Student Support Matters

Positive Parenting

Treat youth the way you want to be treated, with respect. Tell your children what you are doing and why. Give them advance notice, for instance, when there will be a change in activities. “We will be leaving in 10 minutes, and you will need to set aside your game and be ready to go with your bag packed.”

Empathize

Put yourself in your children’s shoes. Understand things from their perspectives. For example, if your child doesn’t share, it doesn’t automatically mean he is selfish. It could mean he thinks his toy or video game won’t be returned to him.

Autonomy

Give your child or teen freedom within limits so she feels like she has some autonomy over her life yet still within boundaries. For example, the limit might be she gets 30 minutes of free screen time. The freedom is she gets to choose from an approved number of apps, shows or games.

Consequences

Instill discipline through logical and natural consequences. For example, the logical consequence of a child creating a mess or breaking something would be for him to clean it up or to help replace it (as age-appropriate).

Embrace Emotions

Accept and acknowledge your child’s emotions instead of dismissing them. If your daughter is upset over a broken toy or teenage crush, acknowledge the emotion and help her work through it instead of ignoring it or discounting it.

Free Parenting Classes for parents and caregivers of babies through teens. Four-week classes run continuously throughout the year. 

Contact: Andrea Ryan, LMSW, Prevention Specialist, at 517.541.8912.

Parents/Caregivers will learn about:

• Developing appropriate expectations
• Effective positive discipline techniques
• Parenting with empathy
• Family roles
• Personal power/autonomy

Cristo Rey Parenting Classes (Spanish speaking available)

Child and Family Charities In-Depth Services and Programs

Community Mental Health Families Forward Programs and Services

Tri-County Community Health Guide

How to Support Your Child's Mental Health

Love

Be there for your child. Show care and unconditional love on a daily basis.

Support

Frequently encourage and affirm your children. Praise them with concrete examples from daily life.

Feeling

Make it a habit to check in on how your child is feeling regularly.

Exercise

Provide opportunities for movement. Exercise provides numerous physical and emotional benefits.

Education

Learn the warning signs and symptoms of mental health problems.

Coping

Help your child learn simple coping skills like breathing, positive self-talk and boundary-setting (e.g.,saying no).

Conversation

Encourage your children to talk to you by providing one-on-one time with them.

Listening

Make sure to listen to what your children have to say. Repeat back to them what they have shared for clarity.

Behavior

Keep an eye out for changes in your child’s behavior such as sleeping or eating habits or isolating.

Rest time

Help your children add relaxation and rest into their daily routines.

• Eaton County School Behavioral Health Specialists: 517.541.8994
• Samaritas Teen Counseling and Substance Use Services: 517.325.9090
• Child and Family Charities: 517.882.4000
• Sparrow Hospital Behavioral Health Services: 517.364.7700
• Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties (CMHA-CEI): 888.800.1559
• Cristo Rey Counseling Services: 517.372.4700
• Tri-County Community Health Guide

7 Reasons why it is good to ask for help

1. It can help you learn to develop healthy relationships with others.
2. It is a sign you have grit.
3. It can help you cultivate resilience.
4. It can help you develop a growth mindset.
5. It has been shown to improve mental health.
6. It makes you more relatable to others.
7. Working with others is often easier than working alone.

Help/Support Hotlines

• Community Mental Health Crisis Line: 517.346.8460
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Crisis Text/Call Line: 800.273.8255
• OK2SAY confidentially report tips on potential harm or directed at schools: 8.555.OK2SAY or 855.565.2729. Text: 652729 (OK2SAY).
• My Life, My Quit Program: Call 855.891.9980. Text: Start My Quit to 36072.
• Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: 866.488.7386
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888.373.7888, Text: 233733
• Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.4673
• National Eating Disorders Association Helpline: 800.931.2237
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.7233 (Eng/Spn)
• National Alliance on Mental Health: 800.950.6264
• Comprehensive Community Health Guide

3 Steps to Help Prevent Drug Misuse and Substance Use Disorders

Lock

Keep all types of medications including medical marijuana (or recreational marijuana) out of sight and in a safe and secure place that youth cannot access.

Monitor

Keep track of quantities of medications and take them only as directed. Ensure only the person prescribed is using the medication and only for the amount of time prescribed.

Take-Back

Drop off unused or unneeded medications at local take-back locations provided 7 days a week. To learn more about annual Eaton County take-back days call 517.543.3686. For national take-back days and sites, go to: takebackday.dea.gov.

Properly disposing of prescription drugs and locking up current medicines of all kinds is especially important in helping to overcome the opioid epidemic and youth drug misuse. Call ahead to see if locations are open due to pandemic-related changes.

• CVS Pharmacy: Mon-Sun, 517.543.4905, 301 South Cochran, Charlotte
• Eaton County Courthouse: Mon-Fri, 517.543.7500, 1045 Independence Drive, Charlotte
• Eaton County Sheriff’s Office Delta Patrol: Mon-Fri, 517. 372.8217, 7108 Administration Drive, Lansing
• Eaton Rapids Police Department Lobby: Mon-Fri, Accepts pills only in zippered plastic bags. 517.663.8118, 101 Line Street, Eaton Rapids
• ERMC Emergency Department: Lobby (24/7), 517.663.2671, 1500 South Main Street, Eaton Rapids
• Sparrow Pharmacy Plus Grand Ledge, Mon-Sat, 517.627.1670, 1015 Charlevoix Drive, Grand Ledge
• Grand Ledge Police Department: Mon-Fri, Accepts pills only in zippered plastic bags.
• 517.627.2115, 310 Greenwood Street, Grand Ledge
• Meijer Pharmacies: Mon-Sun, Charlotte: 517.541.9210, Grand Ledge: 517.622.6810, West Lansing: 517.886.8110
• Michigan State Police: Mon-Fri, 517.322-1907, 7119 North Canal Road, Lansing

Prescription Drug and Heroin Prevention

Eaton County Families Against Narcotics