Child Mind Institute 2023 Spring Luncheon “Parenting Ourselves, Then Our Kids”

Modern Parenting Expert Dr. Becky Kennedy Joins Discussion on Parenting Ourselves to Help Set Kids Up for a Lifetime of Confidence

New York, NY – The Child Mind Institute, the leading independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children struggling with mental health and learning disorders, hosted its 2023 Spring Luncheon on Monday, May 15. The event held during Mental Health Awareness Month featured an engaging discussion featuring nationally renowned parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and author of Good Inside: A Practical Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and Dr. Dave Anderson, Vice-President of School and Community Programs and Senior Psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. The discussion was moderated by actress, comedian, and host of “The Parent Test,” Ali Wentworth.

The event brought together a powerful group of individuals committed to helping children and families overcome mental health and learning disorders, and attendees included Tamron Hall, Dr. Ruth, Alexi Ashe, Ginger Zee, Zibby Owens, Debbie Perelman, Mariska Hargitay, and more.

“You don’t have to have a kid with a mental health disorder to be concerned with children’s mental health after COVID,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president, and medical director of the Child Mind Institute. “Our May campaign, YOU GOT THIS!, which we’ve been doing for 10 years… is helping change that conversation. But we have a long way to go.”

The Child Mind Institute discussion surrounded the process of looking inward as one raises their child and offered key parenting advice:

“I want to scream from the rooftops that all of us need to scaffold our children. And children – they know. There is a ripple effect,” said Ali Wentworth, citing Koplewicz’s book, The Scaffold Effect: Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant, and Secure Kids in an Age of Anxiety.“Let’s scaffold our next generation so they grow to be confident, empathetic, and incredible human beings.”

“When you find a kid on a bench, our job is literally to sit on that bench. Literally like being a benchwarmer. Whatever it is, it is always easier to cope when you have someone sitting next to you,” said Dr. Becky Kennedy.

Dr. Dave Anderson shared his insights regarding children’s difficult questions and how to remain honest with them: “Just stay one step behind their questions. Our job is to help them, but not to deny their reality.”

The luncheon raised more than $435,000, which will support the Child Mind Institute’s important work to change the lives of children with mental health and learning disorders in the United States and around the world.

The luncheon was co-chaired by Jennifer Harris, Zibby Owens, Debra G. Perelman, Jil Schaps and Sara Weiner, PhD, and the host committee included Fiona Angelini, Ellen Cohen, Danyelle Freeman, Desiree Gruber, Lauren Karp, Tammy Levine, and Cia Buckley Marakovits.

Photos from the luncheon can be found here.

This special event is part of the Child Mind Institute’s programming during Mental Health Awareness Month. The Child Mind Institute recently launched a powerful mental health awareness campaign “YOU GOT THIS!” The campaign strives to reduce stigmas and normalize conversations around emotional, social and psychological challenges among youth. The campaign features special messages from celebrities, influencers and athletes with the goal to reduce stigmas and normalize conversations around emotional, social and psychological challenges among youth. Participants in this year’s campaign include Phoebe Dynevor, Kevin Love, Alyssa Milano, America Ferrera, Anjali Bhimani, Candice King, Brandi Chastain, Drew Robinson, Hunter Hayes, Jack Wright, Justin Baldoni, Kendrick Sampson, Shanola Hampton and more. Videos will debut across the Child Mind Institute’s social platforms, and on ChildMind.org, throughout the month.

About the Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments. Learn more at childmind.org.