Informed Kids, Engaged Citizens

Family current event toolkit

Children orbit their school universe managing friendship drama and travel soccer while deciphering Shakespeare and geometry. Amidst the daily drumbeat, parents can guide children to care about civic affairs, whether turmoil in Haiti, upcoming presidential election or Miami housing affordability. As they learn about local and global issues, encourage them to follow their interests and make a difference in their schools, clubs and faith communities.

Coffee, Energy Drinks, Spicy Chips and Other Things Your Teen Should Avoid

Part of growing up is taking responsibility for the things we consume. Hopefully, parents have instilled healthy eating and drinking habits in their children, but once kids get to the teenage years, they will start to have more control over what they put in their bodies, whether at school or in other social situations. The truth is they don’t always take the responsibility seriously, so parents need to be vigilant and continue to guide them as much as they can.

It used to be that too much candy or carbonated beverages were the biggest worries parents had to deal with in terms of healthy eating and teens. But the market for drinks and snacks that target teens has grown considerably, so parents need to be aware of the following consumables and help limit or steer their kids away from them altogether. 

Parents Can Find Options for Kids with More After-School Choices Initiative

Families in Miami-Dade can search listing of after-school programs through 211

The Children’s Trust and partners Community Services of South Florida (JCS), Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), have relaunched the More After-School Choices initiative as a way to empower parents and caregivers to explore a wide variety of free or low-cost after-school programs tailored to their children's needs and interests.

By visiting 211miami.org/afterschool or dialing 211, families can conveniently access hundreds of programs provided by The Children’s Trust, M-DCPS, and Miami-Dade County. Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. The JCS 211 Miami Helpline, a program of JCS funded by The Children’s Trust, remains a vital resource connecting the community to valuable after-school opportunities.

Family Expos Attract 5,000+ for Back-to-School Prep

Two events and a pop-up provide supplies, info, and more!

The back-to-school season brings with it a range of emotions for students and parents: excitement, anxiety, anticipation, confusion and more. For years now, The Children’s Trust Family Expo has helped children and families cope with the impending return to class with a mix of tangible supplies and resources, information and guidance on how to approach a return to school, and, finally, a fun-filled day that will stay in the minds of both kids and parents long after the start of school is a distant memory. 

Strengthening School-Based Health Teams

HealthConnect Conference held in August

On August 6 and 7, nearly 350 nurses, social workers, and mental health professionals gathered at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus for The Children’s Trust’s HealthConnect School-Based Health Professional Development Conference. Themed "Navigating the Future: Healthcare Now and Beyond," the conference focused on equipping health care professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to address the evolving health care needs of students.

Looking for an after-school program for your child? Check out the More After-School Choices page for hundreds of free and low-cost after-school programs

The Children’s Trust Parent Club offers FREE, countywide workshops on relevant topics about raising children that are successful, healthy, and happy.