Parenting Mercer Island – Online Tool for ALL Parents

ParentingMercerIsland.org is a new online tool that was recently launched by the Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative prevention coalition, part of the City of Mercer Island’s Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) with funding from SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnership for Success grant.

The Parenting Mercer Island tool is free and available to all Washington parents. It addresses the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of children and youth by explaining ways to grow their social and emotional skills in written and video/audio formats. The project provides tools and information for parents and those in a parenting role to bolster their parenting skills -- ultimately decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors around mental health and substance use.

The tools are tailored to the age of the child and are based on an easy-to-use 5-step process. Specifics include actions to take and the words to say to engage children either proactively or when in crisis.  The content is for parents of children ages 5-19, with information for ages 0-4 to be added soon.

For more information, visit www.ParentingMercerIsland.org or contact Derek Franklin, MIYFS Administrator, derek.franklin@mercergov.org.