National Center for Youth Issues

Home
United States
Chattanooga, TN
National Center for Youth Issues

We help you help all kids.

At NCYI, our mission is to equip educators, counselors, and caregivers with educational resources and training services that instill resiliency and life readiness skills in children and youth.

09/06/2026

Curiosity is not comfortable. But it is necessary.

Understanding where racial injustice comes from, really understanding it, requires us to sit with history that is painful, systems that are still active, and truths that can be difficult to face. It is much easier to stay in the space of what feels familiar and safe.

But comfort has never been the path to change. For educators and counselors who are committed to showing up fully for every child in their care, the willingness to get curious, even when it is uncomfortable, is part of the work.

09/05/2026

📚 SEPTEMBER BOOK SALE! 📚

Two Julia Cook favorites are just $8 each this month!

🌟 I’m Stretched! helps kids recognize when stress is becoming overwhelming and gives them practical strategies for finding calm, balance, and joy.

🌟 I Can’t Find My Whatchamacallit! helps kids build organization, planning, and executive function skills through the adventures of Cletus and Bocephus.

Written by , both books offer relatable, kid-friendly ways to build skills children can use every day.

Shop the September sale:
https://ncyi.org/sale/

09/04/2026

What happens after a meltdown matters just as much as how we respond in the middle of one.

When the storm has passed, children need to know that the relationship is still intact. That the adult in front of them is not frustrated, not disappointed, and not going anywhere.

The words we choose in those quiet moments after are what rebuild trust and teach children that big feelings do not have to cost them connection. 💛

09/03/2026

✨ NEW RELEASE: Let’s Get Curious Card Decks!

Sometimes the best conversations begin with a situation that isn’t about you.

The Let’s Get Curious card decks use relatable, student-centered scenarios to help students talk through real-life challenges, consider different perspectives, and learn from one another—without having to share personal experiences before they’re ready.

Designed for grades 3 and up, each deck includes layered discussion questions that help conversations go deeper:

💜 Building Belonging — exclusion, connection, and creating belonging
🩵 Grief & Loss — understanding grief, finding support, and coping with loss
🩷 When Relationships Get Complicated — conflict, communication, and navigating difficult relationships

Use them in classrooms, counseling sessions, or small groups to build self-awareness, empathy, communication, and social-emotional skills.

Explore the NEW Let’s Get Curious decks:
https://ncyi.org/letsgetcuriouscards/

09/02/2026

There are students who walk through the door every morning not because they have to, but because there is one person inside who makes them feel like they belong there.

One adult who knows their name, notices when something is off, and makes the ordinary moments feel safe enough to show up for.

You may never know which student that is for you. But they know. And today, they came because of you.

Thank you for being someone worth showing up for. 💙

09/01/2026

Preorder Griefosaurus by September 14 and receive the FREE Griefosaurus Resource Bundle! 🦕💜 You’ll also be entered to win one of five custom pottery pieces created especially for the giveaway!

Here’s how:

1️⃣ Preorder Griefosaurus by September 14, 2026.

2️⃣ Go to griefosaurus.com and fill out the form with your order information. You’ll receive confirmation that your FREE Resource Bundle will be emailed when the book releases on September 15.

Griefosaurus is a tender, hopeful picture book that helps children put words to the big feelings that come with grief and discover that loss is something we can learn to understand, listen to, and care for.

Preorder + giveaway details: griefosaurus.com

08/31/2026

September brings several important opportunities to connect, reflect, and support the students and communities around us. 🍂

Save these key dates for the month ahead:

💛 Su***de Prevention Awareness Month
🇺🇸 Labor Day — September 7
💛 National Su***de Prevention Week — September 6–12
💛 World Su***de Prevention Day — September 10
🇺🇸 September 11
🙏 World Gratitude Day — September 21

Which dates are on your school or counseling calendar this month?

***dePrevention

08/29/2026

"The book I wish I had when I started working with students many years ago."

We love hearing how educators and counselors are responding to the new 15-Minute Focus: Relationships & Belonging!

Dr. Amy Baltimore gives educators practical tools for recognizing the students who may be quietly struggling with isolation and for creating stronger connections and a deeper sense of belonging throughout the school.

Thank you, Brittany Smith, for sharing your thoughts on this new resource!

Learn more: https://ncyi.org/15minutefocusseries/

08/27/2026

We're celebrating the return to school soon...and you get the prizes!

Three lucky winners will receive SEVEN amazing, new NCYI resources worth over $150!
✅Simply enter at ncyi.org/giveaways.

Here's to the start of an Amazing New School Year!

Giveaway open to continental U.S residents only. Must be 13+ to enter. Giveaway closes on August 30th at midnight. Winners will be notified by email by September 1st. No purchase necessary. This giveaway is not sponsored by or associated with Instagram or any other company.

08/26/2026

The words we use when something feels hard are not just words. They are the story we tell ourselves about what is possible.

"I'll never be able to do this" closes a door. "I just haven't figured this out yet" leaves it open.

That single shift, from fixed to still growing, is the difference between a child who gives up and one who keeps trying. And it starts with the adults in their lives modeling what that language actually sounds like in practice.

Address

P. O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN
37422

Website

http://www.ncyi.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Center for Youth Issues posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Chattanooga?