Connecting for Kids

Acompañe a Raisa Santana, MA, CCC-SLP —patóloga de habla y lenguaje clínica bilingüe (español/inglés) de la Cleveland Clinic— en una charla dirigida a los padres sobre cómo apoyar las necesidades de comunicación únicas de su hijo.

Join Anne Fleming Anderson, MA, CCC-SLP, Senior Speech Pathologist and Raisa Santana MA, CCC-SLP, Bilingual (Spanish/English) Clinical Speech Pathologist, both with the Cleveland Clinic, for a parent-friendly talk on how to support your child's unique communication needs. Parents will learn ways to support speech goals through connection, shared interests, and real-life moments. We’ll talk about d...

What are Medicaid waivers, and could your child qualify? What services do they cover, and what can you do if your application is denied? Join us for a fun and informative evening designed to help families better understand Medicaid waivers for children with disabilities. Ginger Wilson and Julie Keys, attorneys with Disability Rights Ohio, will break down the basics of waivers, eligibility, what th...

Join Abby Schultz, MS, EIS, of Purposeful Growth & Wellness for a helpful talk about understanding your child as a whole person. Parents will learn how neurodivergence affects daily life, including learning, big feelings and self-control. Schultz also discusses how different therapies, such as Polyvagal Theory and DIR/Floortime, can work together in ways that fit your child, not just a diagnos...

Has your child been struggling with increased social anxiety and screen addiction since the COVID pandemic? Do they struggle to make friends due to distance-learning during their early years? Then you might be raising a COVID kid! Join Rob Adams, PsyD, of Barlow & Adams Behavioral Health, for a conversation on the lasting effects of COVID-19 on kids’ anxiety, social development and emotional w...

Struggling with sleep in your household? Looking for practical tips to help your child — and your entire family — get a better night’s rest? Join Bridget Bowling, certified Family Sleep Institute Pediatric Sleep Consultant from Little Snoozers, who will discuss bedtimes, nap times, sleep transitions, as well as what sleep should look like from birth to school age. A Behavior Specialist from Silver...

Has your child been identified as gifted or twice-exceptional? Could you use some tips for navigating what that means and how to meet the needs of your child at home and school? Join Jessica Esway, Director of Menlo Park Academy, as she guides families through what it means to be gifted or twice-exceptional and how to work together with schools to get the best support for your child. Jessica will...

 Does your child forget to turn in homework or constantly blurt out answers in class? Do they become easily upset over small things? If so, your child might have executive function challenges.  Join Tori Cordiano, Ph. D., who will discuss how core executive functioning skills impact daily life, including homework completion, following directions, time management and emotional regulation. She will...

Does your child struggle to attend school due to stress, anxiety or bullying? Are you facing daily battles to get them out the door each morning?  Join Rob Adams, PsyD from Barlow & Adams Behavioral Health and Rebekah Bryson, LISW, therapist and school social worker for Avon Local Schools, as they discuss the factors contributing to school avoidance both in and out of the classroom. Families w...

Do you worry about how screens and digital devices are impacting your child’s mental health? Are you struggling to help your child navigate the online world while also supporting their development? Join Dr. Nicole Pucci, Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Kelly Christian and Dr. Emily Lauster, of the Ethan D. Schafer Center for Learning Differences at Lawrence School, for a discussion on how to lessen...

Do your kids constantly fight with each other? Does the competition among siblings in grades, sports or any activity drive you crazy? Do you have a child with a disability who has differing needs and other siblings get jealous? Join Nikki Rotshtein, Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, and Parent Coach and founder of Kavana Parenting, as she teaches you tools to support all of...

 Is your child a master at procrastination when it comes to bedtime? Is demanding a drink or snack the norm every night just before bed? Does the process of putting on pajamas and brushing teeth take what seems like hours?  Join Ochanya McRoberts-Wells, MEd, as she discusses the ugly hour—that time before bed where chaos reigns and your little angel turns into a bedtime monster. She will provide y...

 Shavaun Tucker, LISW, will discuss practical ways to help your child build better coping skills at home and in the classroom. She will also address ways to manage intense emotions and decrease the causes of anxiety. Learn the importance of self-care routines like hydration and sleep in a child’s day. 

Did your child recently receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis? Or, are you trying to navigate new territory with a child previously diagnosed? How can you best support your child in whatever stage they are currently in?  Join Nathan Morgan, MSSA, LSW, of Milestones Autism Resources, as they present facts, debunk myths and provide the most up-to-date terminology currently available on...

Do you know how a parent’s role in the healthcare process changes during puberty?  Join Nikki Montgomery, M.A., M.Ed., GPAC, Director of Strategy and Communications for Family Voices National, as she leads a discussion on how to begin to involve your child in planning and decision-making now to prepare for future self-advocacy.  As part of her work with Family Voices, Nikki also leads the National...

Does your child feel the pressure to be perfect? Do they feel stress about academics or earning good grades? Is their self-esteem tied to being the best in an extracurricular or sport?  Join Kate Boylan LPCC-SUPV, MS, of Larchmere Center for Well-Being, to discuss how parents can help alleviate this pressure through healthy communication and attachment. Learn how to boost your child’s self-confide...

 Are you a caregiver dealing with your own struggles while supporting a child facing similar challenges? Could you use some practical tips to help both you and your child? Join Sarah Saunders, MA, LPCC-S, of Purposeful Growth & Wellness, who will help families learn strategies to prioritize self-care, manage stress effectively and establish healthy boundaries. She will also discuss techniques...

 Does your child avoid certain foods, textures or entire food groups? Or do you have a child with more complex feeding needs? Whether you’re worried about a child who won’t eat vegetables or a child diagnosed with a feeding disorder, this discussion will give you tips you can put to use during your next meal. 

Are you a Black American caregiver who needs help learning new and supportive ways to provide discipline for your child? Join Anna Jones, LISW-S, of Cleveland State University and Up the Steps, and learn:  Generational differences that make discipline difficult History of discipline in the Black community How to know what types of discipline may work for your child. Calming strategies for the whol...

 How can you build social skills that honor the unique neurodiversity of your child? What are some of the common mistakes parents make when trying to teach social skills to an elementary-aged (6- 12) child with ADHD, anxiety or autism? Join Lisa Mortensen, of Spectrum Social Club, as she shares skill-building techniques that make it easier for a neurodivergent child. She will also discuss how to d...

 Do you find yourself in a never-ending struggle with your child over homework, chores and daily routines? Maybe you feel like you've tried everything and you could really use more support.  Join Katie Greenleaf, MA, LPCC, of Anchored Unbound Counseling, Coaching and Consulting, for a discussion on using executive function strategies to create a supportive family environment that contributes to yo...

Does your child struggle with behavior when they become overwhelmed or overstimulated? Join Christine Chambers, MEd, OTR/L, of Abilities First, LLC, for a special edition of Behavior Chat, where you will learn what a sensory bucket is and some tools you can use to empty your child’s bucket to promote positive behavior. The content in this program is geared toward caregivers of children ages 18 mon...

 Do you find it hard to stay calm when your child is having a meltdown? Do you wonder how big emotions in the home affect you and your child? Do you wish you had a superpower that could keep everyone calm, cool and collected? Join Christine Chambers, MEd, OTR/L, of Abilities First, LLC, as she introduces you to your hidden superpower: co-regulation. Learn what it is and strategies to help you and...

 What is the difference between an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and 504 plan? How do you request an evaluation if you suspect your child could use some additional support? What is an Evaluation Team Report (ETR)? Navigating the world of special education may seem overwhelming at first. Join Connecting for Kids staff as they help you understand the process so that you can more effectively wo...

 Are you concerned because your child is not potty trained? Are you frustrated and could use some training tips from a professional? Join Nikki Rotshtein, OTR/L, of Galvin Therapy Services, who will discuss the challenges of potty training. This program will focus on methods to support children with sensory processing, anxiety, autism and physical disabilities, but will also be helpful for caregiv...