Through a comprehensive lineup of services for children, youth, and family, Polara Health strives to help families connect and grow healthier
By Hilary Dartt
Raising children is tough—especially in today’s world, and especially when parents and caregivers feel alone. The team at Polara Health wants people to know they’re not alone; in fact, a whole cadre of experts and programs exist locally to help create stronger families.
“Children don’t come with manuals, nor does parenting,” said Beni Garcia, child and family counselor and a specialist in trauma-informed parenting at Polara Health.
She added that humans are wired to be part of a community; the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” is based in science.
Unfortunately, she said, “we live in a society that says we must be independent, and we must be able to figure everything out.”
Myriad reasons exist for a family to seek mental health help from counselors and therapists.
Some parents want to break generational patterns from their own families and pursue guidance and support in raising their children differently than they were raised.
Some children don’t thrive in certain environments (home, school, sports, the grocery store, social settings). Seeking connection can manifest as what Dr. Heidi Ackzen, Polara’s Autism Program Supervisor, called maladaptive behaviors and poor decision making. Parents or caregivers can use help figuring out why and how to help.
Polara has specific resources for the parents or caregivers of neurodivergent kids to “figure out the function [behind each behavior] and replace it with more adaptive behaviors,” Heidi said.
Polara Health’s goal through its Children’s Services programming, is to “strengthen families. It’s helping them navigate,” said Alysha Audis, Birth to Five Program Supervisor. “It’s having a nonjudgmental, safe place for families to come and work through issues.”
The long and short of it: people seek help “so kids have better outcomes as adults, break generational trauma, [and get] the tools, support, and knowledge to successfully adult,” said Heidi.
In many cases, said Donna, mental health services “[Break] that cycle—they help these children where they are today. They’re going to become adults, know how to parent, and teach their children. Those children grow up knowing what it looks like to be loved and cared for.”
“Knowing what it feels like to be cared for and valued,” Alysha added. “We’re all meant to be in that social piece and [experience] that connection.”
So, when parenting seems difficult, Polara Health is there to help, taking a multi-faceted approach.
Heidi said it’s important to be aware of social determinants of health, or the non-medical factors that influence a person’s overall well-being. They include things like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and housing, social support, and access to healthcare, just to name a few, and they impact mental health.
“Imagine trying to go to school and fit in when you have nothing to eat and nowhere to live,” said Donna Warren, Polara’s Operations Manager for the Outpatient Children’s Program.
This is why the team at Polara Health is striving to offer a comprehensive lineup of services and support, including physical healthcare and connecting people with all kinds of resources.
“It’s so nice working with families and kids and helping them find what works for them,” Alysha said.
“Sometimes you need someone to walk alongside you to work through some of the reasons why it’s so hard,” Beni said. “And we’re rarely here for the longest of hauls. We’re here for a time to walk alongside you.”
Learn more and see a comprehensive list of Polara Health’s Children, Youth and Family Services at https://www.polarahealth.com/children-services.