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Join Ken and Michelle as they are visited by special guest Amanda Mills from the Idaho AEYC (Association for the Education of Young Children). Amanda talks about their new and FREE initiatives: You've Got This!  and You've Got This From the Start.

You've Got This!

Early learning starts at home. As the first place a child begins learning, the habits and knowledge gained in the home build a foundation for their future. Through daily interactions with parents and family members, a child grows, develops, and begins to form the basic architecture of their brain.

Research indicates that quality early learning experiences at home provide children with skills and abilities necessary to succeed in school and to enhance the lifelong love of learning. To support the efforts of parents, educators, and caregivers, Idaho AEYC offers resources that strengthen early learning opportunities and that help our children thrive.

Welcoming a new baby or getting ready to? You don’t have to do it alone 

You’ve Got This! From the Start is a FREE program from Idaho AEYC designed to support families during those first important months. When you enroll, you’ll receive a high-quality infant kit filled with tools to encourage bonding, learning, and early development at home.

You’ll also get access to parent workshops, helpful resources, and a community that’s here for you as your child grows. Sign up today through the link under resources. Supplies are limited!

RESOURCES:

Idaho AEYC Resources:

https://www.idahoaeyc.org/family-resources

https://www.idahoaeyc.org/recursos-generales

You've Got This! From the Start:

https://www.idahoaeyc.org/youve-got-start

Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/IdahoAEYC

Act Early Idaho:

https://idahocdhd.org/aei

Parent Cafes:

https://www.idahoaeyc.org/workshops

https://www.bestrongfamilies.org/blog/parent-cafes-take-root-in-idaho

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

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All babies cry, some more than others. Crying is a baby’s language. When babies cry, they may be lonely, scared, tired or they may cry for reasons we can’t figure out.

The Crying Plan is an tool for parents to help them manage their crying baby and manage themselves when they feel like they are becoming frustrated while caring for the baby. Once developed, a baby’s Crying Plan can be shared with anyone who is caring for the baby.

The Idaho Children’s Trust Fund in partnership with Family Advocates, Shaken Baby of Idaho, and St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital have put together CryingBabyPlan.org as a prevention for Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma in Idaho.

Join Ken and Michelle as they learn about THE CRYING PLAN with Idaho Children's Trust Fund board member Sherry Iverson. Sherry Iverson worked at St Luke’s Children’s as the Director of Patient and Family Support Services for over 35 years. Sherry is the Executive Director of the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and works with over 140 pediatricians around the state advocating for children in all areas from public policy to insurance coverage. She has been an adjunct professor at BSU for over 12 years and enjoys working with college students who keep her involved and current. 

RESOURCES:

The Crying Baby Plan:

https://cryingbabyplan.org/

https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/prevention-strategies/crying-plan/

The Crying Baby Plan PDF

https://www.cryingbabyplan.org/files/crying-baby-plan.pdf

Healthy Children Website:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

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Join Ken and Michelle as they chat with Karey Perkins. Karey Perkins is a dedicated community advocate, parent leader, and mental health champion based in Idaho. Alongside her husband Eddie, she is raising a large, blended, and multigenerational family of eight, including children she has taken guardianship of—an experience that deeply informs her passion for supporting families.

Her advocacy journey began with Head Start, where she found both support and purpose. She now serves as the Policy Council Chair for WICAP Head Start, a role she has held for four consecutive years, and is the Vice Chair of the Idaho Head Start Association. She also represents families at the national level as a parent board member with the National Head Start Association and contributes to the Thriving Families Safer Children Coalition.

With over a decade of lived experience navigating mental health challenges, Karey is a committed mental health advocate. She openly shares her journey with bipolar disorder, complex PTSD, and recovery from self-harm, using her voice to reduce stigma and encourage others to seek support. As a survivor of childhood abuse and domestic violence, she brings honesty, resilience, and compassion to every space she enters.

Karey Perkins holds an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and is passionate about empowering parents, strengthening communities, and creating systems that truly support families. She believes healing is a lifelong journey and is proud to be a work in progress.

RESOURCES:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk

https://4theloveofkinship.org/

https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

https://ctfalliance.org/protective-factors/

https://ifs-institute.com/ 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

https://magellanofidaho.com/w/eligibility

https://loveinctv.org/

https://handinhandmentoring.org/ 

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

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This episode Ken and Michelle are joined by Terry Scraggins, LMSW. Terry holds a Master of Social Work from Boise State University and is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the State of Idaho. They earned both their Bachelor's degree (2020) and Master's degree (2023) from Boise State University and were recognized as a 2024 Idaho Business Review Accomplished Under 40 Honoree. Born and raised in Idaho, Terry is a Navy Veteran and foster alumni who is deeply involved in the greater Boise community through local nonprofits and agencies focused on empowerment. 

With over 10 years of advocacy experience in child welfare, family strengthening, and violence prevention, Terry has also developed significant expertise in advocating for and empowering the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly LGBTQIA+ foster youth. Passionate about fostering positive outcomes, inclusivity, and fair treatment for all, Terry is intentional in supporting individuals with historically marginalized identities and the global majority.

Terry's story underscores the need for more comprehensive inclusivity training for foster care parents and child placing agencies. Growing up both LGBTQ and biracial in Idaho, where African Americans make up less than 1% of the state’s population.(https://familyequality.org/our-stories/)

RESOURCES:

Casey Family Programs-Idaho Office

https://www.casey.org/who-we-are/locations/idaho/

Family Advocates:

https://www.familyadvocates.org/

For LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care, Finding Home is Hard

https://www.fostercarecapacity.com/stories/gay-in-foster-care

Tools for Transformation:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ccai-website/CCAI_Report_2018_Web.pdf

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

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Join Ken and Michelle as they visit Lori Fascilla, Executive Director of Giraffe Laugh. Giraffe Laugh is a local nonprofit that provides early childhood education and nurturing to 170 Treasure Valley children annually by ensuring school readiness, empowering families, and building strong futures. 

They currently have three full-time programs that serve children 0-5 years old throughout the entire year, a full-time preschool program that serves children 3.5-5 years old during the school year, and a summer program that serves children that are of school-age during the summer months.

RESOURCES:

GIRAFFE LAUGH

https://www.giraffelaugh.org/

VOLUNTEER:

https://www.giraffelaugh.org/get-involved/

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

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• Family Advocates (Our Site): familyadvocates.org
• Ada County Victim Services Center: https://adacounty.id.gov/victimservices/
• Hand in Hand Family Mentorship: https://handinhandmentoring.org/
• Idaho Legal Aid: https://idaholegalaid.org/
• Ada County Family Court Services: https://adacounty.id.gov/judicial-court/magistrate-court/family-court-services/
• 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine: Just dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.idaho.gov for statewide health and human services.
• Idaho Children’s Trust Fund: idahochildrenstrustfund.org (Prevention and ACEs resources).
• Find Help Idaho: findhelpidaho.org (Search for free/reduced-cost services by zip code).

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/theresilientparentingpodcast

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Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

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Ken and Michelle welcome 2026 with special guest Leta Harris Neustaedter. Leta is an arts educator, musician, actor, community builder and clinical social worker. In 2010 she created Metamorphosis Performing Arts Studio, LLC as a place where the performing arts and mental health intersect.  She provides her own programming and also contract with schools and organizations to facilitate interactive workshops for children and adults on a variety of topics. Leta is a grant recipient from the Morrison Center, Feast, Covid Cultural Commission Fund,  Alexa Rose Foundation, and Idaho Commission of the Arts (ICA), where she is also an ICA Certified Change Leader.

RESOURCES:

Leta's Website:

https://www.letaharrisneustaedter.com/ 

When No Thing Works By Norma Wong:

https://a.co/d/aAhhx4T

Rediscovered Books:

https://rdbooks.org/

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

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It's that time of year again for mirth and merriment but also STRESS. Learn some helpful tips to bring the joy and not the humbug to this holiday season. 

The last episode of 2025!

RESOURCES:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/scientific-mommy/202512/better-ways-to-manage-your-holiday-stress

https://www.healthline.com/health/holiday-stress

Steve Fund Holiday Mental Health Toolkit:

https://stevefund.org/holiday-mental-health-toolkit/

TOYS For TOTS:

https://www.toysfortots.org/

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

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Join Ken and Michelle as they share a heartfelt conversation with Gemma Gaudette, host of the award-winning show, Idaho Matters. Gemma helped launch Idaho Matters in 2018 on Boise Public Radio. https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters. You can catch her every week day at noon. Gemma shares her parenting journey as a "Boy Mom". 

A little about Gemma: 

(From: https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/people/gemma-gaudette)

Highlights

• It's Gemma (like the Gem State)
• Married to a Boise native
• Favorite Pastime: Travel; and reading a good book
• I'm one of 10 children
• Boy Mom

Experience

I was born in Portland, Oregon. My family moved to Chehalis, Washington when I was 8 years old, and I'm a proud graduate of Washington State University's Edward R Murrow College of Communication. I spent the majority of my career in front of the camera as a television news anchor and reporter mostly in Idaho, with stints in Lincoln, Nebraska and Tampa, Florida. I was lucky enough to help launch Idaho Matters in 2018, and it has been my dream job. I often tell people: it only took me 25 years in this crazy business to fall into the job I was meant to do.

Sponsored by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund
https://idahochildrenstrustfund.org/

The Resilient Parenting Podcast Facebook Group

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/theresilientparentingpodcast