What inspired you to found Working for Parents in 2021?
I have always been the person who friends and acquaintances have turned to for career advice. That designation rose exponentially when the pandemic hit. My phone was constantly dinging as friends and acquaintances reached out with one story after another. They were frustrated. They were out of work. They had lost income but had young kids at home they needed to feed and clothe…and homeschool. Trying circumstances often breed innovation. The messages I was receiving inspired me to take action. And so, in February of 2021, nearly a year after lockdown orders first took effect, Working for Parents was born.

How are the services you offer different from other organizations?
Our services are catered toward parents. Our program managers are certified workforce trainers and career coaches who have over 20 years of working in the Human Resource Realm and are parents too!  Our Resources for Parents program managers relate to our parents and come to provide these sessions with care and understanding on many of the challenges and issues our parent participants are facing. Our sessions are remote and offer flexible, 4 session virtual workshops that work around our parent participants schedules. In our Resources for Parents program we get our parents prepared and ready to step into their careers by honing in on what they already know and guiding and advising them on how to brand themselves for the dream career they want. We offer 1:1 career coaching through their time at their new job to ensure they have wrap around support that is so truly needed. After the 4 sessions with our program managers most parents are in their dream careers within 3-months or less. 

You are doing such great work.  What would you say is your biggest success with Working for Parents to date?
Securing a partnership with Fellowship Housing to bring a 1- year Housing and Financial Independence Program to New York Parents. Stay Tuned!

What is "The Parents' Forum"?
Part of our mental health focus. The Parent Forum is an alternative wellness option. Meeting quarterly parents discuss the economic, societal, and structural issues that are happening in real-time. It is a space to ask for help, a space to network with other parents alike and a space for the WFP team to learn ways in which we can continue to support parents.

Your organization is entirely virtual.  How is that working?
From a talent recruitment standpoint, we are lucky to be remote because the members on our team are from all across the U.S. bringing knowledge on various trends and information about the temperature of today's workforce.From a team culture standpoint, our team enjoys the fact that we are completely remote which allows for a good work-life balance. We engage in lots of team building activities and spend time getting to know one another which fosters trust and good working relationships. And the parents participants we serve find it easier to join sessions without having to look for childcare or spending money on transportation. I think it has been a win-win all around.

How can the public support the work that you are doing?
We take pride in serving parents in New York State and City. The public can support by helping spread the word about our work and referring parents in need to our program and services. Additionally, we are looking to add more experts to our team of volunteers. The Working for Parents team is a dedicated group of individuals. As experts in their respective professions, they take time out of their personal lives to support our diverse community of parents. If there is any interest in joining the team please email info@workingforparents.org.

Find out more about Working for Parents at workingforparents.org.

April is Move More Month! Being physically active can lower your risk of certain cancers and increase brain function. Here are 10 benefits of physical activity to get you moving today!

 

Getting enough physical activity can immediately reduce feelings of anxiety and help you sleep better. Over the long-term, it can reduce the risk of depression. Regular walking, for example, can improve your mood, and participating in walking groups can help you remain socially connected to your neighbors and friends.

2. Better Brain Function.
Regular physical activity can keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp and delay the decline of these skills as you age.

3. More Money in Your Wallet.
$117 billion – That’s how much our country spends each year in health care costs associated with low levels of physical activity. Not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk of developing a chronic disease, which comes with higher health care costs.  Staying active is good for your health and your wallet, too.

4, Lower Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke.
Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Being regularly active at a moderate intensity level can help lower risk for these diseases. Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels.

5, Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes or Diabetes Complications.
More than 34 million Americans have diabetes. Another 88 million US adults have a condition called prediabetes, which puts them at risk of type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity helps prevent type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes (type 1 or type 2), you can help control your blood sugar levels by staying active.

6. Lower Risk of Some Cancers.
Getting the recommended amount of physical activity can lower the risk of many cancers. These include cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach.

7, Longer Life.
Being physically active can reduce your risk of dying early from leading causes of death such as heart disease and diabetes. About 110,000 deaths per year could be prevented if US adults age 40 and older increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by even 10 minutes a day.

8. Stronger Bones and Muscles.
Doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening physical activities of at least moderate intensity can slow the loss of bone density. Being physically active can also help with arthritis pain and reduce the risk of hip fracture.

9. Fewer Sick Days.
Physically active people tend to take fewer sick days. Some workplace wellness programs offer a gym, gym membership, or outdoor walking paths. If your workplace doesn’t have a wellness program, management may be willing to start one. And you can always add physical activity on your own with walking meetings, physical activity breaks during long meetings, or taking a walk during your lunch break.

10. Better Grades in School.
For kids, school physical activity programs can improve attention and some measures of academic performance. Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, brain function, and classroom behaviors. You can also make physical activity part of your family’s daily routine by taking family walks or playing active games together.

If you are wondering how to add physical activity to your life, see this sample schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for ideas. Just be sure to pick activities that are enjoyable and match your abilities – and your kids’, too. This will help everyone stay in the game!

Also, if you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease or arthritis, talk with your doctor first about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you.