Before we cap off this Season of Raising Relationships… we thought you’d want to know how Shontee and Micah’s journey concluded. We also want to leave you with some parting wisdom from all of the folks who shared their stories and perspectives with us this season on the show.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

In the final episode of this season, the hosts focus on the care and well-being of teachers since they are the ones who are with the children day in and day out. Listeners meet Brittany Gandy of Be Well Care Well, and she guides them through her work to support South Carolina childcare providers on a journey toward well-being so they’re ready for the important job of caring for children.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

The classroom is a key experience for kids and teachers. So much of what happens in the classroom is about how educators are relating to kids and understanding their emotional needs, development, and what their behavior communicates. The hosts sit down with teacher, Courtney Shannon, and Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Christopher Gaines, on their experiences inside the classrooms in South Carolina. The listeners hear what motivates teachers and the supports available to them.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

In episode 3, Shontee mentions a class she took called the Circle of Security, which she was referred to through SCIMHA’s Help Me Grow program. The hosts hear from Dr. Mackenzie Soniak about her work in IECMH, what the Circle of Security Program is, and how the parenting group can positively alter relationships between caregivers and children.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

The question, “What is normal?” comes up A LOT when talking about kids and development. More often than not, the parent knows best; so parents will push for a second or third opinion. We sit down with Dr. James Collins and Dr. Karen Ratliff-Schaub both from the Prisma Healthcare System in South Carolina. We dig into the new standards for normative development and how to validate the feelings of caregivers in these situations.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

Many parents of children with behavioral concerns can relate to Shontee’s story of her son Micah’s expulsion from childcare. We dive into what happened in their situation, as well as hear from the CEO of SCIMHA, Kerrie Schnake about the impact of expulsion. We will also explain something called, “The Preschool to Prison Pipeline.”

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

In our extended trailer, you met Shontee, a mother of three. Two of Shontee’s children are grown up but her youngest is Micah. Their story illustrates the journey parents take every day to do the best for their children. We talk to CEO of SCIMHA, Kerrie Schnake, about what exactly is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) and introduce you to the work we do at SCIMHA.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at https://www.scimha.org

Welcome to Raising Relationships. Like you, we know the realities facing early childhood educators, administrators, families and children. And let's be honest, being in this world as an educator, admin or parent or child, it's not always easy. Many people just don't understand the pressures, the heavy weight of responsibility or situations we come up against daily in child care and education centers across the state of South Carolina. This show aims to open up that dialogue and offer support and encouragement.

This series is proudly supported by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. Learn more at:
https://www.scimha.org

https://www.facebook.com/SouthCarolinaInfantMentalHealthAssociation/

https://www.instagram.com/scimha/