Youth need stability to thrive, but for the more than 36,000 youth in Michigan’s elementary, middle, and high schools who face homelessness, stability often is difficult to achieve (Poverty Solutions, 2018). With school about to be back in session, it’s … Read more

Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. For us to have and to show courage, we must face our fears, despite the outcome. We can say, “I have fallen but I will get up” (Maya Angelou). In 2008, … Read more

Today, I was daydreaming about going to a lake to free myself from some of the heat. I was imagining jumping into the cool water and what being surrounded by that wonderful lake would feel like. I imagined myself getting … Read more

We live in a world of acronyms. We are surrounded by them: KFC, ATT, CPR, CPS, OMG. For some years now, one of most common ones to come across is PTSD.  PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a phenomenon that … Read more

In 1920, the life expectancy gender gap was only 1 year between men and women.  In 2014, the gap rose to men dying 5 years sooner. Statistically, men have a significantly higher death rate in most categories, including the following: … Read more

“Vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it’s also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love.” — Brené Brown Every day, at a crisis center, we hear … Read more

Sometimes, our emotions can be overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s our situations that are overwhelming. And sometimes, it’s a mixture of both. Either way, we can’t avoid the fact that we will face challenges in our lifetimes. Knowing that we will inevitably … Read more

  What is Bullying?  April is National Crime Victims’ Awareness Month. In March of 2018, Bullying officially became a crime in the State of Michigan. Bullying is defined by an imbalance of power, with an intent to cause harm, and tends to be repetitious. Types of bullying include verbal, physical, property, sexual, and cyberbullying. Whether you’re a youth or … Read more

Let’s be honest, self-harm is scary. Self-harm can be terrifying to talk about, especially when someone we care for is hurting themself. So, what is self-harm really?  By definition: self-harm is the INTENTIONAL, direct injuring of body tissue most often … Read more