The problem of bullying and what to do about it
by James McGuirk, Ph.D.
Your 12-year-old son has always loved going to school. All of a sudden, he is complaining of stomach aches, headaches – any excuse to stay home. You recently heard from a friend whose child believes that your son is being verbally harassed on the bus and in the lunchroom. The friend suggests there may have been some physical abuse as well, and you are left reeling.
Bullying is a serious, pervasive issue. February 28 marks International Stand Up to Bullying Day. In our society bullying occurs in-person, in schools and at home, sometimes through the veil of computer and phone screens, away from adult supervision. According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ 2017 School Crime Supplement, about 20 percent of youth ages 12-18 experience bullying, and 15 percent of students in this age group reported being bullied online …
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On October 27, 2023, more than 200 educators, mental health professionals, and various behavioral and community health providers came together to celebrate the 15th Annual Building Bridges Conference at Marist College.
The theme for this year’s conference was “Navigating New Routes in Youth Mental Health,” and was co-hosted by Astor Services, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health, Poughkeepsie City School District, and Mental Health America of Dutchess County.
This year’s Building Bridges included some motivating and challenging speakers including Dr. Marc Brackett (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence) and Isaiah Santiago, various workshops focused on mental well-being and support for students, special appearances from Astor CEO Yvette Bairan and Dutchess County Executive William F. X. O’Neil, and a youth panel led by 6 local teenagers who shared their thoughts about relevant topics such as the impact of social media, bullying, mental health in schools, etc. What an incredible day of learning …
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Each September we celebrate the beginning of a new academic year, a time often filled with optimism and excitement over a fresh start. Starting school can stir up a multitude of emotions, whether a child is new to a building or moving up to the next grade. While many children are able to approach the new year with positive expectations, some struggle to adjust and grapple with worry and concern over what lies ahead. Between academic pressures, social obligations and change in general, turning over a new leaf can be tough.
September marks another significant event – National Suicide Prevention Week. A topic that has been gaining more recognition lately due to shows like Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” and national news stories, suicide is concerning alarming for adults and children alike. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 …
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When she was young, Stephanie Dameshghi moved with her mother and siblings to her mother’s home of Ireland, which is where Stephanie’s interest in helping others began.
Now an attorney and in her third year as a member of Astor’s Young Professionals Board, she shared some highlights on her road to philanthropy.
What is your first memory of fundraising?
My first memory of fundraising was from when I lived in Ireland. There really aren’t bag packers at grocery stores, so I was part of a group that fundraised by packing groceries and collecting spare change from the customers when done bagging. We also collected change in buckets in return for things like bunches of clover during St. Patrick’s Day. This was, of course, in the rain most of the time, as the rain falls 364 days of the year in Ireland.
What were you fundraising for at that point?
The group I worked …
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By Theresa Venticinque, LCSW
An advertisement several years ago showed the following: a blissful scene, parents running through the aisles of their local office supply store, gathering items such as books, pencils, folders, and notebooks. They throw items into the shopping cart with huge smiles on their faces while “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” plays in the background. It can only mean one thing… Back to School!
While this may be the case for many parents and caregivers readying their young ones to go back to school, it is not the case for everybody. For many families, particularly those with children with special needs, back to school can be a time of stress and concerns about what the new school year will bring. The thoughts of early morning wake-ups, runs to make the bus in time, and evenings and weekends full of power struggles over homework are enough …
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The suicides of successful celebrities earlier this year has been a stark reminder that more support and understanding are needed for all people that struggle with depression and mental illness — celebrities, every day folks, disadvantaged adults or children and anyone else. Locally, too, many families continue to grieve for family members who take their own lives. Too often, suicides in the recent involved adolescents.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the nation, with more than 40,000 people across the country dying from suicide annually, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In 2016, suicide was the second-leading cause of death for people aged 10–34, the highest rank of any other population, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Astor has experienced this first hand, dealing with 59 of suicide attempt in last 12 months.
Communities can make a difference by talking about the signs …
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Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, came to Rhinebeck to tour the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) and School at Astor Services for Children & Families, which provides treatment, counseling and support to families and children struggling with behavioral and emotional health problems.
The Cardinal was first greeted by eight Astor employees who have 30 or more years of service at the agency. “What happened, did you come here right after your First Communion?” joked the Archbishop of New York.
His tour included two RTC units that recently underwent a mini-renovation with the help of actors Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
The day’s program also included a conversation with state elected officials and mental health professionals about the challenges families face related to the opioid epidemic, bullying, and teen suicide and an Astor School Children’s Art Show, where the young artists talked about their work.
“When a parent tells him how he feels his …
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His tour included two RTC units that recently underwent a mini-renovation with the help of actors Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
The day’s program also included a conversation with state elected officials and mental health professionals about the challenges families face related to the opioid epidemic, bullying, and teen suicide and an Astor School Children’s Art Show, where the young artists talked about their work.
“When a parent tells him how he feels his child is safe here, how his child gets better here, that’s what I’m most proud of,”said Astor CEO and Executive Director Jim McGuirk.
Sponsored by Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of New York, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Cardinal Dolan’s visit demonstrates the Archdiocese’s support of Astor Services for Children & Families’ 65 years providing community based, non-profit children’s mental health services, child welfare services, and early childhood development programs in New York State’s Mid-Hudson Valley …
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While early intervention programs have been shown to have a largely positive effect on young children dealing with emotional and behavioral difficulties, many of those services drop off as kids move into middle grade and high school, leaving them vulnerable to unhealthy and dangerous behaviors as they try to deal with their harrowing emotions on their own. In fact, according to the New York State’s Council of School Superintendents’ October 2017 survey, 52 percent of superintendents identified increasing mental health-related services for students as a funding priority, that is up 17 points from 35 percent in 2016. Of the top three funding priorities, beyond what’s needed to maintain current services and mandates, increasing mental health-related services was cited as No. 1 among superintendents statewide.
Because numerous counseling programs for older kids rely on limited government funding, there aren’t enough of the services for the kids that need them. Additionally, older kids …
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Family Systems Therapy Webinar
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Please register for Family Systems Therapy on
Thursday, May 31, 2018 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT at:
Register Here
This training provides an overview of both Structural Family Therapy and Bowenian Family Therapy. Participants will learn the core theoretical concepts and clinical techniques of each theory and will engage in case discussion focused on Bowen’s 8 concepts. Participants will also learn how to develop a genogram and will discuss challenges and supports needed in order to fully engage in family therapy.
Training objectives
• Participants will learn to place symptoms/behaviors within a family systems paradigm
• Participants will learn the core tenets of family structural therapy
• Participants will learn core tenets of Bowenian therapy
• Participants will understand the benefits of a developing a genogram with families
*Fee: $75
Please make check payable to Astor Services for Children …
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School communities are the most critical factor in the prevention of school violence. The more inclusive and welcoming the school community, the more connected most youth in that community feel. The more connected youth feel, the more likely it is that any youth contemplating violence will be revealed to caring adults early in the path toward an actual violent act.
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“Changing the Odds, One School Day at a Time” w/ Dr. Mark Katz
What was it about the 9th Annual Astor Public Policy Breakfast that kept people thoroughly engaged during Dr. Mark Katz’s (all too brief) presentation, Children Who Fail at School But Succeed at Life?
The secret sauce for this great event – an affinity for Dr. Katz; a real life story that engaged the audience; a touch of humor and a positive spin on a subject we all can relate to. And we wanted more! That is why people are still talking about the 2012 Astor Public Policy breakfast.
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“Changing the Odds, One School Day at a Time” w/ Dr. Mark Katz
On Thursday, March 15th Dr. Mark Katz, a clinical and consulting psychologist in San Diego, CA and author of On Playing a Poor Hand Well will be the keynote speaker at the Public Policy Breakfast at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. Co-sponsored with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, this yearly event distinguishes itself by bringing together our community – from every sector – listening, learning and participating in the discussion about issues that impact someone in the circle of our lives.
The Public Policy breakfast is an opportunity for us to learn about the resources being made available to our children, now and for their future. Please join us on Thursday, March 15 to support Astor Services and the work they do, dedicated to the philosophy that every child deserves a childhood!
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