Our Blog
News and insight from Franciscan about our philosophy of hope through healthcare and recent issues affecting children’s wellness.
Understanding Suicidal Feelings in Children and Adolescents
Blog written by Emily Strainchamps, LICSW – September 2021 Franciscan Children’s Behavioral Health Services As a clinical social worker, I’ve sat with many adolescents and children struggling with feelings of… Continue Reading
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Back to School 2021: Weathering the Storm Together to Prevent Suicide
Blog is written by: Anna Lingan, CWI School-Based Therapist |Site Manager for Winship Elementary School, and Jane Carper, CWI School-Based Therapist | Site Manager for Higginson Lewis School. At the… Continue Reading
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! This month focuses on creating awareness and discussion about mental health in minority communities to increase their access to mental health care and… Continue Reading
Better Speech and Hearing Month: Kennedy Day School
As Better Hearing & Speech Month continues, learn more about speech therapy at Kennedy Day School from Alex Mack and Stacey Swift, Speech-Language Pathologists. If you walk into any classroom… Continue Reading
Cultural Diversity Day: First Culture Spotlight!
To celebrate World Cultural Diversity Day and Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we would like to spotlight Occupational Therapist Nancy Tran and learn more about the culture she identifies with…. Continue Reading
Better Hearing and Speech Month: Audiology
As Better Hearing & Speech Month continues, learn more about Audiology Coordinator Gayle Flood’s work at FC. Spring into Action: Central Auditory Processing Disorder Following Concussion Spring has arrived! With… Continue Reading
Better Hearing and Speech Month: Speech and Feeding Services on the Medical Units
As Better Hearing and Speech Month continues, learn about the speech therapy team’s work on Units 2 and 3. The speech therapy team on Units 2 and 3 provides services… Continue Reading
Better Hearing and Speech Month: Outpatient Speech Therapy
As Better Hearing and Speech Month continues, learn about Outpatient Speech Therapy and the Augmentative Communication Clinic. The Outpatient Speech Therapy Program at Franciscan Children’s provides services to toddlers, school-aged,… Continue Reading
The Kids’ Closet
Many people walk by the nondescript door on the first floor in Building 3 without taking a second look. But if you look closer, you will see a door that… Continue Reading
Sleep In The Era Of COVID-19
If there was one prescription I could write for all my patients, family and friends during this COVID-19 pandemic, it would be for adequate sleep. I would prescribe sleep… Continue Reading
Mental Health Awareness During COVID-19
Mental Health Awareness Month has taken on a new meaning this May as many of us struggle to find balance in these unprecedented times. While we are busy navigating the… Continue Reading
How To Talk To Your Kids About Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time for a lot of people, especially for children and adolescents who feel left out by their peers. We sat down with Dr. Fatima Watt to get her expert advice on how to talk with children who are feeling lonely and isolated around February 14.
Dawayne’s Disney Wish
During Dawayne’s stay in Franciscan Children’s Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, he loved spending time watching Mickey Mouse on his tablet. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation he was able to meet his best friend in Disney World.
Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
Patricia Coffey, MSW, LICSW, is the Mental Health Education Program Manager for the Kids Healthy Minds Initiative at Franciscan Children’s. The Kids Healthy Minds Initiative is a robust mental health awareness and community education program. In this blog post, Patricia speaks about the effects social media can have on youths’ mental health, self-image and the steps that can be taken towards making the world of social media safer for youth.
Ringing in 2019: Ways Kids Can Inspire Better Family Health
Dr. Livaditis is responsible for providing preventive and urgent care for outpatients in the primary care practice. She works as part of a collaborative team to provide preventative care and education to children and families. Dr. Livaditis has outlined 5 ways for kids to take charge of family time and create new, fun, and healthy traditions in the New Year.
Art and mental health: using the creative process to cope and connect
The stigma around mental health issues often leaves the patients and families navigating them left feeling isolated and hopeless. Katherine Jordan, an expressive therapies intern, found a way to break through that loneliness through a unique artwork project on our Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) unit.
Tips for a Safe Halloween Night
Marissa Udelsman, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, has outlined several easy and effective ways to reduce injury during this Halloween.
Early Identification of Autism: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment FAQ
Dr. Amanda Platner is a licensed clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Dr. Platner has played a key role in developing and piloting the Autism Service at Franciscan Children’s. We sat down with her to ask her about the service, how it works, and some of the Frequently Asked Questions she receives from families.
How to Transition Your Child From School Year to Summer Vacation
As the school year comes to an end, it’s time to prepare for the transition into summer break. Shifting kids into new routines without disrupting their current schedules can be challenging. Too many adjustments at once can lead to behavioral changes, worries and anxieties, but there are steps you can take to make the transition as smooth as possible for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluation
We receive many questions from families and referring providers about neuropsychological evaluations – what they are, their purpose, how they differ from other evaluations, and more. This post is intended to answer some of those questions, and shed light on how these evaluations can help a child who might be struggling at home, in the classroom, or in the community.