Helpful Resources for Young People in Stark County

Anxiety & depression

Child Mind Institute Anxiety Guide

Resources, parenting advice and treatment recommendations for young people suffering from anxiety.

Child Mind Institute Depression Guide

Learn to spot different kinds of depression, and how to seek out the most effective treatment options.

HelpGuide.org Anxiety Resources

Articles and guides to support people affected by anxiety and panic disorders.

HelpGuide.org Depression Resources

Collection of articles for people of all ages struggling with depression.

National Institute of Mental Health Anxiety Overview

Helpful resources about generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and more.

National Institute of Mental Health Depression Overview

Information about depression signs, symptoms and risk factors as well as ways to cope and feel better.

Bullying

Scouts for Equality

A comprehensive list of links to resources on anti-bullying.

Stopbullying.gov

Get resources on how to effectively prevent and stand up to bullying.

Child custody

Youth.gov

Find support for parents, teachers, law enforcement, case workers, clinical professionals and more as they care for children with incarcerated parents.

Chronic or Debilitating Illnesses

6 Tips for Coping with a Debilitating Disease

Find ways to come to terms with your diagnosis and start the important journey toward self-acceptance.

10 Steps for Coping with a Chronic Condition

Learn how to take charge and manage your illness instead of letting it rule you.

Chronic Illness

A chronic illness often affects the entire family. It’s important to find a family or couples-trained mental health provider in these cases.

Battling the Stress of Coping with Chronic Illness

With a chronic diagnosis comes feelings of stress, fear and anxiety. Find strategies to overcome these obstacles and maximize your quality of life.

Developmental disabilities

Activities for children with special needs and autism

An overview of simple games and activities for children with special needs.

First Steps

A guide for parents of young children with developmental disabilities.

Guardianship

Resources about guardianship and its alternatives.

Guardianship and Alternatives for Decision-Making Support

Find helpful information about guardianship options and alternatives.

Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children

Golden Key is a special needs charter school serving the needs of children with Autism and other developmental disabilities, using Pre-Intervention Services and Lego Therapy.

Guardianship Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions surrounding guardianship, your rights and guardianship alternatives.

Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education

Find information and resources to help you understand your child’s education supports and services.

Navigation Tool

Connect with services and supports for each stage of your child’s development.

Ohio Guardianship Guide

Learn about guardianship in Ohio and ways to protect an individual’s rights, health and wellbeing.

Stark County Board of DD Special Olympics

Sports training and competition for individuals ages 8 years and older who live in Stark County and are eligible for Stark DD services.

Stark DD Events Calendar

Learn about events throughout the year for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Stark Parks

Our local parks system offers many accessible outdoor opportunities.

Teaching Life Skills to the Intellectually Disabled

Before individuals with disabilities go out to live on their own, these are some life skills they should know.

Visit Canton

Find details for upcoming events around Stark County.

YMCA Stark County

Visit your local YMCA for family-friendly, accessible events and activities.

Daily Living Skills

A key to independence for people with autism.

Development guides

For newborns (birth to 1)

Key markers to look for during the first year of a child’s life.

For infants (1 to 2)

Common developmental milestones between ages 1 and 2.

For toddlers (2 to 3)

Understanding the physical and cognitive development of toddlers and young children.

For preschoolers (3 to 5)

Learn about the social and behavioral growth of children starting school.

For 6 to 8-year olds

What to expect as children enter their school-age years.

For 9 to 11-year olds

Find help preparing for the transition to adolescence.

For young teens (12 to 14)

Information about teens and their unique needs and challenges.

For teenagers (15 to 17)

Signs to look for as a young person approaches adulthood.

Eating disorders

Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness

Articles and information to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding eating disorders.

Body Image

Resources to help promote healthy body images and self-esteem.

Child Mind Institute

Helpful articles and resources for friends and family of young people affected by eating disorders.

Contact Helpline

Free, confidential screenings and support for individuals struggling with an eating disorder.

Eating Disorders Coalition

Learn how the EDC is helping to raise awareness and public support for eating disorder education, prevention and treatment.

Having Eating Disorders

Learn about some of the most common eating disorders and ways to get involved and support someone who is struggling.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)

Browse blog posts, guides, recovery and training resources to help support individuals with eating disorders.

National Eating Disorder Association

Find toolkits, brochures and articles helping to support parents and educators as they encourage healthy behaviors and recovery.

What to Look For

Learn what to look for if you or someone you know is struggling with anorexia, binge eating or bulimia.

Education

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Find research-based education resources, tips and ideas for families.

Ohio Department of Education Parenting Guide

Resources to help guide a child’s education from preschool to graduation.

Online Homeschooling Resources

Whether you’ve made the decision to homeschool or you’re still considering the option, find resources offering help and guidance.

Foster & adoption

Adoption Subsidies Guide

Learn about the assistance resources available for adoptive parents in Ohio as well as the eligibility and application criteria for each program.

How to Adopt and Foster in Ohio

Find rules and guidelines for individuals considering fostering or adopting a child in Ohio.

Ohio Adoption Guide

Helping parents through every step of Ohio’s adoption process.

21 Things: It’s T Time

21 things every foster youth should know as they prepare to go out into the world as independent adults.

Foster Care to Success

College fund for youth in the foster system to pursue higher education.

Joining the Military

Find guidance and support for young adults as they navigate the process of enlisting in the military.

Know Before You Go

Resources for work, school, housing, finances, health and legal support as young people age out of the foster system.

Telling Your Money What to Do

Helping young adults to take control of their money, so they are able to budget and thrive financially.

Things People Never Told Me

Tips to help foster youth prepare for money management, staying healthy, finding transportation, building relationships and more.

Young Adults Formerly in the Foster System

Learn about the challenges facing young adults aging out of foster care and solutions for a successful transition to adulthood.

Grief & trauma

Child Mind Institute Trauma and Grief Guide

Resources, parenting advice and treatment recommendations for young people suffering from trauma and grief.

Grief.com

Events, articles and information to help support people of all ages who are coping with grief.

HelpGuide.org Grief Resources

Articles and guides to support people after the loss of a loved one.

National Alliance for Children’s Grief

Toolkits, articles and guides for grieving children as they recover from trauma and loss.

Open to Hope

Helping people who have experienced grief and loss to find hope in recovery.

5 Tips for Providing Trauma-Informed Sex Education

Tips for teachers to make sex education more sensitive to students who have experienced trauma.

Child Trauma and its Effects: Implications for Police

A new perspective on how policing could help bridge the gap between law enforcement and young people with traumatic pasts.

Coping with traumatic events

Find tips for talking with children and youth after a disaster or traumatic event.

Handbook for Recovery after a Suicide Attempt

Learn about strategies to cope and find hope after a suicide attempt.

Improving Attachment Between Mothers and Children

Helping mothers with difficult pasts connect with their children.

Juvenile Justice Bulletin

Investigating the long-term outcomes and mental health needs of youth and teens who have been detained in the juvenile justice system.

Resilience guide for parents and teachers

Help children adapt to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats and other significant sources of stress.

Students, schools and trauma

A robust list of resources helping youth and families navigate difficult and/or traumatic situations.

Preventing suicide: a toolkit for high schools

Learn how high schools can build multi-faceted suicide prevention programs that respond to the needs and cultures of students.

Developing cultural competence in disaster mental health programs

Background information, guiding principles, recommendations and resources for developing culturally-competent disaster mental health services.

Disaster Behavioral Health Preparedness and Response Resources

Information about emergency preparedness, training, disaster response, stress management and suicide prevention to help families coping with disaster.

Disaster Responder Stress Management

Learn ways for educators and health professionals to help members of our community manage stress before, during and after a public health crisis.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Learn about significant risk factors for survivors of trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study

Discover how a study in obesity ended up uncovering important insights about childhood trauma.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

A guide to healing and moving forward after emotional and psychological trauma.

Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain

Find out what happens when a child experiences severe, prolonged adversity without the support of an adult or caregiver.

Helping Young Children and Families Cope with Trauma

Guidelines to help children and families identify, cope and heal from traumatic events.

Take the ACE Quiz

If you experienced a childhood of abuse and/or neglect, assess your risk for future health problems.

Types of Traumatic Experiences

Learn about the types of trauma from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Trauma-Informed Approaches: Federal Activities and Initiatives

Strategies for service providers to support women with histories of abuse and trauma.

Human trafficking

Child Labor Guide

Facts, figures, news and publications collected by the International Labor Organization.

National Human Trafficking Hotline Resources

Learn the basics about human trafficking, find referral sources and download helpful education guides.

Polaris Project

Resources, legislation and information to help end human trafficking and support victims as they reclaim their freedom.

Stark County Family Court

Supporting the rights of young people who have been affected by child labor, sexual exploitation or another form of human trafficking.

Forced Labor, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Statistics, news and resources collected by the International Labor Organization.

Labor Trafficking Guide

Overview, statistics and resources from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Sex Trafficking

Overview, statistics and resources from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Human Trafficking Survivors Open Up About Horrors

First-hand accounts of human trafficking compiled by the Huffington Post.

Equality Now – Trafficking Survivor Stories

Hear from people around the world about their experiences with human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Victim Shares Her Story

In this article from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, one woman tells her powerful story of sexual exploitation, rescue and recovery.

Immunizations

Why Immunize?

Find reasons to immunize children and yourself.

Vaccines: The Basics

Learn about the most common vaccines and why they’re recommended.

Help Paying for Vaccines

Find information about payment programs and affordable vaccination options.

Vaccine Records and Requirements

Access the forms and paperwork required at your immunization appointment.

Your Child’s Vaccine Visit

Get help preparing for an upcoming appointment.

Making the Decision to Vaccinate

Review your options and learn the reasons to vaccinate your child.

Legal assistance

Representing yourself in court

Find helpful guidance if you are planning to represent yourself in court without the help of an attorney.

LGBTQ+

Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)

Receives calls from victims of crimes relating to the LGBTQ+ community and makes reports about how the community is affected and what changes should be made.

Camp Lilac

Summer camp with the mission to provide a safe, welcoming space for transgender youth, ages 12-17.

Colors+

Nonprofit LGBTQ+ youth center, providing a space for LGBTQ+ youth and allies to socialize, grow, learn and celebrate.

Equality Maps

Find safe communities and learn about State policies throughout the U.S.

Equitas Health

A regional not-for-profit community-based, LGBTQ+ focused healthcare system.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Inc.

Northeast Ohio chapter information, news and updates.

Human Rights Campaign

HRC is the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center

Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and their allies.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health

National health education resources for the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBT Community Center

Community center that with a mission to enrich the lives of the diverse LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, support, education and celebration.

Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)

Find resources dedicated to addressing the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color.

Light House Youth & Family Services

Youth homelessness support for young people in Cincinnati.

MetroHealth Pride Network

LGBTQ clinic in Cleveland, dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community.

Safe Zone

Comprehensive cultural competency training and technical assistance to service providers, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies across Ohio.

Star House Columbus

Youth homelessness support for young people in Columbus.

Trans Ohio

Education and advocacy to promote and improve the health, safety and quality of life for transgender individuals in Ohio.

TransFamily

A transgender support group that holds regular support group meetings in Cleveland and Akron that are open to everyone.

The Trevor Project

National organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Mental health

7 Myths About Children’s Mental Health

Help to dispel the myths about mental health and support efforts to stop the stigma.

Active Minds

Supporting students across the nation through education, information, advocacy and leadership opportunities.

Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center

Providing the right mental health services and supports to improve the lives of people affected by schizophrenia.

Bring Change to Mind

Encouraging awareness and understanding to help put an end to the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.

Child Mind Institute Topics A-Z

This robust collection of resources can help provide the education, guidance and information you need to support a child affected by mental illness.

Parent Test: Your Child’s Mental Health

It can be difficult to know if a child is simply feeling sad, or if there is a deeper cause for concern. This checklist can help.

Mental Health America

Promoting the mental health of all Americans through early intervention, integrated care, recovery services and more.

MentalHealth.gov

Learn about the different mental health conditions affecting young people today and find resources to offer guidance and support.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Grassroots organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness and connecting individuals and families with the support they need.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Stark County

Education, information and support services for Stark County individuals and families affected by mental illness.

National Institute of Mental Health

Educational information and support resources surrounding popular mental health topics.

Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services

Funding, research and treatment information to help promote mental health wellness and recovery.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA is a leading information resource for families, mental health professionals and community advocates.

Telehealth is here!

Telehealth provides video and/or telephone counseling support due to increased worry, stress, loneliness, and other factors.

Treatment of Children with Mental Illness

Find mental health information and resources from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Parenting

About the Children Waiting to be Adopted

Learn more about the children waiting to be adopted in Stark County. The majority of the children are over the age of six and have experienced some level of abuse, neglect or loss.