations!

Today, meet Vicki Steine--a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Doctorate in Holistic Nutrition. Vicki is passionate about working with our youth, and specializes in working with children who have ADHD, bi-polar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression. She is in private practice with offices all around the Atlanta area and has also worked in addiction for many years. Vicki explains that she combines “talking” therapy skills with lifestyle changes around good food, sleep, exercise, spirituality and community. She also uses “mind-body” techniques like mindfulness and visualization to help people find peace. I know you will enjoy her insight as well as her perspective in serving our youth and their families.

A report published by the Youth Advocate Programs Policy & Advocacy Center (YAP) in partnership with John Jay College of criminal justice reveals new insights on how communities can support high-risk youth to keep them out of the criminal justice system. The Safely Home Campaign "is a nationwide movement to safely care for all youth and young adults in their home communities and with their families."