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Empowering Youth and Families Program
Serving Mitchell and Yancey Counties
June Updates
Summer is on its way and we are wrapping things up with EYFP. Mitchell County will be finished this week and Yancey County will finish in a few weeks. Our families enjoyed the weekend in Millstone at the end of May, and you can check out some of the highlights in the video below!

Families from both counties began brainstorming an exciting community event to be held sometime before August 31. These events will focus on increasing family time, spending time outdoors, and bringing awareness to the many resources our communities have to offer.  
Saying Goodbye
June 1st, I will be starting a new position as the Family and Consumer Science Agent with Yancey Cooperative Extension. I have enjoyed my position as the Empowering Youth and Families Program Coordinator and will never forget the relationships made with the families we've served. I will still be involved with the program in a limited capacity, but most of my time will be spent getting acclimated with the new position.

In the upcoming weeks, NC State University will be hiring for a new Empowering Youth and Families Program Coordinator to serve Mitchell and Yancey Counties. If you know of anyone that might be interested or if you'd like more information about the duties involved, please reach out to me by email: niki_maness@ncsu.edu. I will be responsible for training and mentoring the person who takes on this role.  
Recent Events in Texas: How do I talk to my children about these things?
The recent tragedy in Texas has left many families feeling anxious, scared, sad, and angry. When things like this happen, we wonder why. It's an even bigger question coming from our kids who attend school each and every day.

How do we talk to the youth in our lives about these major events to gauge how they're handling what they hear? It's hard to have these difficult conversations when so many large emotions are involved, but here are some helpful conversation starters to get the ball rolling:
  • First, take the time to check in with yourself. Process the information and cope with the emotions you may be feeling. This will help you better manage the emotions your children may be experiencing.
    • Set up a time to talk. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Set time during the day to ask what they have heard, what their thoughts are and what they are feeling. Ask open-ended questions, such as "How are you feeling about that?" This will help you know how much they know and understand how they are processing at their developmental level. If your child does not want to talk about it, that‘s OK too!
  1. If your child is asking you about the event, it means they are ready to talk about it.
    2. Ask your child, "Do you have any questions about what is happening?" Answer their questions in an age-appropriate way but be honest.
    1. For younger kids, you can give vague answers, such as "Sometimes the people in charge make decisions we may not agree with."
    2. With older kids, you can be more specific about the details, for example use the names of who is involved or how systems work.
  2. Try only to give small bits of information at once; maybe a sentence or two. This allows the child to guide the conversation and determine how much information they’re ready to hear. If they ask follow-up questions, they’re ready to hear more.
  • You don’t need to know all the answers - that’s OK! You can let your child know if you don’t know the answer to one of their questions. You can look up answers together or sometimes you can talk about how some things are unknown or have no good explanations.
  • Try to be as objective as possible (don’t add judgment). State the facts of what is happening without sensationalizing. Describing events as horrifying or describing the worse possible outcome will increase their fear.
  • Normalize the emotions. Any emotion your child shares is valid. Don’t dismiss their emotions by saying things such as "Don’t be afraid." Instead, tell them you understand and you are also feeling worried. Talk about ways to cope with the emotions or prepare for difficult situations.

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    County Resources
    The county resource guides are taking longer than I had hoped, so I'm still working on those. If you have a resource to add, please use the link to the google form below.
    HELPFUL LINKS
     
     
    NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

    Extension's 4-H program is the largest youth development organization in North Carolina. We help over 247,000 young people grow into active, contributing citizens each year.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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