Latest news with #MontereyCounty
Forbes
4 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
How Ohana Is Revolutionizing Mental Health By Helping Parents And Kids Build Resilience
A first-of-its-kind program, Ohana was created by nationally renowned youth mental health leaders, ... More and is staffed by experienced and compassionate mental health professionals. What if we thought about mental health the way we think about physical fitness? Not just as the absence of illness, but as a proactive, daily practice—a skillset that can be cultivated. Dr. Susan Swick is leading this charge with Ohana, a groundbreaking initiative in Monterey County, California, aimed at revolutionizing youth mental health through prevention, early intervention, and community education. Backed by a $105.8 million philanthropic gift from Bertie Bialek Elliot, Ohana isn't just another mental health center. It's a movement built on the principle that resilience can be developed, that early childhood experiences shape lifelong mental well-being, and that parents play a pivotal role in fostering mental fitness. The name 'Ohana'—Hawaiian for 'family'—emphasizes the interconnectedness of support systems, reinforcing the idea that no one navigates mental health alone. In fact, Elliot made naming the center 'Ohana' the only condition of her transformative gift. As she explained: 'Young people who are facing emotional and mental challenges, they can't do it alone. Families can't do it alone. Even the wonderful staff can't do it alone. It takes a community — and that's why I suggested 'Ohana.' And I'm so happy and proud to be part of this bigger effort.' Bertie's vision for Ohana is rooted in prevention: 'If you can help young people early, rather than waiting to rescue them later, how great is that?' The Crisis We Can't Ignore The statistics are sobering: Yet, in a world prioritizing academic success and digital connectivity, foundational mental health skills remain overlooked. Ohana reframes resilience as an essential life skill—one that should be taught as widely as swimming or dental hygiene. Building Mental Fitness: A Paradigm Shift Dr. Swick's approach challenges conventional thinking on adversity and overprotection. "Kids need to face age-appropriate challenges to build resilience," she explains. "Boredom, frustration, and even small failures help develop coping mechanisms that prepare us for the big challenges that are a part of every life. When we shield our children instead of supporting them, we deny them the chance to grow." The Ohana model offers parents and educators free tools, both online and in person, to guide children through challenges, fostering grit and emotional agility rather than stepping in to rescue them. The Critical Window: Early Childhood Attunement One of Dr. Swick's most transformative insights is the impact of early parent-child interactions, particularly in the first three months of life. "Parent-infant attunement during this window is more predictive of adolescent mental health outcomes than even later trauma," she notes. "This is the critical foundation upon which resilience is built." By equipping new parents with research-backed strategies for fostering healthy attachment, Ohana aims to set children up for success before challenges arise. Dr. Susan Swick Resilience: The Science Behind Strength Research supports the notion that some adversity is necessary for psychological development. Resilience follows a U-shaped curve—too little hardship hinders growth, but too much can be overwhelming. According to Dr. Swick, the key lies in perception: Teaching children these skills early may hold the key to reversing the rising tide of youth mental illness. Ohana Campus Scaling Mental Fitness for a Wider Impact Ohana's vision extends beyond Monterey County. Dr. Swick envisions a scalable curriculum for parents—one that can be adopted by communities, schools, and organizations worldwide."We need to think of mental health education as an essential skill for all parents, like CPR, but even more widely applicable," she says. Potential pathways include an open-source platform, partnerships with mental health organizations, and widespread distribution of evidence-based parenting tools. A Call to Action: Bending the Curve on Mental Illness With youth mental health issues escalating, the opportunity to "bend the curve" through early intervention and resilience-building is more critical than ever. Dr. Swick and her team are on a mission to transform how we approach mental fitness. The question now is: how do we scale this impact? How do we ensure every parent has access to the knowledge that could change the trajectory of their child's life? Interested partners should reach out to them because the time to act is now. Because in the end, mental health isn't just about responding to crises—it's about preventing them. And that starts with building resilience, one child at a time.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
3-month-old dies, leading to arrests of 2 women in Monterey County
The Brief An investigation is underway into the death of a 3-month-old who was at a home day care in Monterey County. Two women were arrested and are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. Investigators said the women were operating an unlicensed day care service. WATSONVILLE, Calif. - A mother and daughter have been arrested following the death of a three-month-old infant who was at a home day care, which the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said was operating without a license. Sheriff's deputies and emergency crews were called to a home on Hillcrest Road in the community of Royal Oaks on Saturday morning. "The reporting party stated the patient was a three-month-old infant that was not conscious and not breathing," sheriff's officials said in a news release. Emergency crews initiated lifesaving efforts and rushed the baby to a hospital, but the baby did not survive, sheriff's officials said. On Saturday night, the sheriff's office said that the home they were called to was being used as a day care, but investigators said it was not licensed to operate as one. Officials also said that detectives learned the business was taking in as many as "30 children of various ages at a time." SEE ALSO:Mom says twins were abused by teacher at Pittsburg KinderCare Based on their findings, the sheriff's office said detectives arrested the two operators of the day care: 62-year-old Maria Marquez and her daughter, 35-year-old Johanna Marquez. The women were booked on charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony child endangerment, and operating a child day care facility without a license. The mother and daughter were each placed on a bond of $50,000. A search of the Monterey County Sheriff's Office in-custody log did not turn up Maria Marquez's name on Monday. It did show Johanna Marquez as being in custody. What we don't know There's no word yet on the infant's cause of death. Officials said that the investigation was active and ongoing. They urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Two arrested after infant dies at unlicensed daycare facility in California
The Brief Two people have been arrested for operating an unlicensed daycare facility out of their home. The mother and daughter duo were also arrested and booked for involuntary manslaughter after the death of a 3-month-old infant. LOS ANGELES - Two people were arrested after a 3-month-old baby died at an unlicensed daycare facility in Central California. What we know According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, just before 10:30 a.m. on May 24, emergency crews were dispatched to a home in the community of Royal Oaks in regard to a medical emergency involving an infant. The reporting party said a 3-month-old infant was unconscious and not breathing. The infant was transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead. Investigators soon learned that the home was being operated as an unlicensed daycare that was taking in up to 30 children of various ages at a time. During their investigation, detectives said they gathered 'sufficient details' to arrest the two operators of the unlicensed daycare for involuntary manslaughter. 62-year-old Maria Marquez and her daughter, 35-year-old Johanna Marquez, were arrested and booked for involuntary manslaughter, felony child endangerment and operating a child daycare facility without a license. Their bail was set at $50,000 each. What we don't know The infant's cause of death has not been released. What you can do The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to contact Monterey County Sheriff's Office Detective Josue Ramirez at 831-253-6068. You can also submit an anonymous tip online.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
California 3-month-old dies in allegedly unlicensed daycare; mother and daughter arrested
A mother and daughter who allegedly ran an unlicensed daycare from their home on California's Central Coast have been arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, after a 3-month-old in their care died. According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, deputies and firefighters were called around 10:30 a.m. Saturday to home in the community of Royal Oaks. The reporting party told authorities that the 3-month-old infant was unconscious and not breathing. When emergency services arrived, life-saving efforts were initiated on the infant, who was taken to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, the infant was later pronounced deceased. Deputies did not release the child's name. During the investigation, deputies learned that the home was being operated as an unlicensed daycare business. The daycare was allegedly taking in up to 30 children of various ages at a time. Deputies arrested the two operators of the business, identified as 62-year-old Maria Marquez and her daughter, 35-year-old Johanna Marquez. The pair were booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, felony child endangerment and operating a child daycare facility without a license. According to the sheriff's office, bail for the pair was set at $50,000 each. Deputies said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Josue Ramirez of the Monterey County Sheriff's Office at 831-253-6068. Tips can also be given anonymously to the sheriff's office by visiting
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
2 arrested after baby dies at an illegal day care in California, officials say
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A woman and her adult daughter have been arrested after an infant died at an illegal day care they were running in central California, authorities said. Deputies responded around 10:30 a.m. Saturday following reports of a baby not breathing at a home in Royal Oaks, according to a statement by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. The 3-month-old child was pronounced dead at a hospital, the statement said. Up to 30 children were inside the residence near Watsonville on the state's central coast, sheriff's officials said. A 62-year-old woman and her 35-year-old daughter, both residents of Royal Oaks, were arrested for investigation of allegations including suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, child abuse and operating an unauthorized child care facility, officials said. Their bail was set at $50,000 each.
