Story from KTVE/KARD by Hunter Elyse

MONROE, La (9/26/19) — In the United States, every 11 minutes, someone dies by suicide.
Kids and young adults age 10 to 33, suicide is the number two cause of death. It’s an important topic to discuss and know more information on the resources available.

Learning about prevention is important when dealing with youth and those who experience suicidal thoughts.
“Communication is the most important thing. There is always somebody out there that can help them. These feelings are okay, but we want to get you some help,” said Jan Daniels, Youth Development Coordinator at the Children’s Coalition.
Suicide often occurs when stress and health issues create an experience of hopelessness.

If a person talks about feeling trapped and isolates from family or friends, they may be experiencing suicidal thoughts and it’s important to communicate with them.
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“The most important thing they can do is have that conversation with the person. Ask them how they’re feeling and what their feelings are. If they are having suicidal thoughts that you get the right help and that you seek a professional,” said Daniels.
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If someone you know is thinking about suicide, assume you are the only one who will reach out.

1. Talk to them in private
2. Listen to their story
3. Tell them you care about them
4. Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide
5. Encourage them to seek treatment or contact their doctor

​The suicide prevention lifeline says to call 1-800-273-8255 or text talk to 741-741 for help if you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts.

Ready Start Network Early Childhood Leaders from Morehouse & Richland Parish attended a Systems Thinking Training provided by Louisiana Department of Education and the Waters Center for Systems Thinking in Education.  

The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana has received $200,000 in grants from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to pilot new strategies to increase access to and improve the quality of publicly funded early childhood care and education. It is one of six communities across the state selected to guide this work.

The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana will do this by building upon the foundation of the existing early childhood community networks in Morehouse and Richland parishes, which are made up of publicly funded early care and education programs.

Each parish was granted $100,000.

The six new Ready Start Networks will spend the next two years developing local governance structures; assessing local demand for early care and education; providing resources and training to teachers to improve classroom quality; implementing fundraising strategies; and sharing their findings with state leaders to inform future policy making.

Did you ever want to be the very best, like no one ever was? Since 1998, Pokémon has been a cultural phenomenon that has entranced entire generations with its enormous selection of colorful creatures.

This year, the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana partnered with Pokécon to expand the event and help appeal to a wider age range.
 
On Saturday, September 14 at 10 a.m., the West Monroe Convention Center opened its doors to a rush of Pokémon fans, both young and old.

Alongside the “old guard” of fans who remember the blocky, simple sprites of the older games, a new generation of younger fans have grown up hearing stories about the fantastical world of Pokémon from siblings, friends, and now even parents who played the first games on their old Game Boy Colors.
 
Pokécon attracted both groups with unique activities, many of which appealed to children and adults alike. One room in the convention center housed vendor booths and a play area with toys and games for small children, while another was filled with tables to host various card game tournaments.

Among the vendors were cosplayers, people who dress as characters from games, movies, books, and TV shows.
 
While two professional cosplayers attended the convention, dozens of fans performed their own cosplays, with various levels of detail.

Some dressed as Pokémon trainers, complete with Pokémon plushies in hand and poké balls on their waists, while others dressed as their favorite Pokémon. Finally, some fans chose characters from other games and shows to cosplay.

Whatever their character or series, fans eagerly asked for pictures with the cosplayers, who were more than happy to oblige.
 
Many of the vendors and fans noted how they liked coming to conventions to interact with people who share their love of games, cartoons, comics and the characters and stories that fill them.

One vendor selling Pokémon themed macarons, Violet Sprinkles, described how the convention shows the growth of the individuals as well as the series. “We’re here celebrating things that were made fun of when we were kids,” she said.
 
Among the activities featured that were geared towards smaller children were arts and crafts, such as building a lightsaber out of a pool noodle, a Fortnite dance contest and painting their own Pikachu pictures. Children's Coalition on the Go was on site with activities for children under three. 

Focused more towards teens and adults were events such as the cosplayer Q&A, where the convention’s professional cosplayers answered questions about costume design and performance, and the tabletop room, where attendees were invited to play dungeons & dragons style board games.

Finally, the tournaments brought together both age groups in a test of who was the greatest Pokémon master in attendance.
 
Pokécon was created 4 years ago by Nathan + Sarah Tremaine, and it began as a much smaller event almost exclusively focused on Pokémon and its fandom. But over the years, Pokécon has expanded to include video games, television series and other card and tabletop games besides just Pokémon.

This year, Tremaine reached out to the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana to further expand the event, and specifically, offer more activities and workshops that appeal to younger fans. Through this partnership with Pokécon, the Children’s Coalition raised $4,000!
 
Today, Pokécon offers a wide range of activities and merchandise that is surely still growing, and any fan, young or old, will feel most welcomed by the diverse community of Pokémon trainers!

The Children’s Museum in downtown Monroe uses striking colors and shapes to draw attention. The purple building with the bright red and yellow squares and circles draws the eye of anyone who passes by.

Even the youngest children can distinguish the museum from the drab brown and gray brick buildings of downtown Monroe.
 
Inside, the museum is filled with interactive exhibits that teach children about a variety of subjects from weather to biology. While the primary exhibits are fun for visitors of all ages, the museum has a dedicated area for younger children who may not be able to fully engage with some of the larger exhibits.
 
Sponsored by the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, this space, called “Baby Bayou,” was paid for using donations from local businesses through a special tax credit called School Readiness Tax Credits (SRTC).

This program offers local businesses a dollar-for-dollar state tax refund up to $5000 when they donate to Louisiana Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, such as the Children’s Coalition.

Those donations are then directed toward educational resources for children 5 years old and under to help prepare them for kindergarten.
 
This gated area is filled with toys and interactive features for children 3 years old or younger. With safe, educational toys that stimulate the 5 senses, parents can bring their babies and toddlers to enjoy a fun-filled day in a secure environment.

The enclosed area allows parents to watch their children, without the risk of an exciting exhibit sending their child sprinting off in curiosity.
 
The small space also fosters interaction and communication between the children, giving younger children a chance to be around other kids their age. Facts about children’s brain development and learning dot the walls around the Bayou.

One fact describes how play is more beneficial to a baby’s growth than educational videos or flashcards. Another explains how playing and talking helps children develop emotional communication skills.
 
One of the facts that stands out most is also one of the simplest: “85% of brain development happens by age 3.” At younger ages, children can absorb massive amounts of information very quickly—the average child knows 14,000 words by the time they turn 5 years old.
 
Keeping your baby occupied with interactive play will help them learn thinking and communication skills.

​ So, for parents who want to give their younger children opportunities for interactive learning and social activity, look no further than the Children’s Museum’s new Baby Bayou, sponsored by the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana!

KEDM Public Radio | Having the pressure to perform well at school can cause anxiety in children. With school starting back up, that means your child is at risk of experiencing some form of anxiety. Patti McGilton, Infant Mental Health Consultant for the Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, talks about the signs of back to school anxiety and what to do if your child experiences it.

Parents and professionals need timely education on the laws, science, society, and culture that children are up against everyday. Time to Talk brings you accurate and appropriate information from state and local experts about issues that affect children, so that you can understand and communicate with and about them.

Through this segment, you'll develop a sophisticated understanding of the issues faced by youth today and be encouraged to confidently discuss tough topics that face our children.

Time to Talk is produced with the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, 90.3 KEDM Public Radio and BayouLife Magazine.

The Franklin Sun - ​Opportunities abound for those willing to spend time improving their communities in Franklin Parish, said Lisa Kiper, WSB Community Development Coordinator.

Kiper spoke with members of the Winnsboro - Franklin Parish Chamber of Commerce Thursday at their monthly meeting.
“If you are wondering where you fit in, I can find a place for you,” Kiper said.

One such “place” is with Impact Winnsboro, Kiper said. 

Impact Winnsboro is a branch of Convoy of Hope where different religions and races have come together to take on various projects throughout Franklin Parish.

“We want to be the hands and feet for helping people,” Kiper said. “We have to work together.”

Recently, Impact Winnsboro and Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana joined forces to bring early childhood curriculum to 13 daycare centers in Franklin Parish.

“Because of the curriculum, all of their scores have come up,” Kiper said. “Impact Winnsboro provided the labor and the Children’s Coalition provided the money.”

Convoy of Hope is a 25-year-old nonprofit organization providing communities and its residents with free essential items such as food, school supplies and haircuts. Convoy of Hope brings together a small army of local businesses, churches and governmental officials to be the labor to deliver the items to the people.

In another important area, volunteers are fighting back against bullying.

Twenty-one early childhood teachers have been trained to teach an anti-bullying curriculum called Al’s Pals through the efforts of Northeast Louisiana Children’s Coalition, Kiper said.

All elementary public schools along with Temple Pre-School will have the curriculum.

“We are super excited about this,” Kiper said.
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In the spring, “buddy benches” will be purchased for the schools. These benches will be designed for students who need help or for those who want to help or be a “buddy” to sit on the bench.

Many thanks to Origin Bank for their continued support of the School Readiness Tax Credit program. This donation helps children in Northeast Louisiana prepare for Kindergarten in countless ways and Origin Bank receives a dollar-for-dollar refundable state tax credit!
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We are incredibly thankful for all of our business partners that participate in this win-win program. Research shows that 80% of a child’s brain develops by age three. So, growing stronger minds from the start is crucial for long term success for our children and ultimately our economy through a more educated workforce. For every dollar invested, Louisiana sees a return of more than $16.