DCPS Behavioral Health

02/26/2026

It’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, do you know the warning signs?

It can be hard to know all the signs of all eating disorders in children, but it’s important to increase awareness.

Why? Because quick responses have been shown to lead to shorter treatment times and higher recovery rates.

We have more on the 4 most common eating disorders in children, how you can prevent eating disorders, what the warning signs are and what to do if you’re concerned there could be an eating disorder.

What are common eating disorders that impact children, what are the warning signs and what can a parent do to help?

02/20/2026

DLC Developmental Disabilities Awareness FUNdraiser

02/20/2026

Parents, let’s Clear the Air

📣Parents can’t ignore va**ng and ma*****na any longer. Vapes are more powerful, ma*****na products are more concentrated, and synthetic substances are more common, leaving many parents unsure where to start. That’s exactly why Clear the Air exists. 🤝Together with the Partnership to End Addiction, we provide information and trusted resources and tools for parents.

Join us March 31st for our in-person event and gain the confidence you need to start conversations with your teens. You don’t need all the answers, just the right tools! Lunch provided.

Register today at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/clear-the-air-a-parents-guide-to-youth-va**ng-and-ma*****na?impact_chain_source=susan%40drugfreeduval.org

02/17/2026

Grieving the death of a loved one is difficult for adults and can be even more impactful for you.

Check out this upcoming event with Camp Erin.

Our next Camp Erin Online event is a special one for kids and families grieving the death of someone close. Shooting Stars: A family grief expression event will feature simple arts and crafts, storytelling, and a guided poetry activity.

Inspired by the moon and stars, we will explore how love continues to shine, even after someone dies.

Register by March 9 for this free event: https://elunanetwork.org/events/shooting-stars-a-family-grief-expression-event/

02/08/2026

Meltdowns are survival.

When a young person is in meltdown, their nervous system has moved into survival mode.
This means the thinking, reasoning, language-based parts of the brain are offline.

So phrases like:
“Calm down.”
“You don’t need to be upset.”
“Use your words.”
or “Stop it.”
aren’t just unhelpful — they can intensify the overwhelm.

Not because the child is choosing not to listen —
but because they are not able to in that moment.

This post breaks down what not to say at each stage of the meltdown cycle:

• Escalation
• Crisis (the peak)
• Recovery (the Blue Phase)

Because the timing of our response matters just as much as the words we use.

If you want a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the brain during these stages — and how to support each phase with calm, connection and safety — you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

FOLLOW for our next post - What to Say During a Meltdown

02/08/2026

Statements to make your child feel safe an supports throughout the day.

Goodbyes can be surprisingly big moments for children. A few words at the door can shape how safe, confident, or anxious a child feels for the rest of the day. When adults name feelings, offer reassurance, and show connection, children learn that separation is manageable and that their emotions matter. These everyday moments help build trust, emotional security, and resilience over time.

Like the photo and comment "BYE" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

02/07/2026

Dysregulated children cannot process rewards or consequences. Teach regulation skills when the child is regulated so they can use them when they are dysregulated. .

When a child is dysregulated, their thinking brain goes offline. In that state, they cannot process rewards, consequences, or logical reasoning. The most effective response? Stay calm, stay close, and help them feel safe. Connection first. Teaching later. 🌈

02/05/2026

Kids are impacted by stress too!

Some children don’t escalate slowly.

They go from okay to overwhelmed in seconds.

This isn’t because they’re dramatic or defiant.

It’s because their stress threshold is already full.

Fatigue, anxiety, transitions, sensory load, pressure to cope — these stack quietly throughout the day.

Sometimes they miss the physical cues of their body being stressed.

So when one small thing happens, it tips them past their capacity.

What looks like “0 to 100” is often the moment their nervous system says I can’t hold this anymore.

The goal isn’t to toughen children up.
It’s to notice the load earlier and reduce it where we can.

Understanding this changes how we respond —
from punishment to support,
from reacting to preventing.

Save this for the days it feels sudden.
— 💛

02/04/2026

What do you say to help your kids when they're angry?

02/04/2026

Impulse Control takes time to develop.

Impulse control doesn’t suddenly appear because a child “should know better.”

It’s a skill that develops slowly as the thinking brain matures — and even then, stress can temporarily switch it offline.

When a child is overwhelmed, tired, hungry, anxious, or emotionally flooded, the part of the brain responsible for pausing, planning, and choosing wisely is often unavailable.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t learning.
It means they need support before they can access the skill.

Development isn’t linear.

Consistency under pressure comes last — not first.

Support + practice build capacity over time.

Not punishment. Not shame.

Save this for the hard moments.
And be gentle with yourself too. 💛

01/24/2026

Your SBH Trainers equipped coaches (parents) with strategies for anxiety and emotional regulation to utilize with their players (children) so they can be successful on and off the field!

Thank you to everyone that came out, attended our sessions (4), and Title 1 for inviting us to be part of this event!

01/21/2026

Group Information: This group does coincide with the Family Support Group: For Parents @ Baptist.
Bring your teen and come to the Family Support Group while you wait!

Family Support group is held at the Baptist downtown, at the same address: 1st Floor, Borowy Tower, Conference Room 1A.

This group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, with new focus activities each time!

A Parent or Guardian will need to sign them in and out each time. 1st-time participants: please arrive 15 minutes early to complete a registration form with a parent or guardian.

When Arriving- Park in the P2 Garage, Level 3, and take the elevator to B (Bridge Level)

Any questions, please reach out to the NAMI Jacksonville Program Manager:
Deanna Brown at d.brown@namijax.org or 904-312-7599.
Please visit our website for more information on our programs: www.namijax.org