Advocates in Parenting

07/30/2026

Thank you to Gene Cash, LCSW, LISW-S, Founder and Executive Director of Counseling Alliance of Virginia (CAVA) for leading Tuesday's Roadmap Series workshop about "Talking with Children about Race and Racism". This program facilitated good conversations and Gene provided very helpful information so we can keep these conversations going and we can start early with our children! Pictured below are Gene and CAVA's social work intern, Steffan Stroud, as well as Gene with our 2 raffle winners! Each winner received a copy of "An Ordinary Day" by Dr. Anjali Ferguson & Justin Ferguson, which is a picture book to help parents talk with children about race and microaggressions. We at AIP and PIP commit to keeping these conversations going and thank Gene again for his time and expertise!!

07/03/2026

Join us for a great (and free) workshop about "talking with children about race and racism" on July 28. Our presenter, Gene Cash, is a dynamic and engaging speaker! Please help spread the word to friends, colleagues and clients!

04/28/2026

Thank you to Dr. Carla Shaffer for sharing her expertise with us today on the important topic of supporting children and teens with their anxiety. The framework and strategies shared were so helpful!

04/20/2026

Join us next Tuesday (in-person or via Zoom) for a wonderful presentation by Dr. Carla Shaffer about supporting children and teens who are experiencing anxiety!

03/11/2026

Such an important article and a quick read too, so be sure to check it out! One take-away that particularly caught our attention was "Foundational relationships: When children have stability in their relationships with attentive caregivers, they grow in an environment rich with beneficial interactions that promote secure attachment and healthy development. When attentive caregiving is absent, or if its presence is unreliable or unpredictable, healthy brain development can be disrupted.
If children face significant instability in other areas of their lives, stable relationships with responsive adults in their home, childcare, school, or other settings can help provide important elements of the safety and security that children need. However, caregivers cannot do it alone—policy and programs that help create stable environments for
young children and caregivers alike are essential for healthy development".

Promoting stability across a young child’s developmental environment offers a vital opportunity to support early development and lifelong health. Strengthening stability in one area—such as housing, caregiver relationships, or financial security—can have a multiplier effect across other parts of a child’s environment.

In the new working paper from the Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment (ECSCEE), learn about the importance of stability in early childhood as well as concrete ways to strengthen it: https://bit.ly/3PbD432

03/09/2026

Happy National Social Work month and thank you for the difference you are making in the world!!! We need you and appreciate you!

02/12/2026

Thank you to Holly Timberline, OTR/L, IMH-E Infant Mental Health Specialist (IMHS), who joined us Tuesday to give her wonderful presentation entitled, "Taming the Tornado: Helping Kids Feel Safe, Seen & Soothed". We all benefitted greatly from her expertise and her accessible delivery of this information!

01/18/2026

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taming-the-tornado-helping-kids-feel-safe-seen-and-soothed-tickets-1916887073839?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Get ready to dive deep into the world of parenting with practical tips and strategies to help kids feel safe, seen, and heard!