This week, Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King are back on Raising Joy and welcoming special guest Alexandra Morales, Project and Partnership Coordinator for the Parent Pass app, to discuss a groundbreaking tool designed to lift the mental load of parenting.

Alexandra explains how the free Parent Pass app started in 2021 as a solution to connect parents with the resources and community support they were struggling to find in Tarrant County.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

·       How Parent Pass acts as a vetted, one-stop shop for finding everything from fun, low-cost kid-friendly events to reliable health and mental wellness resources.

·       How the app uses new AI to customize event and resource information based on your children's ages, interests, and zip code, so you don't have to "scour" for information.

·       The overwhelming request for mental health support from local parents, which Parent Pass addresses by linking to organizations like Lena Pope and offering access to trauma-informed yoga classes.

·       The app's Parent Help Line and its life-saving connection to the Help Me Grow program, including a powerful story of how a nurse's postpartum education helped a new mom recognize a dangerous blood clot.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation about how a community-driven app is using technology to combat parent isolation and provide critical support, all while continuing to grow and expand!

Learn more about the Parent Pass App here: https://parentpass.app/

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., learn all about the Parent Cafe program – which brings education and caregiving skills directly to parents across North Texas.  

The guests are Aaron Olivares who oversees the Parent Cafe program for Cook Children's Center for Community Health, and Itzia Osco, a coordinator for the H.E.L.P. Program at Fort Worth ISD, which supports families experiencing homelessness.

The H.E.L.P. Program is just one of the dozens of examples of how the Parent Cafe program is being utilized to support parents with a variety of issues, from discipline and communication to mental health and working with your child’s school. 

Now available in eight counties, this episode sheds light on the Parent Cafe program, how it started as well as information on how you can bring the curriculum to your school or community. 

At a Parent Café, you can:

• Talk about the good stuff about being a parent and the parts that are hard.
• Meet other parents and caregivers and hear what they're going through.
• Get ideas and advice that can help you be an even better parent.

Learn more at https://www.cookchildrenscommunity.org/abuse/parenting-support/parent-cafe/

If you’ve ever tried to schedule a behavioral health appointment for your child, you likely know the wait can be longer than expected – even months. But did you know there’s a major shortage of child psychiatrists nationwide? In fact, there are roughly 850 child psychiatrists in Texas serving seven million children.

On this episode of Raising Joy, we’re talking about solutions with Gunit Kahlon, M.D., and Nanette Allison, D.O., who lead Fort Worth’s first Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program at JPS Health Network. 

The program, which includes rotations at JPS Health Network and Cook Children's, aims to increase access to mental health care for children and teens. With the first graduating class now working in Tarrant County, access to timely care and reduced wait times are more than a dream – they’re becoming reality.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

• The impact of the shortage of child psychiatrists in North Texas
• How the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship will help reduce wait times for mental health resources
• How the collaboration between health networks stresses the importance of community
• Retaining fellows offers potential growth for mental health services in the future

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pryc, M.D., learn what resources your child’s school counselors can provide for you and your student with Bridgeport ISD Counselor Liz Cornett.

Liz addresses issues like conflict resolution, parental incarceration and self-harm ideation. She emphasizes the importance of early intervention and prevention, using tools like QR codes for check-ins and character development lessons. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

• Resources at schools to help your child
• How to self-regulate for you and your child
• Best practices for anxiety management
• Reasons behind the shift in the younger generation’s fast-paced maturity
• How to help your child if they are threatening self-harm

This episode is filled with self-help and regulation techniques to advocate for your child so that they feel heard. 

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc discuss how to define trauma and the mental and physical responses adolescents have with Joy Hoffman, Psy.D., a psychologist at Cook Children’s Pediatrics in Hurst, Texas. 

Dr. Hoffman details how different adolescent age groups respond to trauma and healing. Discover the best practices on how to create a safe space and gain trust to help the child heal depending on age and events. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

• How to define the different variations of trauma
• How to identify the different trauma responses in each child
• Ways to respond to trauma responses
• Keeping calm in order to gain trust 
• Ways to help regulate emotional outbursts

This episode is packed with ways to navigate and regulate the physical and emotional responses of trauma in various adolescent age groups. 

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., analyze the positive effects of giving your child independence from an early age with Kim Mangham, M.D., a pediatrician from Cook Children’s Pediatrics - Keller Parkway.

Dr. Mangham details the strengths your child will develop if you let them make their own mistakes starting as early as the toddler years. Discover how these mistakes, with parent oversight, will better prepare your teen and college student to advocate for themselves as they navigate early adulthood. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How to empower your child with supervision from an early age
• Ways in which your child can contribute to the family to build adult skills
• Taking care of yourself so your child learns to take care of their self as well
• Ways in which your child can become a leader instead of being influenced
• Allowing your child to grow from their mistakes with your help

This episode is filled with parent and caregiver advice to best empower and prepare your child for the independence of adulthood from an early age. 

This week on Raising Joy, Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc dive deep into the fascinating world of neuropsychological testing with special guest Tahnae Allen, Ph.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist from Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper.

Dr. Allen breaks down neuropsychological testing and dispels common misconceptions. Discover that it's not about electrodes and blinking lights, but rather a comprehensive and often fun assessment that helps understand how a child's brain functions in areas like attention, memory, language and social-emotional development.
 
 In this episode, you'll learn:

• What neuropsychological testing entails and why a child might need it. 
• The difference between psychological and neuropsychological testing.
• The referral process for neuropsychological testing and what parents can expect from the comprehensive reports.
• The hope and tools that neuropsychological testing provides to help children thrive and access the support they need.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for any parent or caregiver looking to better understand and support their child's neurodevelopmental journey.

On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Kristen Pyrc sits down with Brian Miller, President and CEO of Camp Fire First Texas to explore the transformative power of camps for kids. 

We learn why unplugging from technology and spending time outdoors is so good for young brains, especially when it comes to skills like teamwork and communication. And Dr. Pyrc shares the long-lasting impact camp has had on her own life. 

Whether you’re weighing the decision to send your child to camp, wondering which age is right or looking for simple ways to bring “camp life” into your everyday summer routine, this episode will inspire you. 

If you’d like to learn more about Camp Fire First Texas, visit their website at https://www.campfirefw.org/. 

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Fort Worth Councilman Michael Crain to discuss the revitalization of the Las Vegas Trail community. Councilman Crain, who represents District 3, shares the rich history of this West Fort Worth area and the exciting additions to the community that will open in the coming months.

The conversation highlights the significant investments being made to uplift the community and the growth this area will soon see. A major focus of the episode is the upcoming Cook Children's and JPS neighborhood health clinic, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership in Tarrant County, which will offer comprehensive healthcare services for both children and adults, a food pantry, workforce training, and a demonstration kitchen. Councilman Crain also touches on the vital role of organizations like LVT Rise and the upcoming Head Start facility, emphasizing the importance of affordable childcare for single mothers in the area.

Tune in to hear about the collaborative efforts transforming this historic Fort Worth neighborhood and the vision for a thriving future!

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Diamond Moss, founder of Afro Green'd. What starts with Kristin's newfound love for hydrangeas quickly blossoms into a fascinating conversation about the power of urban gardening for children and communities.

Diamond shares his personal journey into agriculture, inspired by his grandmother's backyard garden and a friend's insightful advice. He highlights Afro Green'd's impactful work with over 600 students in the Fort Worth School District, where kids learn to plant, harvest and eat the food they've grown themselves.

Diamond also explains the concept of "organic mental relief" and the profound connection between being outdoors, gardening, and children's mental well-being.

This episode is a celebration of life skills, community building, and the simple joy of connecting with nature. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the power of urban gardening for children and communities. Plus, get some expert tips on growing your own delicious tomatoes, even in the Texas heat!