UCS Wellness Podcast

Student Athlete Wellness

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 20:41:45 +0000

Henry Ford II seniors, Anthony Lanni, Collin Carandang, and Keegan Smith, hosted the first of its kind Student Athlete Wellness Mini Fair in March of 2025. The event featured UCS and community vendors, as well as a keynote speaker - Chris McDonald, a 2008 Henry Ford II graduate, a former Michigan State University and National Football League (NFL) football player.

This UCS Wellness Podcast is hosted by the three seniors, interviewing McDonald on the importance of the three pillars that make up a student athlete - mental health, physical health and nutritional health. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness.

Managing Components of Biology Part 2

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 10 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000

In the second episode of this two-episode podcast, the final three tips to increase focus and decrease stress will be shared with listeners. Hosted by Erin Chambers, Shelby Junior High physical education and health teacher, this podcast will cover the positive influence breath, drinking water and ideal nutrition can have on our bodies with the guidance of Jeannette Junior High physical education and health teacher, Matt Cecil.

The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. The UCS Wellness Podcast is released on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the school year. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness

Referenced items in this episode:

Wimhof breathing

Chris Knobbe, MD – promotes ancestral nutrition

Managing Components of Biology Part 1

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 10 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000

In an effort to help listeners learn to increase their focus and decrease their stress, this episode is broken into two parts with host Erin Chambers, Shelby Junior High physical education and health teacher, speaking with Matt Cecil, Jeannette Junior High physical education and health teacher on the topic. In the first episode, Matt Cecil highlights sleep, exercise and cold exposure and the positive impact they can have on an individual.

Books referenced in this episode:

“Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker, PhD
“Dopamine Nation” by Anna Lembke, MD

Raising an Intuitive Eater

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

This UCS Wellness Podcast focuses on nutrition and how to raise, and become, an intuitive eater. Tune in as Shelby Junior High School counselor, Kim Twarowski speaks with registered dietician, Ruth Mach about this topic.

Teen Mental Health and Wellness

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0000

To help give insight on teen mental health and wellness, this episode features members of the Utica High School Student Mental Health Committee, made up of a community of counselors, teachers and students who collaborate on ways to teach staff and students about mental health and help implement activities that improve mental health.

Utica High School counselor, Kelly Bronski, speaks with UHS junior Jordan Jones and senior Natalie Shtogrin about the importance of teen mental health and wellness.

Self-Regulation Strategies

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Shelby Junior High School counselor, Kim Twarowski speaks with Terri Nekoogar, Caring 4 Students (C4S) coordinator, about mental health programs offered to UCS students through the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) and C4S. These programs include Calm Classroom and MIBEST, standing for Macomb Intermediate Behavioral Emotional Support Team.

Detour Project

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000

The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness

The Detour Project website

KnowResolve website

Our Youth and Vaping

ucs@uticak12.org (Catherine Livingston, Corey Beckwith, ACCESS, UCS, wellness) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, have become increasingly popular with youth across the U.S. over the past decade. So much so, that vaping (the use of vape pens/e-cigarettes) has been regarded as a youth epidemic by medical communities, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Missouri State Medical Association. This episode of the UCS Wellness Podcast will cover topics such as identifying what a vape is, the importance of communicating with children about vaping, and more.

To discuss this important topic, Henry Ford II counselor, Catherine Livingston, sits down with Quality Assurance Specialist, Corey Beckwith, LMSW, CPC-R from ACCESS, a local organization that offers a wide range of social, economic, health and educational services to a diverse population.

Resources referenced in this episode:

ACCESS Website

ACCESS phone number: (313) 216-2200

FDA - An Epidemic Continues: Youth Vaping in America

Missouri State Medical Association - The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents

My Life, My Quit

Talk To Your Child About Vaping | American Lung Association

Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention

ucs@uticak12.org (Utica Community Schools) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 19:00:00 +0000

With suicide as the second leading cause of death in the U.S. for those between the ages of 10 and 34, the importance of this topic is unmistakable.

This episode of the UCS Wellness Podcast will emphasize the value of 'talking about it' and expressing yourself. We invite you to listen to this valuable conversation between Henry Ford II High School counselor, Catherine Livingston, and KnowResolve Founder and Executive Director, Dennis Liegghio. KnowResolve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing youth suicides through outreach, advocacy and education.

The UCS Wellness Podcast will be taking a brief break from our regular monthly release schedule for the 2022 summer months. We will return again on September 14th with regular monthly episodes, beginning with the topic: "Our Youth and Vaping." Have an enjoyable, safe summer and be well!

Show Notes:

The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness

KnowResolve website

Macomb County Crisis Center: 586-307-9100

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text 'HOME' to 741741

Tackling Tough Topics with the Macomb County Sheriff's Office

ucs@uticak12.org (Kim Twarowski, Sgt. Renee Yax, Macomb County Sheriff's Office) — Wed, 11 May 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Balancing between protecting your child and giving them privacy can be a challenge for parents. This podcast is intended to educate parents and help them stimulate communication with their children around the sensitive topic of sexual assaultive crimes. To help address this subject, UCS counselor, Kim Twarowski, speaks with Sgt. Renee Yax, Public Information Officer of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Macomb County Sheriff's office

https://sheriff.macombgov.org/sheriff-home

586-469-5151

Shelby Township Police Department

https://crimewatch.net/us/mi/macomb-county/shelby-twp-pd

586-731-2121

City of Utica Police Department

http://www.cityofutica.org/departments/utica_police/index.php

586-731-2345

Sterling Heights Police Department

https://www.sterling-heights.net/466/Police-Department

586-446-2801

Discussing Dating Violence with Turning Point

ucs@uticak12.org (Kim Twarowski, Danielle Watson, Turning Point) — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Dating violence can be hard to identify, especially since it can be felt emotionally, physically or financially. On this episode of the UCS Wellness Podcast, we discuss social media's role in dating violence, what the signs of dating violence can be, and more. UCS counselor, Kim Twarowski, speaks on this topic with Danielle Watson, community educator and sexual assault outreach specialist with Turning Point, a local agency aimed at ending sexual and domestic violence with the help of their services, programs and resources.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Turning Point's 24-Hour Hotline: (586) 463-6990

turningpointmacomb.org

LoveIsRespect.org

CARE of Southeastern Michigan

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

CARE of Southeastern Michigan provides free resources, programs and more for Macomb County residents. In this episode, Gloria Licata, UCS school social worker, sits down with two representatives from CARE, Susan Styf, President and CEO, and Teresa Sandner, Program Coordinator for Parent Education, to learn more about the offerings CARE has available.

Resources referenced in this episode:

CARE of Southeastern Michigan:

586-541-2273

https://www.careofsem.com/about-us/

Family Communication

ucs@uticak12.org (Catherine Livingston, Erica Chavez, Henry Ford II High School) — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 20:00:00 +0000

With society relying so heavily on technology, we must learn to adapt our communication while maintaining traditional forms of communication, such as written and verbal. This episode is perfect for parents and students alike to help guide families towards healthy technology boundaries and introduce new ways of bridging the communication gap that can often be felt between parents and children. To cover this topic, Henry Ford II High School counselor, Catherine Livingston talks with Erica Chavez, counselor, LPC.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Conversation Starters

UCS Monday Moments - Topics to encourage kindness and inspire hope

50 Family Dinner Conversation Starters (Questions to ask your kids) (sixsistersstuff.com)

40 Family Dinner Conversation Starters for Kids (tinybeans.com)

3 Conversation Starters from Toddlers to Tweens (tinybeans.com)

Grief and the Grieving Process for Children

ucs@uticak12.org (April Raupp, Michele Kraft, Sandcastles) — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 20:00:00 +0000

Oftentimes when loss occurs, whether it be through death or beyond death entirely, grief is experienced by those impacted by the loss. Yet, the grieving process is unique to each individual, including children experiencing grief.

This episode of the UCS Wellness Podcast explores the different levels of grief and how we can cope as well as what to look for to help identify grief in children. We called on SandCastles Grief Support Program, a free, local community based program to help us with the topic of grief. This episode features Malow Junior High School counselor, April Raupp, speaking with SandCastles program supervisor, Michele Kreft, LMSW.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Sandcastles Phone Number: (313) 771- 7005

Henry Ford SandCastles – Grief Support Program for Children and Families (aboutsandcastles.org)

Bereavement Support | New York Life Foundation

Home (childrengrieve.org)

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families | Portland, OR

Mental Health with guest, Nancy Buyle

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 20:15:19 +0000

Though present before, the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of mental health for our well-being and how changes in routine can have a major impact on the state of our mental health, especially in our youth. Touching on anxiety, depression, and suicide, this episode will help parents know what to look for within their children and where to go if they have concerns regarding their children's mental health.

In the inaugural episode of the UCS Wellness Podcast, Henry Ford II High School counselor, Catherine Livingston, speaks with Nancy Buyle, School Safety/Student Assistance Consultant for the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD). The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Mayo clinic videos

ASK: https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto

Reach out: https://youtu.be/TIeBxeOxFyE

MISD The Right Connection: http://connection.misd.net