Supporting Child and Family Wellbeing

We all have a collective responsibility to make sure kids are healthy, safe, and thriving – especially during challenging times. Parents and other caregivers are children’s most important protectors and may need extra support from time to time. We encourage you to check in with caregivers and children you interact with to ask how they’re doing and what they need. Lending an ear and helping families access available supports can go a long way to keeping families well. Thank you for doing your part to support Nebraska’s children and families!

Check In with Families in Your Community to See How You Can Help

It is important to remind caregivers and children that you are there to help, not judge them. Use plenty of empathy statements to show your concern and find opportunities to compliment the caregiver to empower and support them. If a child raises a concern, consider if you can safely follow-up with their caregiver. Validate that this is a difficult time, everyone is struggling, and that support is still available. See page 2 for a list of resources you can connect families with based on their needs.

Questions You Might Ask Parents/Caregivers

Questions You Might Ask Children

• ●  How is virtual learning working for you? How is it affecting you? Your family? Do you need help with anything?

• ●  How are things going at home for you and your family? Are you feeling okay? Are you worried about anything?

• ●  What do you like most about staying at home? What do you like least? Why?

• ●  What was the best part of your day? What was the hardest part of your day?

• ●  What family activities do you participate in?

• ●  Do you get outside? Do you get exercise?

  Additional Questions You Might Ask Children if there are Potential Risks in the Home

• ●  Who is taking care of you? What are they doing? Who makes sure you have everything you need?

• ●  Who do you feel safe talking to about needs or worries? Do you have a way to talk to that person right now?

• ●  If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you need? Are those things in your house right now?

• ●  What did you eat for breakfast today? Yesterday?

• ●  What are the rules in your house? What happens when someone breaks a rule? (Sibling, pet, mom, dad?)

• ●  How is everyone getting along? Is anyone having a hard time? Are you worried about anyone? Why?

● Ask the child to describe a typical day – what they eat, who makes the food, where do they play, who comes into

“Helping People Living Better Lives” | pg. 1 or leaves the house and when?

● To follow up, ask open-ended questions: Tell me more about that. . . What happened next? What is happening

right now?

Substance Use

Child Care COVID-19

♦ Nebraska Family Helpline: The Nebraska Family Helpline is available 24/7 to parents and families. Any problem, any time: 1-888-866-8660.

♦ Nebraska Childcare Referral Network: https://www.nechildcarereferral.org/
♦ NE DHHS: Visit www.dhhs.ne.gov for COVID-19 related guidance and resources. Phone: (402) 552-6645

Toll Free: (833) 998-2275

To learn more about how to talk to children about COVID-19:

SAMHSA: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Talking-With-Children-Tips-for-Caregivers-Parents-and-Teachers- During-Infectious-Disease-Outbreaks/

Look Out for Children’s and Families’ Safety

• ●  If you have any concerns that a child or caregiver is in immediate danger, call 911.

• ●  If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you must call the Nebraska Adult

  and Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) at 1-800-652-1999 (TTY 1-800-833-7352). This hotline can determine whether DHHS Division of Children and Family Services involvement is warranted, or if other community supports are more appropriate.

  Examples of when you might call the hotline with a concern include:

• ●  Anything the caregiver or child told you that raised concerns for the child’s safety.

• ●  The child OR caregiver has concerning injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts.

• ●  The caregiver appears to be under the influence to the extent they could not care for their child.

• ●  You observe evidence of illicit substance use in the home (e.g., drug paraphernalia) or other hazards that could

  lead to child injury/illness (e.g., weapons in reach, extremely unsanitary conditions).

• ●  The child looks or behaves significantly differently than is typical for them or would be reasonably expected.

• ●  The child is frequently missing school (and the school has exhausted every reasonable effort to support the family

  and address barriers to learning (e.g. helping with internet access, calling emergency contacts or neighbors).

• ●  You are repeatedly unable to get in touch with the family (unrelated to barriers like internet, phone access) and

are seriously worried for their safety (e.g. prior safety concerns due to domestic violence or substance use).

One of the newest Blue Jays has joined the flock.

I graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Middle School Mathematics.  I began my teaching career in grades fifth and sixth for Omaha Public Schools for four years.  I was soon transplanted to Albion, Nebraska where I taught many middle school subjects, as well as preschool at St. Michael’s Catholic School for three years.  I began teaching at St. Edward Public Schools in January 2000 where I taught multiple levels from high school science to second grade.  I became the District Assessment Coordinator in 2004 while teaching the other half of the day.  While raising my four daughters and being the Assessment Coordinator and teaching I obtained my Masters of Educational Administration and Educational Specialist Degrees from Wayne State College.   In 2010, I became the Elementary Principal/Assessment Coordinator where I remained for ten years before coming to Elba as the Superintendent. 

Three of my daughters have flown the nest.  My oldest daughter, Shelby and her husband Spencer, are second year family medicine residents in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Shelby and Spencer have two children, Amelia and Peter Joseph (P.J). My second daughter, Lauren, is a teacher at Lincoln Public Schools and will be getting married in July 2020 to Matt, also a Lincoln Public Schools teacher and baseball coach at Lincoln Southwest High School.  Lauren will finish her Curriculum and Instruction Master’s degree within the year and Matt is finishing his Administration degree.  My third daughter, Sierra, graduates from Wayne in May 2020 beginning graduate school in Social Work through the University of South Dakota in August.  Sierra will finish her internship in May along with her serious significant other Mitch, who will be student teaching in August of 2020.  My last daughter, Robby, will be a senior in high school and graduate in May 2021.  I enjoy running, exercising, reading, learning, outdoors and of course my family and my daughter’s dog, Athena.

Education is a lifestyle, not a job.  My mission through my daily interactions is to educate the whole child-socially, emotionally, academically and physically while differentiating their curriculum.  When a child’s basic needs are met, they are ready to learn. 

My educational philosophy:  “When a flower doesn’t bloom…..You fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.