The Greatest Show in Town Healthy Babies What NewboRN Home Visits Can Do For You When a Capable Student Freezes Becoming a Team with Your Teen
FALL 2026
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CHANGE A LIFE OVER LUNCH. TWICE A MONTH. THATS IT! Looking for an easy way to give back? Want to make a positive impact on future generations? Look no futher! We're thrilled to invite you to become a Mentor with Take Stock in Children, where leaders like you can serve as role models for low-income, high achieving students as they work towards earning a two-year Florida Prepaid Scholarship and post-secondary success!
Join Our Mentor Family Today! Scan the QR code to submit your application.
2 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
MORE INFORMATION
Melanie Guerrero, Mentor Coordinator conguerreromc@gm.sbac.edu (352) 955-7250 ext. 6407
The Heart of What We Do Dear Reader, Summer flew by fast, and now it’s time for backpacks, fresh notebooks, and brand-new adventures. We’re so excited to welcome you to this back-to-school edition of The Parenting Playbook, your go-to guide for helpful tips, local resources, and family support. Inside this issue, you’ll discover fun and practical ways to help your child grow as a reader and build strong literacy skills. Did you know the Children’s Trust of Alachua County supports seven amazing afterschool programs? We’ll introduce you to each one and give you a special behind-the-scenes look at the Gainesville Circus Center’s afterschool program with Executive Director Corey Cheval. We’re also talking about big topics that matter to families today. You’ll hear from mental health experts about helping kids manage stress, burnout, and emotions in healthy ways. Plus, we’re sharing advice for teens about dating, relationships, and learning smart money habits for the future. This is our third issue, and we’re so thankful to have you along for the journey. Your ideas and feedback help make each edition even better, so keep them coming! If there’s a topic you’d love to see in the future, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and successful school year for every child and family in our community! Until next time,
Marsha Kiner EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S TRUST OF ALACHUA COUNTY
CONTACT US media@childrenstrustofalachuacounty.us (352) 374-1830 4010 NW 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606 FOLLOW US Children’s Trust of Alachua County @childrenalachua
Important Update You may have heard about proposed changes to Florida's property tax system. If voter approved, these changes will affect funding for local children's services across our community. We are able to fund this programming through property taxes. The Children's Trust of Alachua County invests in programs that help children and families thrive, including early learning, afterschool and summer programs, youth development, parenting support, mental health services, and family resource centers. We are grateful for the community's continued support, which has helped us provide opportunities and services for 22,251 children this year. Together, we are building a stronger future for children, youth, and families throughout Alachua County.
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 3
Table of Contents 06 The Greatest Show in Town
10 Alachua County Reads Builds Literacy for Life
13 Don't Close the Book on Reading
Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Darlena Cunha
14 How the Children's Trust Serves Your Community
16 Safe & Healthy Babies & Moms at Home
20 When a Capable Student Freezes
24 Are You in an Unhealthy Relationship?
WRITER, CTAC Amalie Bethune Darlena Cunha
COLUMNIST Sarah Livingstone, MSW
MANAGING DESIGN DIRECTOR Frankel Cover photo credit: Robbie Vermillion, Vermillion Vision Photography
28
Distribution Details
The Art of Mental Health
The Parenting Playbook is a free, community resource guide available upon request to businesses and individuals within Alachua County. To receive copies for your location, please contact us at (352) 374-1830.
30 Becoming a Team with Your Teen
34 How to be Financially Literate
Funding The Parenting Playbook is funded by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County and any sponsorships indicated throughout the magazine.
36 Afterschool Programs for You
38 Community Partnerships 4 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
Submission Guidelines If you are interested in contributing content to The Parenting Playbook, please email us with your name, email, phone, content idea, and who the best person is to provide this information to the community. media@childrenstrustofalachuacounty.us
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 5
The
Greatest Show in Town Gainesville Circus Center Flies High with Florida Afterschool Fellowship
When Dr. Corey Cheval, Ph.D, started studying dance in college, she hardly dreamed she’d be the owner of a non-profit licensed childcare facility. She hadn’t yet imagined her involvement in social circus arts. In graduate school, she became interested in the social history of the arts and studied Afro-Brazilian dance. She’s always been fascinated by the intersection of class, pop culture, education and the arts. Art is inherently influenced by the socio-political atmosphere in which it is created, she says. Enter the circus.
“Circus arts took all of my passion for movement and added it to my personal intensity because aerial arts are pushing boundaries and the limits of what a person can do.” Dr. Corey Cheval, Founder & Executive Director, Gainesville Circus Center
Twenty years later, Cheval runs The Gainesville Circus Center, providing aerial acrobatics, stilt walking, juggling, dance and clowning instruction to people of all ages—but particularly children. “We always had a youth program, and when we moved to our new location, we wanted to do a full-on afterschool, and we wanted to offer transportation,” she said. “To do that, we needed to become a licensed childcare facility, which we did in 2021.”
Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography
Cheval had already written a teacher training program recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Fitness and Athletics Association. After becoming licensed, all her staff were trained through the Department of Children and Families, as well. So not only do the children learn how to twist in the air on ribbons, walk upon tall platforms and juggle, they do so in a safe, nurturing environment, staffed by professionals who help with homework, run activities and support the kids emotionally, wherever they are.
“We serve elementary and middle school. The kids come in, and they have a snack and homework time. We do group games, we do circle time where kids can share what they are feeling, then we’ll have a craft project related to the theme of their upcoming performance.” Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 7
Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography
Sometimes the Center brings in outside speakers, and around 4 or 5 o’clock, depending on how close they are to their performance for parents and loved ones, they start the circus techniques class and get into serious rehearsal time. Parents can pick them up any time from 5 to 6 p.m. There is also an apprenticeship program for students wishing to continue their classes as they get older. Elodie Fletcher took classes at the Gainesville Circus Center for years and became an apprentice last year.
8 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
“This program has taught me about adaptation along with leadership and communication skills,” Fletcher said. “I got the chance to work under some amazing coaches, while teaching extraordinary kids.”
Check out the programs offered by Gainesville Circus Center
So, How Did it Start? “There wasn’t a school here, so I bought the equipment to do it and started in Williston,” Cheval said. “In 2014, we were in a warehouse in Gainesville with Florida Teen Cheer. I was in grad school. I was teaching these classes on the side, but they kept growing and my business kept growing, and it started to be successful, and I thought, ‘this might be what I want to do.’” Fast forward 12 years, and Cheval has secured a Florida Afterschool Network Fellowship, allowing her to continue to hone her education and techniques as an afterschool provider, and, perhaps more importantly, understand the legislative process that underpins our afterschool programming here in Florida on a broader, more contextual level. “The fellows were brought to Children’s Week in Tallahassee, and it was really inspiring to see a legislative session in action. We were given the opportunity to meet with our congresspeople and advocate for our program,” Cheval said. “Their job is to pass a budget, and that budget determines what we can do. We need them to keep supporting and funding afterschool and education in general.” She says the fellowship has really allowed her to see how legislation is integrated into the on-the-ground work of afterschool programs, and has taught her how to connect the funnel of funding to outcomes when it comes to children in Alachua County. “I was able to say what I needed to say in Tallahassee with a level of clarity they gave to us with regard to what is happening and what we need to keep functioning,” she said of the fellowship meetings.
Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography
The Gainesville Circus Center also has scholarships funded by the Children’s Trust, providing staff training and resources, helping with accreditation, and offsetting other costs.
“It was important to have high-quality staff, with ongoing training, who have incentives to love their jobs and make a living wage, so they start with a full cup to teach children.” Dr. Corey Cheval, The Gainesville Circus Center
The funding also allows some students to attend for free. For many families, that’s a savings of $7,000-$10,000 a year. And it's an opportunity for their children to gain experience, confidence, social skills, and emotional regulation that is priceless. “Having put my kids in various childcare situations that were subpar and having to deal with that as a parent myself, knowing my child is going to be crying for three hours and the care will be minimal, but I have to do it because I have to go to work, I understand the strain and sadness that introduces to a family,” Cheval said. “I want people to be able to go to work and not be panicking about how they are going to handle childcare.” Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 9
LITERACY
Alachua County Reads Builds Literacy for Life Reading opens the door to opportunity. It helps children do well in school, find better jobs as adults and live healthier lives. But in Alachua County, many students are struggling to read. Right now, only about half of local students are reading at grade level. For some groups—including low-income students, students with disabilities and Black students—only about one in three can read at grade level, according to research from the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. The effects of low literacy can last a lifetime. Students who are not reading well by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation. National research also shows that adults with low literacy are more likely to live in poverty, and many young people in the juvenile justice system struggle with reading.
To help change these outcomes, schools, nonprofits, community groups and local leaders have joined together and formed Alachua County Reads (ACR). The countywide effort is working to improve literacy from birth through adulthood. The Center for Nonprofit Excellence coordinates the initiative, helping partner organizations work together toward the same goal. "Until our community is functionally literate, we will never achieve our true potential," said Theresa Beachy, chief organizational strategist for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
Alachua County Reads brings together organizations that already serve children and families so they can work as one connected system.
“At Alachua County Reads, we are building literacy for life.” Theresa Beachy, chief organizational strategist for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
Research from the UF Lastinger Center helped shape the program. Heidi Keegan, literacy coordinator for Alachua County Reads, said researchers spoke with parents, teachers and students to learn what families need most. The Center found that many families already read with their children and support learning at home. However, they often face challenges like limited access to books and literacy programs, transportation issues and busy work schedules. Alachua County Reads is working to make those resources easier to find and use. The initiative includes several parts that support children from early childhood through elementary school while also helping families.
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H E A LT H
The first phase focuses on improving reading instruction in Alachua County Public Schools. Through a partnership with the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI), funded by the Children's Trust of Alachua County, literacy coaches work with kindergarten through third-grade teachers in four schools. Keegan said the coaches use UFLI's phonics-based reading program to help teachers strengthen reading instruction through coaching and classroom support. Students who need extra help after classroom instruction can receive one-on-one tutoring through PEAK Literacy. Trained volunteers provide tutoring in schools, after-school programs, community centers and online. Leah Gallione, founder of PEAK Literacy, said tutoring is only one part of the solution.
"Kids are in the river, and we're putting hands in, pulling them out and pulling them out one by one, but unless we go upstream and figure out how they are getting into the river to begin with, we're not going to make the impact we're working toward." Leah Gallione, Founder of PEAK Literacy
Explore one-on-one literacy tutoring from PEAK Literacy
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 11
LITERACY
Alachua County Reads is also expanding literacy support outside the classroom. In partnership with the Alachua County Library District, the initiative is creating community literacy hubs where families can find books, reading programs and other literacy resources from birth through adulthood. A virtual literacy hub also offers free online resources for every age and reading level. Keegan said the website includes easy-to-use visual navigation and connects families to United Way's 2-1-1 service, which helps people find local health, education and family support programs. The next phase will expand into early learning centers and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) classrooms. Keegan said teachers and staff will receive training and resources to help children build strong reading skills before they start kindergarten.
“There is a great disparity in student achievement, when you look at our Black and our socio-economic challenged populations. We are trying to bridge that.” Heidi Keegan, Alachua County Reads Literacy Coordinator
As the initiative grows, Alachua County Reads is also creating a community advisory committee so families and community members can help guide the work. By bringing together schools, nonprofits, libraries, early learning providers and community organizations, Alachua County Reads is building a stronger literacy system. The goal is to give every child—and every family—the support they need to become confident readers and succeed in school and in life.
Follow Alachua County READS on Facebook for up-to-date information on this brand new initiative:
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E D U C AT I O N
Don't Close the Book on Reading Tips to Help Increase Literacy by Amalie Bethune In the age of video games and social media, reading has lost its place among childhood favorite pastimes. In Alachua County, only about half of K-12 students are reading on grade level and 18.6 percent of adults are functionally illiterate according to the Alachua County Literacy Needs Assessment.
Three Ways to Improve Reading Levels Read every day at home. Children learn most of their vocabulary outside of school, as reported by the National Institute for Literacy, which makes family time a prime opportunity for learning. Show kids that reading can be fun by acting out the story or using facial expressions and different voices. Creating a special cozy reading corner or making it part of a bedtime can also help integrate reading into your routine.
Create a "print rich" environment. Increasing readable material in a child’s environment can help promote literacy by encouraging "print awareness". Try adding a bookshelf or placing books around the house. Encourage kids to read everything they see, from cereal boxes to game directions.
Engage with the material. Reading comprehension is a key component of increasing reading levels. After finishing a story, practice comprehension by asking questions about the book. Ask your child to tell you what the moral of the story was or how they would approach the situation if they were in it.
While teachers do their best to ensure children learn all they can, it is important for families to play a role in their child’s literacy outside of school. Family engagement, tutoring, and outside help can work to bridge the gap in our literacy rates and facilitate joy and excitement for books and literature in our kids. Here’s to happy reading!
Visit gainesvillethrives.org
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 13
I M PA C T
How the Children’s Trust Serves Your Community At the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, we believe every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and succeed. We bring people, programs, and resources together to help children, youth, and families thrive. By investing in services that support learning, health, emotional well-being, and family strength, we help build a brighter future for our community.
Summer Camps:
21
Summer camps provided CTAC scholarships to children
1,400+ $2,000,000+ 4 Children served
Invested
Average family size
for residents of Alachua County with any one of the following: Income below 300% of the federal poverty level ($99,000 for a family of four)
We focus on what families need most, making sure support is easy to access and available to everyone. We work with community partners to create creative solutions, prevent problems before they start, and provide help when it is needed most. We also measure results to ensure our investments make a real difference.
CTAC Helped Make these Camps Possible Limitless Adventures I am STEM Just for Us Education Gainesville Circus Center Traveling Art Camp Camp Shine by Behavior Bricks Camp Makerie Mirror Image Education and Leadership Next Gen Vet Camp Boys and Girls Club Camp Kids Count in Alachua County Aces in Motion (Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association) The Concrete Rose Foundation Greater Duval Neighborhood Association Community Impact Corporation Star Center Children’s Theatre Williams Temple Church of God in Christ Hagios Early Learning Center IGB (I Gotcha Back) Education Deeper Purpose Community Church Girls Place
Family receives SNAP benefits Foster care, voluntary formal kinship care, or under case management supervision
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Find more information on our summer camps!
I M PA C T
CTAC's Impact in the Community in 2025:
22,251 Children Served
4,221
+
661
+
Parents/Caregivers Served
Professionals Served
Total:
27,133* Number may reflect some duplication across programs
CTAC Provides Critical Resources We connect residents with programs, services and activities, which may otherwise be inaccessible due to income or transportation limitations. Family Resource Centers provide food and clothing, financial literacy, afterschool programs, employability skills, childcare referrals, health and wellness programs, parenting workshops and more. If you are looking for any of these services, absolutely call the numbers below for judgment-free help.
Locations: Library Partnership 912 N.E. 16th Ave, Gainesville | (352) 334-0160 SWAG Resource Center 807 SW 64th Terrace, Gainesville | (352) 505-6823 Micanopy Family Resource Center 355 NW Eestalustee Ave, Micanopy | (352) 466-1136 One Community Health Family Resource Center 1725 SE 1st Ave, Gainesville | (352) 283-2185 Deeper Purpose Family Resource Center 19975 NW 244th St Unit 30, High Springs (386) 454-8493
4,088
Community members served
44,629
Visits to Family Resource Centers
7,510
Services requested there
97
%
Of services requested successfully delivered
95%
Of participants would recommend program to others Check out our Family Resource Centers:
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 15
Safe & Healthy Babies & Moms at Home Free home care visit for every new parent in Alachua County
16 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
Maria Kapsis is a brand-new mom. She gave birth in February, and she and her husband were ready to take on their new adventure. Until they left the hospital. Then, the doubts crept in.
NewboRN specializes in visiting new parents at their home or a set meeting place to check on the physical and mental health of the baby and mom, in addition to addressing safety concerns, like checking that car seats are put in correctly.
“There’s a big difference between reading about how to be a parent and having someone help you. So many people have babies, but when you really have the baby, everything changes.” Maria Kapsis Brand-new Mom
The painstaking research done before birth helps, but leaves a gap for many women that they only face when they’re back at home, alone with their baby. “I even took online courses that I found through social media, but it really doesn’t prepare you that much, because every baby is different,” Kapsis said. Many women, upon arriving back home, find themselves with questions, fears and uncertainties that they now must face alone. Or at least that’s how they feel. In Alachua County, however, there is help for every mother, baby and family. “NewboRN is a program that helps parents succeed in raising children, in terms of safety mechanisms in the home, SIDS prevention, safe sleep, signs and symptoms of illness, immunizations, development, abduction and leaving kids with other care takers,” said Sandra Muir, the nursing supervisor of the NewboRN home visiting program. “We also handle newborn questions like how to swaddle, change a diaper, how to bathe them. We can talk about any topics the mom and dad have questions about.”
“We do a complete physical assessment on the baby, if it is getting enough to eat, getting enough sleep,” Muir said. “We then do a physical on the mom, relative to her pregnancy and recovery. We check her incisions, pain levels, and nutrition.” If they determine there is a concern, for instance, if the mom has high blood pressure, or the baby’s weight is down, they can call the provider right there, and they can address the issue, which could mean going back to the doctor, or sometimes right back to the hospital. It’s all about safety and well-being. “We do a depression screening also, so if mom is having anxiety or is stressed, we can identify it and connect her to services. And this goes for the dad, too. We’re not just visiting with the mom, we’re visiting with the family. We evaluate what their needs are together.” Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 17
Breastfeeding was a big concern for Kapsis, and one Muir was able to really help with. “I was really engorged, and she showed me hand expression to help me, and it was a real release. My baby latched fine, it was my technique,” Kapsis said. “I also like that she’s not judgmental at all. Of course, breast is best, but if you want to give formula, that’s absolutely fine. And she shared her personal experiences, and it was relatable.” Kapsis was nervous in general about suddenly having a newborn at home, especially since she lives far from her family and support system. NewboRN helped allay those fears.
“Overall, she really calmed me down,” Kapsis said. “She calmed my concerns, any questions I had. It’s different with a new baby, and every baby is different.” Maria Kapsis Brand-new Mom
“We’re there to support the family, meet them where they are at, meet their needs and help them in every possible way we are able to, so they feel more confident, less stressed, and set up for success,” Muir said. “We help get everything started, so they can calmly move forward.” The program is available to every new mom or parent in Alachua County. And it is completely free of charge. It’s funded by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, as one of its original programs. “If you live in Alachua County, this program is for you,” said Julie Moderie, the chief operating officer of Well Florida and the director for the Healthy Start Coalition.
“Income, status, none of that matters. If you have an address here, we’re going to be able to come visit, at no cost to that family.” Julie Moderie Chief Operating Officer of Well Florida and Director for the Healthy Start Coalition.
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Moms typically enroll while still in the hospital, and the nurse will contact the family and schedule a visit based on the mom’s availability. “Our goals include trying to visit soon after the baby comes home from the hospital, that’s when moms are stressed, fatigued, and dealing with all the factors that come from having a new baby,” Moderie said. “We answer questions, help them with breastfeeding and safety and development, we give them the confidence to know what the next steps are and how to take care of the baby.” This year, they are on track to do 1,000 visits, and they hope they can expand even more. “We truly care about what we are doing with these families. The nurses have just the right personalities to go in and bond with the families in that short time,” Muir said.
“Parents said it felt like an old friend had come to visit. I love feeling like I’ve helped.” Sandra Muir, NewboRN Nursing Supervisor
The point is that family and baby get the best care and feel centered and ready for their new adventure. “There’s a lot of data and research that supports if families get off to a good start, that later on the success and long-term outcomes improve,” Moderie said. “We want to empower new parents to learn how to navigate systems so they can do it on their own when we’re not there. Offering them this service sets up the framework for them to continue being successful.” “Definitely try it,” Kapsis said. “Everyone is different, but for me, I was really nervous, and my family is far away, so I didn’t have a built-in support system. For me, it was so beneficial. I’m really happy I called them.”
Is the NewboRN program right for you?
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 19
When a Capable Student Freezes Understanding Test Anxiety in Teens By: Sarah Livingstone, MSW About the Author Sarah Livingstone, MSW, works directly with adolescents and families, supporting students through emotional development, anxiety, and academic stress. Drawing from both educational training and hands-on experience, Sarah focuses on helping young people, parents, and guardians build confidence, resilience, and effective coping strategies.
20 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
You’ve got a capable child. Your adolescent studies hard, participates in class, and seems to understand the work. But then test day comes. They blank out. Later, they find out they failed the test. They seem torn down and defeated. You don’t know what could have happened. Has their work ethic changed? Do they need your help? But there is a barrier there. They feel alone in this fight and may not let you in. You’re invested in their future, and want to make sure they are making the right choices. How much is too much? How much is not enough? Is your kid okay? That moment can feel confusing and heartbreaking, especially when you know your adolescent is capable. But that is exactly why you must understand that testing anxiety may not be laziness, nor a measure of intelligence.
Testing anxiety is more than just feeling nervous. It is a real barrier that can disrupt recall, thinking, and confidence. The American Psychological Association states that anxiety is a feeling of worry and tension, and it is closely related to fear.
Brace yourself... Adolescents may not be afraid of the test; they may be afraid of the feeling they will experience when taking the test. It’s called phobophobia, the fear of fear—doubt, fear, confusion, a racing or pounding heartbeat, a knot in the stomach, trouble catching their breath, or other uncomfortable feelings. And testing anxiety may be part of a reinforcement loop where one experience feeds the next and makes the cycle stronger over time. In other words, your adolescent expects to perform poorly, that expectation triggers anxiety, anxiety interferes with recall and thinking, and poor performance confirms their belief: “I knew I’d fail.” Research from the University of Chicago on working memory, math anxiety, and performance supports that math anxiety can interfere with the mental processes students need when pressure rises.
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 21
When students are anxious, their working memory— the brain’s short-term space for holding and using information in the moment—suffers, according to research by British psychologists Baddeley and Hitch.
Part of working memory can be taken up by worry, leaving less space for thinking and remembering answers. This is part of why adolescents may say they “blank out.” The information is often still there, it is just harder to reach at that moment. Sometimes, because of their stage of development, teens internalize failing a test and it becomes, “I am a failure.” Albert Bandura, a psychologist at Stanford University, taught about the concept of self-efficacy, the belief of, "I can do this" versus "I can't do this.” An adolescent’s belief in “I can do this” versus “I can’t do this” affects whether they keep trying under stress.
I Can't Do This 1
Assess health.
If you are having difficulty communicating with your adolescent, you may think you have no influence on them. Don’t believe this. You can motivate in a way that keeps confidence high. First and foremost, visit their primary doctor. If they are consistently having trouble with attention, are deeply stressed often, are experiencing physical issues like stomach aches, or anything else of concern, it is best to rule out any internal issues that may be getting in their way. Sometimes a 504 plan is helpful if there is a documentable disability because it can provide testing accommodations.
2
Ask difficult questions and get honest answers.
Ask your adolescent if they feel comfortable talking with you about their grades. Ask them what they believe you think about their competence. Now think about this: Are you comparing them to their siblings or to their past success?
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3
Be relatable.
Recognizing anxiety and saying that you can relate can empower them to believe that they can handle adversity.
I Can Do This 4
Practice with homework.
Have them work on homework in the common area, without their cellphones. This may help with accountability. Make time on their phone or gaming contingent on homework completion or at least an hour or two of trying. This will help them feel more prepared. If they feel stuck in the moment, during the test, have them pause, and take slow breaths. Use the box method: breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, breathe out through your mouth for four seconds, hold for four seconds. Repeat four times and then refocus on the test.
5
Reward effort.
Talk about effort, strategies, and improvement— not just scores. This reduces pressure and builds confidence and resilience. Acknowledge and praise their effort, every day.
6
Lower the pressure you are placing on yourself.
Collaborate with their teachers. Ask what teachers notice when your teen is testing. Ask the teacher for short practice quizzes to take home or review questions. Have your child set a timer so they can practice how to manage pressure.
7
Learn to manage stress with a therapist.
Consider getting them a therapist to teach them how to manage stress. Often, when it comes to testing anxiety, the real issue is not the ability of the teen—it is anxiety interfering with their performance. When you truly understand this, you can support your adolescent in managing their anxiety rather than focusing on their grade. Horse before the cart. You got this!
Check out Sarah Livingstone's programming:
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 23
H E A LT H
Are You in an Unhealthy Relationship? Resources from Peaceful Paths A huge part of anyone’s life is the relationships they are in. Peaceful Paths offers shelter for domestic violence survivors for free where they have access to childcare, legal support, classes, clothing, food and support groups. But a large part of what they do is outreach and education, particularly in the realm of prevention, according to Hannah Thompson, Director of Education and Youth Services at Peaceful Paths.
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They have a curriculum for high schoolers about violence prevention that reaches 7,000 kids a year. We sat down with Thompson to mine her expertise about teen relationships. Everything from what a toxic teen relationship looks like to what a healthy one should be. And for parents, how to tell if your teen is going through this, and how to help them. How do you know if you're in a toxic relationship?
H E A LT H
Relationship Red Flags Love bombing: Projection of a bond that doesn’t exist yet. The relationship is new, but they may be using pet names, excessive flattery, saying things that are completely over-the-top emotion wise. Sometimes it’s an overload of communication, nonstop texts or calls. It can feel like a whirlwind.
Jealousy: This is an offshoot of possession, and people do not possess other people.
Heavy monitoring: Do they have your location at all times? Do you give them access to your phone or other personal items at their whim? Do they tell you what you can and can’t post or who you are allowed to follow or talk to? This can start under the guise of caring and concern, but, again, stems from possession.
Disrespecting boundaries: Do they continue to do things you have indicated are not okay or you have asked them not to do?
Explosive outbursts: Yes, everyone goes through things and has their moods, but if you are walking on eggshells, never knowing when a situation will turn volatile, take another look at the relationship.
Belittling or negging: Negging is the practice of slowly breaking someone down with slightly negative comments. This can be cloaked as humor, but if it is at your expense, dismissive, or makes you feel bad, it's not funny, it's derogatory.
Breadcrumbing: Giving tiny bits of validation, love, support scattered here and there and making you feel like you need to earn them, while never moving into a more consistent, meaningful relationship.
Gaslighting: Presenting information that you know did not occur that way to create confusion so that you end up feeling like you are to blame for something that happened in the relationship.
Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 25
H E A LT H
Look for Green Flags: • Independence from one another. • Encouragement to have friends outside the relationship. • Taking it at a comfortable pace for both parties. • No boundary or limit pushing. • Engagement in healthy conflict where both people work together against the problem. • Open and honest communication. • Accountability and taking responsibility for actions. • Trust. • Kindness. • Respect: this person sees you as their equal and treats you as such.
Parents, How Can You Tell if Your Teen Is in an Unhealthy Relationship? Dispositional changes: signs of anxiety or depression, agitation. Isolation: you see that they are only hanging out with the person they are dating. Are they saying things that imply their partner is controlling, like, "I can’t do this because he or she wouldn’t like it"? Differing priorities: are their grades slipping? Are they no longer interested in their sport or extra-curricular activities? Are they skipping out on things to be available for their partner? Intense communication: are they always talking to that one person? Is the conversation ever frantic, sad, or alarming? Changes to appearance: have they changed the way they dress? The makeup they wear? Are there any unexplained marks or bruises, especially around the wrists?
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H E A LT H
What Can You Do About It? Establish a base of trust: have open and honest conversations with them from a young age, engaging when they welcome it, and letting them know you are there for them if they don’t feel like talking.
Don’t be dismissive of their relationship: remember, it’s not kid stuff to them. Recognize that it’s hard for them to share this with you.
Have the conversations at home: what do your boundaries look like?
Thank them for trusting you.
Model healthy relationships with your own partner and friends. Raise someone who is allowed to say no: you want your child to be respectful but also have boundaries, so allow them to say when things feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Don’t sweep warning signs under the rug, even if they don’t want to talk to you.
Give them agency: include them as much in the process as possible. Ask open-ended questions, allow them to share without guiding them. Affirm that this is not their fault. Don’t lecture, even if you tried to warn them before the occurrence or relationship. Teens need to learn for themselves.
Broach the subject gently: show them you are interested in them in a supportive way. Even if they shut down now, it may set the base of trust for future conversations. Validate their feelings.
Remember: It takes a long time to disentangle from an enmeshed situation. There is a lot of internalized shame, Thompson says, and many times the relationship has shifted to unhealthy very gradually so that it can be hard for those inside it to see it’s gotten really bad. The first step to helping someone in an abusive or toxic relationship is education, particularly if the person is your child. Teens can see things all or nothing, Thompson says.
“We emphasize support, not advice,” Thompson said. “We want to validate experiences and make resources known so that they can use them when they are ready.”
“At Peaceful Paths, we give examples in the abstract,” she said. “Here is what people should experience. Then sometimes it can click for an individual that that isn’t what they’re experiencing.”
Hannah Thompson, Director of Education and Youth Services at Peaceful Paths.
She says sometimes they might need the intervention of a school guidance counselor, or even police, but that sometimes the bridge can be a teen abuse hotline where they can text confidentially.
If you or someone you know is in a toxic or abusive relationship, call the anonymous hotline at 352-377-8255
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H E A LT H
The Art of Mental Health Happiness from Hobbies Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life, the old adage goes. But what if it’s not work, but a hobby, or just an activity? Can that help alleviate stress? And if so, how? We talked to three experts in their artistic fields about how music, art and exercise can boost you mentally and physically.
Painting Samm Wehman Art, Samm Wehman “I have been an artist my whole life, since I’ve been old enough to hold a crayon. It’s always been an outlet, and it’s what I’m drawn to. When I worked a full-time job, all I could think about was what I was going to come home and paint. I started doing pet portraits, as an outlet. I’ve learned so much about mental health since that whole career journey. I’ve had so many highs and lows about who I am as a person. When I have the ability to let go of the pile of responsibilities, and I can get lost in creating something, that is exactly where I’m supposed to be. 28 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
"When I am free flowing and creating, it’s as close to me as to another person feeling at peace in meditation." I create to bring people joy. I think that for any young people suffering with mental health, remember that you don’t need to live with guilt. Using what you love to inspire other people is one of the ways you are going to change the world.” Samm Wehman Art sammwehmanart.com
H E A LT H
Music LyriCo, Morgan Keller-Anderson “I teach voice to all ages. My youngest student is 9, my oldest is late 60s. Music is fundamental to who I am. I started taking lessons at 8."
"As a teenage girl, I would go into my lessons so angry at the world, and after the lesson, I would just feel happier. The students do this because they love it. It brings them joy." On a physical level, the humming and chanting we do stimulates the Vagus nerve, and that releases endorphins. Students then realize: you are the instrument, you are producing this sound, and you get better week by week. There’s a vulnerability to it, but there are all these mini-revelations throughout the process that build confidence."
LyriCo Conservatory lyricoconservatory.com
Pilates Firefly Pilates, Anisa Perbtani “I have been a movement enthusiast in this area since 2007. I took a yoga class, and I was talked through a relaxation sequence and I started to feel like I was really inhabiting my body. It was a first, so when I think about it, it’s almost like a dream. Everything was in focus for just a moment, things seemed to just fit. That’s how it felt. I come from a place that is trying to hold and sustain that mind/body connection.
"It’s not about trying to make someone sweat or how many reps they do. It’s about how they feel while they are here."
Remember there is going to be resistance against anything that makes you bump up against yourself, and when you make contact with resistance that is already progress. There’s a sense of well-being and being a part of the world instead of observing the world.”
Firefly Pilates fireflypilatesgnv.com
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Becoming a Team with Your Teen Changes to Help Keep Your Relationship Strong When your child starts to pull away, how do you let them go in empowerment and confidence, without damaging your relationship? We asked our expert columnist to weigh in on lasting child-parent bonds. 30 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
“Teens are trying to form their identity, they can be less malleable than middle school students,” Sarah Livingstone, founder of Are U Motivated and a high school social worker said. “Their susceptibility to the influence of others is higher than middle schoolers, too.” So what can families do to get through this time without sabotaging their future relationship?
1
Show Respect for Effort, Not Outcome
Tweens and teens can see things all or nothing. The future is promising or there is no hope. There is only this present, and this present means everything to them. “There is a kid I counsel who often fails her exams, so she feels like a failure,” Livingstone said. “At her stage in life, she is just establishing her identity. So, when she fails a test, she identifies as a failure, not that she did poorly on the test.” The test is the outcome, but what was the process? That’s where parenting can come in. Acknowledge the effort your child is putting into their schoolwork, friendships, and character building, untied to the outcome of that effort. Teach them to cherish the becoming, because one outcome is never the only barometer.
2
“Teenagers are hard and a lot of the time they feel people are measuring success by the failures. That’s where it gets scary,” Livingstone said. “That’s where communication gets pulled back, and judgment comes in. Kids know when you are judging them and determining who they are as a person based on their performance.”
Acknowledge the effort your child is putting into their schoolwork, friendships, and character building, untied to the outcome of that effort.
Work on the Partnership
Come at their issues on their side. Attack the challenge they are having together as a team, as opposed to turning on each other. And remember, it may feel easier to a tween or teen to attack you in the process. They feel defensive, misunderstood, and alone. It’s part of the process of growing up. If you stay patient and keep your eyes on the true issue they’re facing, you’ll gain their benefit-of-the-doubt and eventually their trust as a resource.
“It’s about understanding everything that’s at play, environmental impacts and pressures, anxiety that can develop from fears that they have.” Sarah Livingstone, Founder of Are U Motivated, High School Social Worker
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3
Hear, Listen and Be Willing to Take Feedback
When your child is talking about their fears or failures, does your mind race to try to solve the problem, maybe even solve a problem they don’t have because you assume there is something else at the root of their discomfort? Do you truly sit and listen to them fully, without interjecting, trying to provide context you may not have, or giving overarching life lessons? “There is a lot of wealth in feedback, so if you are open to that, humility spreads,” Livingstone said.
Feeling heard goes a long way to convince tweens and teens to continue to talk. And if you overstep, and they call you on it, take stock in the moment, rather than getting defensive yourself.
4
Address Anxiety
Livingstone recommends progressive muscle relaxation, where you tense and release areas of your body. For instance, you push your feet down into the floor hard, and then release, move to your calves, tense your quads, then your glutes, progressing up through your body. She says this can distract the mind and allow your heart rate to calm down, which stops the loop of worry.
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How Can You Address Your Own Burnout? Parenting is just one aspect of a full life, as well, and it’s hard to silo lives into buckets and compartmentalize work, school, family, relationships, life, and still be healthy. Parents need to continue to take stock in their own lives, check in with their symptoms: headaches, sleep deprivation, memory loss, self-doubt. Anyone continually pushing physical or mental symptoms away won’t be able to sustain their balance for long. So, keep checking in with yourself. It matters for your kids. It matters for you. “Burnout means you’ve used up the resources that you know of to the point of depletion,” Livingstone said. “I think we’re all susceptible to it. We’ve only just now found the words for it, but people have been feeling like this forever.” In the end, it comes down to parents supporting kids through their different selves, as they change and grow, and helping them confront their own fears about what the future might hold. It’s a stressful time for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be.
“Kids can be all over the place, so let them. Allow them the space to figure themselves out. We have to be able to work through the solutions and consequences with them and allow them to fall down.” Sarah Livingstone, Founder of Are U Motivated, High School Social Worker
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FINANCIAL RESOURCES
How to be Financially Literate By Amalie Bethune Financial literacy is an important life skill that helps children grow into responsible adults. Financial literacy means understanding how to earn, save, spend, and manage money. Studies show that children who learn money skills early are more likely to make smart financial choices as adults. Teaching these lessons at home can help children feel more confident and prepared for the future.
For Younger Learners
For Teenagers
For younger children, financial literacy starts with simple lessons about money. Kids can begin by learning the value of coins and bills and understanding that money is earned through work. Giving children an allowance or paying them for chores can help teach responsibility and decision-making. Experts also recommend talking with children about needs versus wants so they can learn how to make thoughtful spending choices.
As children become teenagers, they are ready for more real-world money experiences. Teens often begin paying for hobbies, entertainment, or outings with friends. A part-time job can help teens learn how to budget, save, and manage spending. Programs like TeensWork Alachua give teens valuable work experience while teaching financial skills. Participants also learn how to use bank accounts and direct deposit.
Saving money is another important skill. Parents can encourage saving by helping children choose a special item they want to buy. Children can then save part of their allowance or earnings each week until they reach their goal. Research shows that setting goals helps children build patience and self-control. Buying something with money they earned themselves can give children a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Financial literacy is a skill that grows over time, and parents play an important role in teaching it. Starting early and practicing often can help children develop healthy money habits that last a lifetime. Families looking for free resources can explore Money Smart for Young People, a program created by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for students in grades K–12.
Consumer Resource Center
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Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 35
RESOURCES
Afterschool Programs for You If you are looking for a fun and enriching afterschool program for your child, these resources funded by the Children’s Trust are free for eligible families to help children learn new skills, build confidence, make friends, and grow both in and out of the classroom. These programs and all other Children's Trust resources are funded by property taxes.
Deeper Purpose Community Church, Inc. 19930 N US Hwy 441, Suite A, High Springs, FL 32643 | (386) 454-5300 Hours: 2 - 5:30 p.m.
Grades: K - 8
Deeper Purpose Afterschool program offers tutoring and homework help as well as a variety of activities for students. Food is provided.
Gainesville Area Tennis Association (Aces in Motion) 1700 SE 35th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641 | (352) 758-2435 Hours: 2:30 - 6 p.m.
Grades: 6 - 12
AIM staff and community partners help students embrace healthy lifestyles and learn essential academic and leadership skills. The program includes exposure to many different types of enrichment activities (museum visits, college tours, etc.) Transportation is provided from school.
Gainesville Circus Center 1925 NW 2nd Street, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32609 | (352) 316-0682 Hours: End of school - 6 p.m. The Afterschool Circus program offers kids a chance to engage in circus arts training offered in the weekly circus kids’ classes, plus additional theater arts and dance skills. Snacks included. Pick-up available from select local schools. 36 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026
RESOURCES
Girls Place, Inc. 2101 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32605 | (352) 373-4475 Hours: End of school - 6 p.m.
Grades: K - 8
Girls Place emphasizes homework completion and offers a wide variety of activities, including arts and crafts, field trips, and guest speakers, to provide a well-rounded experience. Girls have access to five acres of green space, a gymnasium, and classrooms. Transportation from several Alachua County Schools is provided.
Kids Count in Alachua County, Inc. (352) 244-9723 Rawlings | 3701 NE 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609 Duval | 2106 NE 8th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641 Hours: 1:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Grades: 1 - 5
Kids Count provides one-on-one reading tutoring twice per week, daily homework assistance, and literacy activities that serve as social-emotional learning opportunities. Enrichment opportunities are provided through partnerships in the community and consist of tennis, gardening, dance, art, science, etc., as well as field trips that provide exposure and learning opportunities.
Willie Mae Stokes Community Center 356 NW 6th Avenue, Micanopy, Florida 32667 | (352) 466-1136 Hours: 2 - 6 p.m.
Ages: 5 - 17
The program offers homework help, learning activities, social skills enrichment and snacks. School pickup is available for Idyllwild Elementary, Lincoln Middle, and Micanopy Area Cooperative School.
Call, visit, or connect with each resource for specific services provided. Photographer: Robert Vermillion / Vermillion Vision Photography
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RESOURCES
Community Partnerships Schools That Provide Families Additional Help What if you could send your child to school, and, in that same building setup, you could do your laundry? Or pick up food from the onsite pantry on a random Tuesday when you’re out of funds, and, maybe, hope. Or maybe you’ve landed a job interview, but you don’t have any professional wear, and slacks alone cost $80. What if you could stop by your child’s school and use their clothing closet, which is for students and adults?
Maybe your kids need dental work you can’t afford, or glasses, or counseling services. What if these services were accessible to you, in an environment where there is no shame? Alachua County has three community partnership schools, and this is what they do. They help families who may otherwise fall through the cracks. They offer a hand up to those who are experiencing a resource drought. Over the years, they’ve helped thousands of people make ends meet, all while their children continue to receive the education they deserve.
Rawlings Elementary School 3500 NE 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609 Director: LaKishia Shorter
(904) 521-2632
M.K. Rawlings Elementary School connects students and families with programs and services that build on daily classroom learning. All students can participate in activities and receive health care and academic services.
Metcalfe Elementary School 1250 NE 18th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609 Wellness Coordinator: John Phillips
(904) 927-1918
Willie Adele Metcalfe Elementary School is the hub of the community, focused on student and community success. Its mission is to create a safe and nurturing learning environment committed to educating the whole child using research-based strategies to promote student success.
Howard Bishop Middle School 1901 NE 9th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609 Director: Carressa Hutcinson
(352) 283-2330
Howard Bishop Middle School is a UCF-Certified Community Partnership School. It changes the trajectory of students’ lives by addressing the barriers to learning. They connect students and families to programs and services so students can participate in activities and receive onsite services like health care, tutoring, and more.
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RESOURCES
Services offered: • Medical and vision services
• Dental services
• Food pantry and distribution
• Prevention services
• Student leadership opportunities
• Behavioral health services
• Academic enrichment programs
• Mental health services
• Tutoring
• Navigation help through healthcare system
• Mentoring
• Events on site, including health and wellness fairs and preventative care presentations
• Community education • Parent Academy resources
• Referrals for services when needed
• Clothing closet
How the Referral System Works: Students can be referred to the school nurse by parents, teachers, staff or themselves. Then they are assessed, and if approved by parents, a referral for whatever service they may need is faxed to the Florida Department of Health Alachua and a wellness coordinator helps the family make whatever appointments are needed. As many barriers as possible are removed, be they location, travel, costs, time or anything else. The Wellness Coordinators work with the families to make everything as easy and painless as possible, providing the most timely and efficient care to themselves and their children. Children’s Trust of Alachua County | 39
childrenstrustofalachuacounty.us (352) 374-1830 4010 NW 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606 40 | The Parenting Playbook | Fall 2026