Brothers painting a mural

“Free Arts offers children and teens a safe environment and productive outlet to help work through what is often a dark and challenging time in their lives,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons.

PHOENIX (PRWEB)
March 02, 2021

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has donated $500,000 in general operating dollars over the next two years to Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona to support its strategic plan and ongoing growth. The nonprofit organization works to transform children’s trauma into strength and resilience through the arts. The focus of upcoming growth will be largely centered around reimagining Free Arts programming to incorporate virtual opportunities and ensure inclusivity.

“Free Arts offers children and teens a safe environment and productive outlet to help work through what is often a dark and challenging time in their lives,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “We are proud to continue our support of this organization as it expands its efforts to bring transformational arts programming to even more children in need.”

The funds will be used to identify even more alternate programs and reimagine traditional Free Arts programs that can be delivered virtually or with a safe, hybrid model. Additionally, Free Arts will examine the organization with a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens and work to dismantle barriers to serving children and our community in the most equitable way possible.

“This fundamental support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is crucial to our organization during this difficult time,” said Free Arts Executive Director Alicia Sutton Campbell. “It will allow us to continue to adapt our programs to serve children safely, while also allowing us to focus on the future and how Free Arts needs to grow and change in the coming years to best serve the community.”

The nonprofit’s 10-year vision includes a statewide expansion and increased programming for alumni as they move into adulthood. Free Arts believes every child living in foster care and emergency shelters in Arizona should have access to resilience-building arts programs and caring adult mentors.

“Art can be a very powerful outlet for expressing ourselves and dealing with complicated emotions,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “Free Arts is offering children and young adults the ability to harness that power for healing and growth.”

The Parsons have been longtime supporters of Free Arts and through The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation have granted more than $4.5 million to the organization over the past seven years, including this most recent gift.

Free Arts currently serves more than 6,000 children annually, utilizing the talents and skills of 17 staff members, 22 board members and 800 volunteers. To learn more about Free Arts visit FreeArtsAz.org.

About Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

Founded in 1993, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that works to transform children’s trauma to resilience through the arts. Free Arts programs include creative elements that promote safety, self-expression, and a sense of belonging. Free Arts programs are delivered by 800 volunteer mentors and artists who serve more than 6,000 children annually through partnerships with 40 social service child welfare agencies at 100+ sites across Maricopa County. For more information on Free Arts, visit: http://www.FreeArtsAZ.org.

About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.

# # #

Share article on social media or email:

SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)
March 01, 2021

The mission of Digital Wellness Day is to empower individuals, communities and organizations with research-based tools and strategies to flourish in a digital age. The 2020 inaugural Digital Wellness Day, hosted by the Digital Wellness Collective – a global trade association for digital wellness professionals and organizations – reached 1.2 million people worldwide.

Digital Wellness Day presents an opportunity to highlight best practices in digital wellness and highlight how technology can help us feel together rather than apart. COVID-19 triggered dramatic social-economic changes, resulting in many of us working from home and socializing remotely in a virtual world. Digital Wellness Day is a catalyst for exploring and sharing how we can evolve and flourish in this context of living and working, and encourages diverse audiences to publicly share their ideas and experiences regarding achieving digital wellbeing.

Resources for Digital Wellness Day include a Digital Wellness Toolkit, free Ebook “Guide for Surviving Thriving in the Remote Work Era” and a Community Engagement Guide. These materials will be available to Ambassadors of the virtual events, providing them with cutting-edge research and resources on digital wellness.

“Our team is delighted to be launching Digital Wellness Day and providing a toolkit to support individuals, educators, and organizations with resources for year-round digital wellness,” says Nina Hersher, co-founder and CEO of the Digital Wellness Collective. “We have the power to utilize technology in a way that fuels versus fatigues us. This knowledge is integral to the Digital Wellness movement – where each of us can become an embodied change agent toward a culture of digital flourishing.”

ABOUT THE DIGITAL WELLNESS COLLECTIVE

The Digital Wellness Collective is committed to the idea of harmony with tech: with the right strategies and thoughtful development, we can build tech to reduce harmful effects and unintended consequences, as well as encourage people to have healthier relationships with themselves, the world around them, and the devices and platforms they use. The Collective works to achieve these goals through collaboration across industries, bringing diverse perspectives together to better inform the development of new tech and the modification of existing tech.

YEAR-ROUND DIGITAL WELLNESS EDUCATION AND RESOURCES

Beyond Digital Wellness Day, The Digital Wellness Collective represents the future of unified, digital wellness education and moreover, the future of work as we evolve into the digital age. The organization’s partner, the Digital Wellness Institute, offers the first immersive and comprehensive Digital Wellness certification program providing continuing education credit for: Psychologists, Psychoanalysts, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Creative Arts Therapists, Chemical Dependency Counselors, Educators, and Nurses – with accreditation partner R. Cassidy Seminars. Click here for more information about the program and the Institute.

For anyone interested in hosting a virtual event celebrating Digital Wellness Day, partnering as a global sponsor, or learning more about the event and the Digital Wellness Collective, please submit an inquiry to info@digitalwellnesscollective.com

Digital Wellness Day: http://www.digitalwellnessday.com

Digital Wellness Collective: http://www.digitalwellnesscollective.com

Digital Wellness Institute: http://www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com

Share article on social media or email:

SEATTLE (PRWEB)
February 25, 2021

Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 184 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 184 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-marriage-and-family-therapy-degree-programs/

2021 Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Abilene Christian University

Alliant International University

Amridge University

Antioch University

Appalachian State University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Bethel University

Brandman University

Brigham Young University

California Southern University

California State University, North Ridge

Campbellsville University

Capella University

Chapman University

Christian Theological Seminary

Drexel University

East Carolina University

Eisner Institute For Professional Studies

Fairfield University

Friends University

Grand Canyon University

Houston Baptist University

Indiana Wesleyan University

John Brown University

Lancaster Bible College

Lee University

Liberty University

Messiah College

Michigan State University

Mid-America Christian University

Northcentral University

Northwestern University

Nova Southeastern University

Palo Alto University

Pepperdine University

Pfeiffer University

Regent University

Regis University

Syracuse University

Texas Tech University

Touro University Worldwide

University of Florida

University of Louisiana, Monroe

University of Rochester

University of San Diego

University of Southern California

University of West Alabama

Walden University

Western Seminary

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.

Share article on social media or email:

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (PRWEB)
February 25, 2021

OPTIMUS Health Care, Inc., a leading community health center network headquartered in Bridgeport, CT, and the OPTIMUS Foundation are offering an online mental health symposium on March 4, from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm.

The event, entitled “We Hope, We Lift, We Rise. Building Connections: A Community Conversation on the Intersectionality of Mental Health, Gender, and Race,” will feature keynote speaker Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a leading international voice on human rights, race and gender issues.

The focus of the symposium is an examination and discussion of the health and well-being of women and girls in underserved communities and in all communities, with particular attention to the social determinants of health that impact us all, and have been especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online symposium program includes the keynote address, followed by an overview of the emme Coalition (Empowerment, Mindfulness, Motivation and Education), an OPTIMUS Health Care program centered on the physical, emotional and professional development of girls and women. The emme Coalition is made possible by funding from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.

A panel discussion will then address related issues. Panelists include Coleen Dobo, PsyD, Senior Vice President of Adult Services at Community Health Resources, and Beth Richie, PhD, Criminology, Law and Justice Department Head and Professor of African American Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago, and Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz-Schwartz, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut.

To register for the symposium, click here.

OPTIMUS Health Care wishes to recognize the support of event sponsors, which include Sacred Heart University/College of Health Professions, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc., People’s United Bank, Diversified Building Services, Base Technologies, Bridgeport Hospital/Yale New Haven Health and Bridges Healthcare, among others.

OPTIMUS Health Care serves as the patient-centered medical home for all its communities, enabling all patients to achieve and maintain a positive state of wellness, particularly the uninsured and underserved. OPTIMUS maintains a network of 30 healthcare facilities across southwestern CT, and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supported through patient revenues, the generous support of the community, and grants from federal, state and local government and private and public foundations.

OPTIMUS FOUNDATION supports Optimus Health Care, Inc. in providing affordable and quality health care, particularly its programs that support the health and social welfare of women, infants and children.

Share article on social media or email:

LIMEPORT, Pa. (PRWEB)
February 17, 2021

New Vitae Wellness and Recovery is pleased to announce that Consulting Psychologist Mary Cowgill obtained her doctorate degree in education from Nebraska Methodist College in December 2020. Dr. Cowgill works full-time with New Vitae’s Quality Department and Action Recovery Brain Injury Services, offering direct support for individuals and assisting with the development of individualized programming.

“I really love adding to my skills and strengths and assisting programs to grow and develop,” said Dr. Cowgill. “I wanted to get this degree in particular, because of its coursework and training in organizational systems and focus on leadership in healthcare settings. I already have been given many opportunities to use my skills at New Vitae Wellness and Recovery and look forward to doing so for many years to come.”

Dr. Cowgill’s dissertation focused on quality of life outcomes associated with the use of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan, or WRAP. The WRAP plan is used as a platform for individuals who have received a behavioral health diagnosis to implement key ideas related to recovery, including hope, personal responsibility, education, and self-efficacy. These concepts also form the basis for the supports offered by New Vitae Wellness and Recovery.

“Dr. Cowgill’s participation in the strengthening of our Brain Injury services cannot be overstated,” said New Vitae President and CEO, Judith Yanacek. “In addition to offering assistance with establishing and ensuring the continuation of the program’s CARF accreditation, she continues to work with our team to provide critical training for staff and clinical interventions for residents. We are so happy to celebrate this fantastic accomplishment with her.”

About New Vitae Wellness and Recovery: New Vitae Wellness and Recovery is dedicated to providing comprehensive behavioral health care services and supportive residential opportunities for adults. Our array of services promotes holistic wellness through varying levels of residential supports that are combined with clinical services for individuals who experience mental health, addiction, brain injury, and intellectual disability challenges. With sites in Bucks, Lehigh, and Philadelphia counties, New Vitae works with individuals and families to utilize personal strengths, develop personal independence, and provide opportunities for community connections. To learn more about our services, please visit http://www.newvitaewellness.com.

Share article on social media or email:

With Branching Minds, we’ll be able to combine the power of the DESSA SEL assessments with the convenience of delivery within the Branching Minds system, which educators already use and trust – a win-win for schools and kids!

NEW YORK and FORT MILL, S.C. (PRWEB)
February 16, 2021

Branching Minds, the digital platform and national expert on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Response to Intervention (RTI), and Aperture Education, provider of the highly respected, research-backed comprehensive SEL assessment suite the DESSA, are excited to announce a new partnership.

Aperture Education has a long track record of helping teachers assess students’ social-emotional competencies, monitor progress, measure outcomes, and strengthen the social-emotional competence of students in grades K-12, in a strengths-based format. Grounded in resilience theory and directly aligned to the CASEL framework, Aperture Education’s assessment, the DESSA, is a standardized user-friendly, practical social-emotional learning assessment that meets the highest professional standards.

Branching Minds, as a leading MTSS/RTI solution, has an impressive history of providing teachers with ways to leverage assessment data in order to identify the best interventions to use, guiding teachers through the process of creating effective academic, behavioral, and social-emotional intervention plans, and supporting collaborative problem-solving, documentation and reporting at every level of MTSS/RTI. Thanks to partnerships like this, Branching Minds has been able to evolve into a solution that connects the dots for teachers across academics, behavior, and SEL, enabling them to holistically support all of their students.

Today, in addition to integrating the Aperture SEL assessment and reporting technology , Branching Minds also provides teachers the ability to administer the SECA assessment to understand students’ perceptions of their own SEL competence, track major and minor behavior incidents, generate behavior incident reports at the individual, school and district level, create behavior support plans – including a suite of behavior progress monitoring measures and hundreds of free, evidence-based behavior and SEL interventions and accommodations. The Branching Minds Behavior/SEL support library is organized by the CASEL framework and includes supports for attendance, relationship skills, responsible decision-making, self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness, from sources such as HARMONY SEL, another Branching Minds partner.

This new partnership provides districts and schools with a comprehensive RTI/MTSS solution. District and school leaders will finally be able to provide their teachers a way to collaboratively problem-solve and support all students’ academic, behavior and SEL needs, with an easy to use, comprehensive, intervention management system—that drives strong student outcomes in equitable ways.

“Partnering with Branching Minds on a holistic system to support student social-emotional growth is an exciting endeavor. We’re passionate about providing educators with reliable data so they can make informed decisions for their students. And with Branching Minds, we’ll be able to combine the power of the DESSA SEL assessments with the convenience of delivery within the Branching Minds system, which educators already use and trust – a win-win for schools and kids!” — Jessica Adamson, CEO of Aperture Education

“We couldn’t be more excited to provide our district partners with an opportunity to accurately and proactively identify students who need social emotional support, as well as a means to more deeply understand their needs, and monitor their progress. We always say, ‘we are data agnostic, but data opinionated’ — the DESSA is the kind of data we want all of our districts to be able to leverage. It perfectly complements the rest of our SEL support and bringing it all together will make it so much easier for teachers to help their students holistically.” — Maya Gat, CEO and founder of Branching Minds

About Branching Minds

Branching Minds is a highly respected K-12 services and technology company that leverages the learning sciences and technology to help districts effectively personalize learning through enhancements to their MTSS/RTI practice. Having worked with thousands of schools and hundreds of districts across the country, we bring deep expertise in learning sciences, data management and analysis, software design, coaching, and collaboration. Combined with our extensive toolkit of resources, PD, and technology, we provide a system-level solution. We are more than a service or a software provider, we are partners who will deliver sustainable results for educators, and a path to success for every learner. To learn more, visit http://www.branchingminds.com

About Aperture

Aperture Education empowers over 3,000 schools and out-of-school-time programs across North America to measure, strengthen, and support social and emotional competence in K-12 youth and educators. This system enables education leaders can make strategic, data-based decisions about SEL within their organizations. The Aperture system includes the DESSA suite of strength-based assessments, CASEL-informed intervention strategies, and robust reporting, all in one easy-to-use digital platform. Aperture has supported over one million students in their social and emotional growth and continues to develop innovative solutions to bring the whole child into focus. To learn more, visit http://www.ApertureEd.com.

For more information, go to: http://www.branchingminds.com/dessa-sel

Media contact

Yosr Najjar

Marketing Director

Branching Minds

yosr@branchingminds.com

Share article on social media or email: