“Is therapy even working?” “I don’t think this medication is the right fit.” “Now, what do we do!?” Does any of this sound familiar??

It’s a frustrating fact: there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for depression. As a caregiver, you want to confidently point your loved ones toward treatment options you know will help them get well. Unfortunately, finding the right treatment takes time and is almost always a trial and error process.

How can you be expected to put your faith in therapists, doctors, medications, and insurance systems when your loved one’s health and life are on the line? By being educated and equipped to support your loved one in getting appropriate treatment, you can play a pivotal role in helping them get on the path toward wellness.

Join our webinar to learn how to differentiate between types of evidence-based depression treatment, recognize if treatment is making a difference, and what you can do when treatment isn’t working. Together, we’ll demystify the mental health system so you feel more confident about helping your loved ones make informed decisions about their treatment.

Square Pegs has a new group just for autistic and neurodivergent parents. They meet the 2nd Sunday of each month here at The Arc from 10am-12pm. If you have questions they can contact Jen.St.Cyr@gmail.com or Gina@bunster.org

When influencing the halls of power, whether those halls are in your town hall, your state capitol, or Washington, DC, advocacy makes a difference.  In this free webinar series, you’ll learn skills to be an effective advocate for issues that you care about to help you play a meaningful role as a coalition member, grassroots organizer, and leader.  From strategies for organizing like-minded people to methods for communicating messages to a variety of issue stakeholders, this series will teach you everything you need to start making an impact on matters most important to you.  Join us today and become a voice for your community’s tomorrow.

All webinars are one hour long and have live Spanish translation and closed captioning available.

This series is being facilitated by Catriona Macdonald, MPP,  President, Linchpin Strategies, LLC

Episode I: The Nuts and Bolts of Advocacy

Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST

This webinar begins with an overview of why advocacy matters and how it makes a big difference for infants, children, and families and the professionals who care for them.  Over the course of the hour, you will learn the nuts and bolts of advocacy, including:

• Information that policymakers need to make decisions, including how an issue impacts their constituents and supporters
• The helpful facts, figures, and personal stories that narrate and frame an issue, so it is easily understood and relatable
• How visible an issue is in the community and among constituents and supporters, and the range of opinions about it
• How to contact and learn more about your elected officials and those working on your issues, as well as advocacy and community coalitions
• Ways to have your voice heard by identifying and volunteering with (or creating!) advocacy and community coalitions engaged in your issues
• Strategies and methods for connecting to officials when you find them, and how to keep your issue front and center

In small breakout groups, you’ll share your issue areas with fellow participants, and research how to contact your elected officials, like-minded advocacy groups, and community coalitions.  A resource list and tip sheet will be provided to all participants as a desktop reference guide for your advocacy efforts.

Episode II: Telling Your Story for Impact

Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to frame your issues and ideas to point toward solutions and tell your story for maximum impact on decision-makers and the policies they create.  Specifically, we’ll discuss in depth how to:

• Share your expertise, know your audience, and identify your partners
• Craft messages that resonate and paint a picture through details
• Create assets for your issue by building connections

In small groups, you’ll work on storytelling about an issue and identifying the partners you may want to include in telling that story.  This webinar closes with a focus on making an actionable advocacy plan for your issue.

Episode III: It Takes a Village

Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST

This webinar explores the strategies and methods for implementing an advocacy plan and being the most effective advocate you can be.  In this webinar, you’ll learn:

• Strategies for finding and recruiting others in your community to join you as advocates
• Ways to spread your message through social media channels and the press
• How to understand the influence and impact of unexpected advocates
• The roles of community leaders and influencers
• Ways to leverage voting cycles and elections to deepen your impact

Students know best when it comes to reimagining our education system. And they are not afraid of speaking up to address the many areas of inequity.

Join us for our Virtual Event on October 13, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for an online statewide FREE convening to celebrate the brilliance and the advocacy efforts of Washington students.

It will be an inspirational event to remember, so RSVP today to ensure your seat. Are you interested in being an event sponsor? Email info @educationvoters.org for more information.

We will also present awards to students who inspire us, students who take on the system, and who create change.

2nd Thursday of every month – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Monthly on the 2nd Friday of each month at 7 PM.
A group for parents and caregivers of individuals with Down Syndrome.

Grab your dinner, a tasty beverage, and your phone, tablet, or computer – and join us online for social time together!
This group is about social connection, building community, emotional support, laughter, sharing resources, and just having a safe place to talk with other people who get it.
What to Expect:

• Good conversation
• Building community
• Connecting to other parents
• Sharing community resources

Questions:
Doreen VanderVort : (253)565-2266 ext 107
PAVE Pierce County Programs: P2P@wapave.org
Sharing Down Syndrome in Pierce County – SDSPC@wapave.org

Join a monthly gathering of parents/caregivers of children with CP. During each meeting, you will hear from and engage with a guest speaker, and you will also spend time providing each other with community and support.

Meetings are held the 3rd Monday of every month from 5:30-6:30 PM via Zoom

Zoom room:
https://seattlechildrens.zoom.us/j/89149350457

A monthly virtual support group for the parents of autistic and transgender/nonbinary youth.
Professionally facilitated by parents of autistic and transgender/nonbinary youth, this one of kind group provides information and emotional support for parents by parents. For the days when you feel alone and isolated, and even more for the days when you’re proud and excited, meet us online for support, resource sharing, friendship and fun. Your unique family deserves unique support. Join us.

Free membership is required on transfamilies.org to register for this group.

(Image description: the flyer is orange and blue with white, blue and orange texts. There is a picture of a family enjoying being outside. The daughter is hugging their dad and the son is hugging their mom. They’re all smiling.)