Page 6 - Jupiter West - October '23

Page 6, Jupiter West
Connecting Children To Safety

What Is This Decade Teaching overabundance of practices that connect to and support children’s emotional
needs while helping them grow more resilient. For more
grief and trauma.
Us So Far? That Connection As CEO of Center information, visit centerforchildcounseling.org/training.
Can Be Our Safe Shelter for Child Counseling, We connect when we talk. The center also offers free
a local nonprofit, we
online workshops, tip sheets, and videos that address
have been dedicated ongoing fears and stressors, including the hardest topics
By Renée Layman, President and CEO to transforming the to discuss with children, such as: self-harm and suicidal
of Center for Child Counseling lives of children and thoughts, war and violence, frequent school shootings,
After seeing firsthand how the effects of isolation, families in Palm sexual abuse, death, grief, divorce, and loss. You can
division, and detachment are altering our children’s Beach County since access these resources at: centerforchildcounseling.org/
experience of the world and their hope for a safe place in 1999. We continue to forge partnerships and new resources.
it, Center for Child Counseling has made connection and connections with other agencies, businesses, schools, We ask you to join us in connecting children to safety;
safety the center of supporting children’s mental health. system and community leaders, and funders who become trained to understand and respond to children and
We all wish we could say it’s getting better. But recognize the importance of keeping children safe. families when they experience crisis. Together, we can
the stress of the past few years is still taking a toll on Every one of us has the opportunity to make a be stronger in preventing and protecting children from
our mental health, well-being, and safety. Economic difference for a child facing adversity. Children have becoming victims of trauma and abuse and build safer
insecurity, racism, discrimination, political unrest, and tremendous potential – which our society needs – and homes, schools, and communities.
youth suicides are still on the rise – with war and genocide which we have a shared obligation to foster and protect. About Center For Child Counseling
leading the nightly news. These experiences, even the The goal is for all community members to understand and Since 1999, Center for Child Counseling has been
knowledge of them, are potentially traumatic, and without own the idea that we each have a stake and role in child building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful
balance from positive influences, may cause long-term and family well-being. living for children and families in Palm Beach County.
health consequences for our children and teens. But how do we, as adults, carve safe spaces for children Its services focus on preventing and healing the effects
How can kids feel safe and hopeful when they are while struggling to make sense of things ourselves? of adverse experiences and toxic stress on children,
also the primary targets of sex traffickers and school Center for Child Counseling provides the tools to connect. promoting resiliency and healthy family, school, and
shootings? It’s a question we wrestle with daily in our We connect when we interact. The center offers community relationships.
mission to bring children to safety and healing within online training and resources for teachers, parents, and For more information and resources for parents, teachers,
their homes, schools, and community. caregivers to assist with connection through social- caregivers, and children, visit: centerforchildcounseling.
Building hope and resilience for the future means emotional behavior support and interventions. A Way of org. Visit Twitter: @ChildCounselPBC; Facebook: @
creating a community where all children and families Being with Children: A Trauma-Informed Approach to CenterforChildCounseling; or Instagram: @childcounselpbc.
feel loved, safe, protected and connected. As we continue Building Resilience is an online curriculum consisting
to emerge from the pandemic, we must actively develop of a manual, live workshops, and public campaign
positive social connections, particularly for children, designed to support anyone who regularly interacts with
families, and communities who have experienced an children and families. The resources promote everyday
Jupiter Senior Softball

As registration begins for its 2024 season the Another longtime player,
Jupiter Senior Softball Association (JSSA) experienced Norm Haltrich, 87, has been
unprecedented growth this year when 41 new players playing since the league began 35
were added, bringing total membership to a record 236. years ago. He said he’s incurred
Commissioner Paul Storch attributed the program’s a number of injuries, including
success “to the members doing what we all love to do; play torn quad muscles and pulled
softball in an atmosphere that is competitive and filled with hamstrings but never considered
endless camaraderie.” The slow-pitch softball program is quitting. Haltrich is also among
open to persons 55 and over and players of all skill levels ten JSSA players who have been
are welcome. Games are every Monday, Wednesday and enshrined in the National Senior
Friday morning at Jupiter Community Park. Softball Hall of Fame.
Now in its 35th year, the senior league is sponsored For more information about
by the nonprofit Jupiter Senior Softball Association in the senior softball league contact
cooperation with the Town of Jupiter. Interested persons Gary Newman at (917) 623-
are encouraged to give the softball program a try even if 0791, or to register go to www.
has been some years since they played. leaguelineup.com/jssa.
Former JSSA commissioner Tom Cosentino
characterized the softball program as “a Little League Norm Haltrich Temple Houston Mike Igneri
for old guys that after a while becomes addictive.” There
is no upper age limit but most participants are in their
60s and 70s, with some in their 80s, The oldest is Mike
Manasia, who turned 91 last July.
New players this year include Temple Houston, 60,
who said, “It’s been fun and I like to compete and there
are very few places when you get this age that you can
compete.”
Mike Igneri, 69, a member of the JSSA Board of
Directors, began playing in the town’s evening adult
league while still working as a mailman and joined the
senior softball league upon retiring in 2014. “I can’t
believe how many friends I’ve made,” he said.

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
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Captain’s is committed to providing
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ground transportation to and from all
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To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com