FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Derek Saker,
Director of Communications
OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services
dsaker@ohelfamily.org
347-920-0199
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Parents and Teachers Learn How to Create Confidence at OHEL’s “Building Resiliency in Our Children”

A crowd of over 100 parents and teachers gathered together this past Monday evening for a workshop entitled “Building Resiliency in Our Children.” The program was presented by OHEL in conjunction with the JCC of the Greater Five Towns and HAFTR.

The evening began with introductory remarks from Ms. Joy Hammer, Principal of HAFTR Lower School. Ms. Hammer discussed the importance of working with children and helping them learn resiliency both at school and at home.

Merrill Weiner, L.C.S.W., B.C.D., noted psychotherapist and lecturer specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents and families, was the evening’s main presenter. 

The interactive presentation helped the audience to better understand what is resiliency as well as how to react to different situations. 

Ms. Weiner worked with parents and teachers to determine what their emotional reactions are different situations for example:

Doesn’t get invited for play dates

Doesn’t get an invitation to a party

Comes home with a failing grade

Refuses to do schoolwork

Gets a bad grade, etc.

The evening was an opportunity for parents to understand several key points in helping to create confidence and resilience in their children. Parents need to know their goals, master their energy, avoid contagion, and stay in the here and now.

The strong turn-out was the direct result of the partnership between OHEL and the JCC along with the administration of HAFTR. OHEL appreciates the support for these community education events from the UJA/Federation.  As Manny Wertman, Chief Operating Officer of OHEL, stated at the conclusion of Ms. Wiener's presentation, “The take-away message from tonight's seminar is that building resilience in our children is as much how we incorporate change in ourselves as it is we expect our children to change.  

We have more control over how we react to our kids' challenges than how they react to challenges.  Our job is to model for them how to calmly and effectively handle stress so they can learn how to handle their own stressors.”

OHEL Children's Home and Family Services is a pioneering social services agency that is markeing its 40th milestone this year. From the early to senior years, OHEL delivers a breadth of community services through OHEL Bais Ezra, OHEL Lifetime Care, OHEL Foster Care, OHEL Mental Health Services and the OHEL Institute for Training. OHEL provides innovative and cutting-edge programs and services for individuals and families at risk, and individuals with developmental or psychiatric disabilities, in both residential and out-patient settings. With close to 100 residences and apartments, OHEL services have been consistently ranked #1 by New York City. Touching the lives of thousands of individuals at every stage, and every day, OHEL’s professional services are available throughout New York, New Jersey and South Florida.