Youth ages 7-15 are at a unique and formative time. They are experiencing multiple physical, emotional and social changes, including exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence, which can make adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems.

Promoting psychological well-being and protecting adolescents from adverse experiences and risk factors that may impact their potential to thrive are critical for their well-being during adolescence and for their physical and mental health in adulthood.

Some adolescents are at greater risk of mental health conditions due to their living conditions, stigma, discrimination or exclusion, or lack of access to quality support and services. These include adolescents living in humanitarian and fragile settings; adolescents with chronic illness, autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or other neurological condition; pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, or those in early and/or forced marriages; orphans; and adolescents from minority ethnic or sexual backgrounds or other discriminated groups.

Adolescents with mental health conditions are in turn particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviors, and poor physical health. Many risk-taking behaviors for health, such as substance use, start during adolescence. Risk-taking behaviors can be both an unhelpful strategy to cope with poor mental health and can severely impact an adolescent’s mental and physical well-being.

There is an old saying that goes: families that play together, stay together. We all know that quality time with our family is paramount in building stronger relationships.

Family bonding time builds confidence, teaches youth about interacting with others, and create wonderful memories that last a lifetime. Studies show that when families spend quality time together, the chance of youth getting involved in dangerous activities drops dramatically

I have written about the work of our Mobile Outreach Team assisting those in mental crisis situations who now works in concert with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services for 24/7 coverage throughout the county.

I’ve written about the mental health work in our courts, balancing the law with an individualized approach to best suit the accused suffering from mental illness.

Soon, coming to us all will be the response “911, do you need police, fire, EMS or mental health services?” I’ll write about this later this year.

Six months in, how has our sheriff’s office evolved to appropriately work with those suffering from mental health challenges?

Individuals with mental illness are inordinately represented in arrests and incarcerations in our country’s jails.

Mike Gleason campaigned in 2016 to be our sheriff as the candidate with a demonstrated background of compassionate mental health work both inside and outside law enforcement. Has that translated into a kinder workforce in Williamson County’s patrols and jail?

Below is a letter from an inmate with mental illness to his mom that she shared with Sheriff Gleason and allowed me to share here:

ok mama heres my letter, now just sayin, idk the sheriffs name but here we go,

to the sheriff of williamson county, ... i am an inmate of the county jail and at the time of this letter i will have been here 37 days, i must give praise where it is due sir/ ma'am, this is my 2nd stay in your facility however i am extremely surprised that it has changed so much since my 1st visit. during my st stay, which was 88 days, i witnessed 18 people get tazed, not that im able to say they deserved it or not but this time im glad to say that not 1 individual has been tazed, your CO's and deputeys have more compassion 

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) has launched a new Workforce Wednesdays Virtual Career Expo campaign within the nine-county Rural Capital Area of central Texas, to connect employers and job seekers at weekly online hiring events.

With a world-class labor force of more than 520,000, and the unemployment rate continuing to decline across the region as employers begin to safely reopen amid COVID-19 concerns, Workforce Wednesdays represent a collective effort among Rural Capital Area communities and industries to empower their workforce through virtual interactive events and continue to help the region compete at a global level.

“We are proud to continue to innovate our services to present new workforce opportunities for local businesses, families, and job seekers,” said WSRCA CEO Paul Fletcher. “These are difficult times for our communities, but we’ll get through this together. By hosting virtual hiring events each week during Workforce Wednesdays, we are helping our fellow Texans find sustainable careers to support their families, all from the safety and convenience of their mobile device.”

When many people think of Independence Day celebrations, they think of fireworks; however, most jurisdictions have city ordinances prohibiting the use of fireworks within or near the city limits. 

If you are unsure of the ordinances, it is always safer to check with the city or local fire department prior to the purchase or discharge of fireworks. Moreover, fireworks are not permitted in Williamson County parks.

To check an interactive county map with the fireworks free buffer zone area, go to this link:  https://gis.wilco.org/maps/?viewer=countymap.

Officials believe the safest way to enjoy fireworks is by attending a professional fireworks display sponsored by various jurisdictions and organizations throughout the area. Consumer fireworks can be dangerous when used improperly and can cause serious burns and eye injuries. 

Always check with your local fire department/district for recommendations or suggested precautions to follow before deciding to use them.