PASCACK VALLEY—Woodcliff Lake PFA Parent Academy invites parents from all towns in the Pascack Valley to its first event of the year — “How to Address Anxiety and Covid-related Mental Health Issues in Your Child” — on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Keynote speaker is Ozzy Sanchez, licensed clinical social worker and founder of the Old Tappan-based The Start Institute (ozzysanchez.com), which offers counseling and psychotherapy, parenting training, teacher training, and best self coaching.
The Woodcliff Lake PFA is composed of “dynamic volunteers dedicated to enriching out children’s school experiences.”
WCL PFA Parent Academy coordinator Jen Charnow holds a BA in psychology and an MSW in clinical social work and is a coordinator of the Hills Valley Coalition, the Municipal Alliance for Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, and Woodcliff Lake. She also is coordinator of WCL Stigma Free.
She told Pascack Press on Jan. 17 that she designed Parent Academy for parents to address topics of importance for students’ emotional, physical, social, and educational needs as well as topics that strengthen the sense of community in the Woodcliff Lake school system.
She’s lived in Woodcliff Lake for the past 16 years, has an 18-year-old son in his senior at Pascack Hills High School, and has a 14-year-old daughter in 8th grade at Woodcliff Middle School.
Charnow said “How to Address Anxiety and Covid-related Mental Health Issues in Your Child,” in partnership with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, is ideal for attendees to learn how to help themselves and their children “increase resiliency and manage daily stress and anxiety through science-proven coping strategies.” There will be a Q&A session.
“I want parents to know that it’s OK to not be OK, whether it’s their children or themselves,” she said.
She added, “We have lived — and continue to live — through a collective trauma. By attending educational programs such as this one and reaching out for support, they are helping ensure their children have the best chance of coming out on the other end stronger and more resilient.”
Since 2018 Parent Academy has hosted 20 programs on mental health, substance issues, resilience, inclusivity, the effects of social media addiction, and other parenting topics.
This year Charnow launched Parent Academy at Pascack Hills High School through the PHHS PFA, and plans to center the program there after this academic year, as she’ll no longer have kids in the Woodcliff Lake schools.
Asked her hopes for the year ahead, she said, “I cannot speak for the entire PFA organization, but I can speak as the Parent Academy coordinator when I say I hope the new year brings with it more chances for us to offer supportive programming for our community and that we see parents taking full advantage of the educational opportunities that are being provided.”
To that end, any adult interested in learning more about discussed topics, or who has an idea for a program to present, is welcome to join Parent Academy events.
For the Jan. 26 Zoom participation link and other resources, visit wclpfa.com or write wclpfaparentacademy@gmail.com.
The district PFA next meets, virtually, on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m.
— With John Snyder