RiseUP Blog

The way we communicate is very important, because it gives other people one of their first impressions of us and is a key tool for building healthy relationships. Our communication skills demonstrate the level of respect we have for ourselves, our friends, our family, and others we meet.

This is the time of year when a person is at great risk of being overcommitted. I want to encourage you to either use the calendar in your phone or a physical planner and block out dates for fun activities, as well as time for just taking care of you.

The teen years are among the most challenging in life, because you feel pressed from all sides to know “right now” who you are and what you want to become.

(In our teen workshop on personal risk management, Nick Bosco explained the often-confusing lingo of insurance policies and premiums. With prior careers in engineering and telecommunications, he says that owning a Farmers Insurance agency in Chattanooga for the past seven years is the most rewarding job he’s ever had.)

Why is it that I can imagine myself exercising to be more healthy…but NEVER do it? If I were to put as much energy into walking my dogs as I do writing my next scene, I would be much farther ahead in my weight loss goals.

You want to surround yourselves with people who don’t always think like you, but instead challenge you to be your better self. You also want to be strong enough in your own thoughts and opinions that others don’t bowl you over and keep you from your own individuality.

(This is a recap of an  interactive teen workshop  by Arianne Brigner, LPC-MHSP, who provides comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy...

Happy Friday, RISERS! This is a holiday weekend, so I hope you’ll find a bit of rest from your labors. I have been very blessed to be...

Now, with Fall quickly approaching, it’s a great time to put good intentions into action. Let’s get outside and ENJOY!

This adult workshop shares practical ways to help your child(ren) have a successful school year. Most foster kids are behind in school due to the trauma they have experienced, and COVID-19 has compounded these issues. Try these 25 simple strategies to help your teens become the best they can be.

Many of you are trying to decide what career field to go into as you get ready to graduate from high school and move to college. Don’t believe anyone who tries to tell you that you aren’t supposed to enjoy your career, or that you’ll be stuck in a dull nine-to-five existence and hate it...

It doesn’t seem possible that we are almost to the middle of August already. Next comes the beginning of high school and college football games, falling leaves, and cooler weather...

Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built, establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for the development and behavior that follows. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. Learn about how this may affect you and how you can help make your brain stronger.

What doors can we open, if we open the door for creativity and chasing our dreams? Hope. People living instead of just existing...

Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope that this week has been good to you and that you’ll have a safe, enjoyable weekend. Sleep in late…take a nap…eat one treat that makes you happy.

In this parent workshop, Love’s Arm advocacy team members Mimi Nikkel and Brandon Culpepper addressed the important topic of sex trafficking. They shared how parents can recognize the signs of human trafficking, help their children establish a healthy sexual identity, and teach their kids SMARTS.

I hope you have made the most of your summer vacation, and if you are going back to school, I hope it will be your best year yet. With the weekend almost here, just sit back and relax and do that one thing that makes you happy.

What are your capabilities? What is that fire in you dying to escape? Everyone has a great amount of potential, and so many hold it back.

The following recap highlights a teen workshop presented by Kimberly W. Cohen of New Season addiction and recovery center. She has worked with families since 2001, addressing issues such as teen addiction, trauma, suicide, loss of family, and foster care placement. She is also the mother of five children and five grandchildren.

You must take some risks to get the huge rewards, but don’t be afraid to try. Sometimes the most awesome things come from that one moment of bravery where you dare to do something you’ve never done before.