Tag Archive: Advocacy

Sep 09

Intermountain Moment: The secure base of relationship, why it’s essential!

Relationships are of vital importance to our experience as human beings in community with one another. A secure, loving and supportive relationship is the foundation on which we branch out and explore our world… not just as small children, but even as adults! Think of those times when by situation or circumstance you felt compelled …

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Jun 13

Intermountain moment: “I love that little tornado!” with ML Rutherford

Parenting a child with emotional disturbance or another mental health issue, being a foster parent, and adopting a child from a trauma background… all of these can seem like living in tornado alley! (view the video and you’ll understand the reference!) I am so thankful for my friendship and partnership in mission with ML Rutherford, …

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May 17

FREE RESOURCE for youth ministers… preparing to discuss 13 Reasons Why, season 2 (Netflix)

NOTE: This is a guest post from Tracie Dahl, LCPC, Middle School Therapist with Intermountain School-based Services (Helena, MT). It has been edited for use in a church setting by Chaplain Chris Haughee.   13 Reasons Why is about to drop its second season on May 18th. Since Season 2 is no longer adapting Jay Asher’s 2007 YA novel and …

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Apr 09

Welcoming Courtney Into Our Family

Note: The following article was written last summer by a partner in ministry, Rabbi Chaim Bruk. He is an excellent resource for our Jewish children in residence at Intermountain and is an advocate for foster care and adoption within faith communities. Rabbi Chaim Bruk is executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Montana and spiritual leader …

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Mar 26

Becoming a church that welcomes ALL children – an Intermountain Moment

The most crucial and necessary first step to becoming a church that welcomes children with emotional disturbance from past trauma is to adopt an attitude of humility. It’s the humility that asks, “What must have happened to that child?” or “I wonder what I might have done to cause this child to react that way?” …

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Jan 29

FREE object lessons for Lent & Easter!

In preparation for Lent, I have written seven free lessons for your use! My hope is that you will find this resource helpful for you as you interpret the “Change for Children” campaign to the young people of your church. While written primarily for a Children’s Sermon format, these object lessons could be used in a Sunday …

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Dec 30

Make 2018 a year of positive change in your community… be an advocate!

2018 is here, and it’s the season when most of us consider New Year’s resolutions and even the most cynical among us dares to think that with a little will power we might do any number of things: lose weight, eat healthier, watch less TV, get that promotion, or repair damaged relationships. 2017 was a …

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Sep 13

What’s next for Intermountain?

By the time she was 16, “Alyssa” had been kicked out of her house several times by her drug-addicted mother. She bounced between her home and a few different group homes. Her mom told her she was worthless. Alyssa was referred to Intermountain by her school’s counseling staff. She was a kid who was trying, …

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Aug 23

“Let the Little Children Come” – a message shared at Trailhead Christian Fellowship Church; Townsend, MT

The following message was delivered at Trailhead Christian Fellowship Church on 8/13/17. I could tell I had settled into the role of Chaplain at Intermountain when the following diagnoses no longer startled me: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; Reactive Attachment Disorder of early childhood or infancy; Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Combined Type; Anxiety Disorder; Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent; Neglect …

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Jun 12

The foster care system, trauma and resilience

Trauma often does its greatest harm when it occurs during the impressionable stages of our youth. Losing one’s parents, moving from different schools, living in an unstable environment – all of these are issues that can break into a child’s world and cause difficulties well into adulthood. What can we do? What has research shown to …

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