Parent Engage 360

There are many factors that may impact the way we feel about ourselves and the way we show up each day, and one of these factors that impact many, including students is body image.

Adults and teens alike are presented with body image media on a daily basis through various forms of traditional and social media which can have a mental and physical impact on an individual. In this episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin's parent involvement coordinator, hopes to connect parents and guardians with resources if they suspect their child may be experiencing body dysmorphia or even eating disorders.

The most common types parents might hear or think about are anorexia or bulimia. But there is so much more that can affect a person's life when it comes to eating disorders, and that can often be referred to as disordered eating, which may include restrictive eating, compulsive eating, or irregular or inflexible eating patterns.

Burgard was joined by Dr. Heather Gallivan, clinical director at Melrose Center and Anoka-Hennepin licensed school nurse Jessica Patterson, to learn more about how parents can support their children if they are experiencing body dysmorphia and/or eating disorders and how schools can help connect families with support.

Melrose Center provides care for all types of eating disorders and has helped guide thousands of people toward recovery using evidence-based treatment. As a resource for anyone experiencing eating disorders or those that might be caring for an individual experiencing eating disorders, Melrose Center hosts a podcast titled Melrose Heals a resource. Listen to the Melrose Heals podcast.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

Alison Kacer began her journey as an advocate for her son, Lucas, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was four years old. Then, her mindset shifted from finding a fix to finding the right support system for her son.

That support system now includes Andover Elementary School special education teacher Donna Macoskey. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Alison and Donna joined host Liz Burgard to discuss the Kacer family’s experience navigating the district’s special education services and the importance of the relationship between home and school.

Alison and her son Lucas were featured in KARE-11 journalist Boyd Huppert’s Land of 10,000 Stories, sharing Lucas’ passion for pencil sharpening. You can also learn more about Lucas and his passion by visiting his Facebook page, Pencils4lucas.

Episode highlights:

• 3:12 - Alison shares the story about her son Lucas’ autism diagnosis and his being featured KARE-11 journalist Boyd Huppert’s Land of 10,000 Stories, sharing Lucas’ passion for pencil sharpening.
• 11:30 - Alison shares her family’s experience in learning about her son’s diagnosis and how she went about seeking support.
• 16:33 - Donna discusses support systems that are available in schools across Anoka-Hennepin for families seeking extra support for their children, including special education services.
• 22:04 - Alison and Donna talked about the importance of a team approach to supporting Lucas at home and in school.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

Navigating the mental health system both in the medical and educational settings can be difficult or just a new experience for parents/guardians. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Beth Lovre a family peer educator with the National Alliance of Mental Illness Minnesota (NAMI) joined host Liz Burgard to provide information for parents/guardians on the value of parent engagement and advocacy to ensure the best care and treatment for your child.

Lovre will be the guest speaker for the next Parent Engage 360 event set for Thursday, Feb. 29 at Champlin Park High School. The event, titled You’re the Expert: How to successfully advocate for your child, will provide parents and guardians with information and resources on how parents can be an advocate for their child in the doctor’s office, the mental health system and in public education settings. Learn more at ahschools.us/parentengage360.

Episode highlights:

• Lovre highlights the work of NAMI Minnesota. Learn more at namimn.org.
• 12:51 - Lovre highlights some of the topics and resources that will be provided at the Feb. 29 Parent Engage 360 event at Champlin Park High School.
• If you need immediate support, 24-hour support is available by calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
• As a parent, if you are not sure where to start or just need someone to talk to, reach out to NAMI at 1-888-NAMI-HELPS (1-888-626-4435). You can also email [email protected] to get in touch with a family peer educator.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

New this school year, every student is able to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year due to the state’s Free School Meals program. While the program is new, students will still have access to the same nutritious meals they have come to expect in Anoka-Hennepin.

In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard was joined by Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition leaders Noah Atlas (director) and Callie Neumann (assistant director) to learn more about the state's Free School Meals program, educational benefits and the importance of balanced nutrition for youth.

Episode highlights

• The state’s Free School Meals program began in the fall of 2023, allowing every student to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year.
• Learn more about why it's important for families to continue to apply for educational benefits even though school meals are now offered at no cost.
• Neumann discusses the nutritional requirements of school meals by the federal government and the importance of a balanced diet for youth. Learn more about how to eat healthy with MyPlate at myplate.gov.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, district parent involvement coordinator, was joined by Coon Rapids High School principal John Peña and volunteer services coordinator Danille Callahan to discuss the importance of parent involvement in schools.

In the episode, Peña and Callahan discussed their experiences both as parents and in their current roles, and the importance of parents/guardians being involved in their child’s educational journey in a number of ways.

Anoka-Hennepin values parent involvement in education and is committed to offering resources to meet the changing needs of parents and families. The district invites parents/guardians and community members to volunteer or participate on committees as a meaningful way to get involved with the district.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer in Anoka-Hennepin, please visit ahschools.us/volunteer. If you are interested in joining a district committee, there are four committees in need of more members. Learn more about district committees.