🇺🇸 United States

• **Dial or text **988 — the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for anyone experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or mental health crises. It routes you to trained counselors 24/7. connectsafely.org+15en.wikipedia.org+15youthhubs.ca+15wired.com

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1‑800‑4ACHILD (1‑800‑422‑4453) — for children and teens in abusive situations. verywellmind.com+2stopitnow.org+2apa.org+2

• Boys Town National Hotline: 1‑800‑448‑3000 — general crisis support for kids, teens, and parents. stopitnow.org

• National Runaway Safeline: 1‑800‑RUNAWAY — for runaways or youth considering running away. cmha.ca+15stopitnow.org+15youthhubs.ca+15

• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 — free, confidential text support available in both the U.S. and Canada. wolfsonchildrens.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7apa.org+7

🇨🇦 Canada

• **Dial or text **9‑8‑8 — Canada’s new Nationwide Suicide Crisis Helpline, launched November 30, 2023. It’s available 24/7 in English and French and is operated by CAMH and Kids Help Phone for all Canadians. kidshelpphone.ca+7en.wikipedia.org+7canada.ca+7

• Kids Help Phone (for ages 5–29):

   

  • Call 1‑800‑668‑6868

  • Text CONNECT to 686868

  • Online chat via their website — available 24/7 in English and French

    Iuri Melo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of experience and the proud father of five. He’s the co-founder of SchoolPulse, a nationwide student support service that delivers positivity, optimism, and growth mindset tools to students, parents, and faculty via text and email. After several teen suicides in his community, Iuri co-created SchoolPulse in 2017 to proactively support student well-being. He’s also the author of Mind Over Grey Matter and the teen best-seller Know Thy Selfie, and the developer of “Adventure Based Therapy.” With over 300 schools in 25+ states, Iuri’s mission to “bless the human family” is inspiring students every day through kindness, psychology, and powerful weekly v

Why Susan’s Mission Matters

• 30 years in physical therapy → single mom of an autistic daughter → retired to focus on elevating autism families.
• Believes “we all rise together”; every piece of the support puzzle matters.

The “Abyss” Explained

• Chronological age ≠ developmental age; a 17‑year‑old may function at a 13‑14 level.
• After graduation, structured school supports (IEPs, schedules, bells) disappear, leaving parents to rebuild the framework from scratch.

Start Planning in Middle School

• Shift from “survive today” to “prepare for tomorrow.”
• Early conversation prevents last‑minute scrambling for services.

Three Must‑Do Actions for Parents of 8th‑Graders

1. Ask “Why?” – Clarify the purpose behind every skill (e.g., budgeting, measuring discounts).
2. Identify Functional Goals – Focus on real‑world tasks rather than abstract academic benchmarks.
3. Map Interests to Opportunities – Turn a hobby (e.g., fishing, chess, art) into a pathway for employment or volunteer work.

Social‑Skill Strategies

• Encourage participation in clubs, ROTC, or interest‑based groups to create a sense of belonging.
• If a club doesn’t exist, create one (e.g., a student‑run chess club).

Behavior ≠ Manipulation

• Use visual cues (color‑coded post‑its, timers, charts) to teach self‑regulation.
• Teach children to communicate needs through simple signals instead of “behaving out.”

The “Swiss‑Cheese” Planning Model

• Every child’s support plan has unique “holes.”
• Custom‑tailor accommodations; avoid one‑size‑fits‑all templates.

Finding & Securing Resources

• Network relentlessly – other parents are often the fastest source of up‑to‑date info on vouchers, housing, and programs.
• Example resources mentioned:
  • Special‑needs housing vouchers (VA) – limited and appear sporadically.
  • “Surfer’s Healing” (free surf therapy for autistic youth on the Atlantic coast).
  • State‑by‑state resource directories (in development on Susan’s website).

Next Steps for Parents

• Build a local or online parent support group.
• Track deadlines for vouchers and program openings.
• Use visual tools (post‑its, timers) to embed daily routines.

Call to Action

• Free 30‑minute Clarity Call with Cheryl (Insight to Impact Coaching) – book now to map your teen’s transition plan.
• Download the “Transition Tracker” PDF (goal‑setting, budgeting, daily schedule templates) – available in the show notes.
• Join the “Parents of Teens on the Spectrum” Facebook Group for real‑time support and resource alerts.

Susan Tatem is the founder and CEO of Bright Path 4 Autism, an autism advocate, coach, speaker, international bestselling author, TV host (Puzzled Parents), and YouTuber (@PuzzledParentsUnlocked). Drawing on nearly 30 years in healthcare and her lived experience raising her daughter with autism, she transforms parents of kids with autism from overwhelm and

 Bio*

Brett Aldrich is an Ayurvedic Counselor, Breathwork Practitioner, and founder of Seed the Spirit in Portland, Maine, whose work blends decades of service with deep holistic training. Her career has taken her from supporting survivors of trauma and children with developmental needs to guiding others in Ayurveda, breathwork, and yoga. A graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda and affiliated with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance, Brett helps people create lasting physical, emotional, and spiritual balance and transformation through simple, sustainable practices.

Important Links / How to find you 
https://www.facebook.com/p/Seed-The-Spirit-LLC-61575858674934/

https://seedthespirit.com

🚀 New Podcast Episode Alert – Parenting Teens Advice Redefined 🚀

I’m thrilled to share the latest conversation I had with Brett Aldrich, Ayurvedic counselor, breath‑work practitioner, and founder of Seed the Spirit (Portland, ME). 🎙️

If you’re a parent of a teen (or anyone who feels stuck in the endless fight‑or‑flight loop), this episode offers a fresh, “be more, do less” mindset that can transform how you show up for yourself—and for your kids.

🎯 3 Key Takeaways

• Know Your Element, Balance Your Life – Ayurveda teaches that we’re each a unique blend of fire, water, earth, air, and ether. By recognizing which element dominates your current state, you can make simple, intentional choices (e.g., cooler foods, water‑based activities, grounding in earth) to restore inner equilibrium.

• Micro‑Moments of Breath = Macro‑Shift in Stress – A 2‑minute diaphragmatic breath (belly → chest → clavicle) can reset the nervous system, nourish the brain, and give you the pause you need before reacting. Consistency beats intensity—tiny, daily breath‑work beats marathon sessions you can’t stick to.

• Model Calm, Not Perfection – Kids mirror what they see. By openly acknowledging your own stress, taking a brief breath, and saying, “I need five minutes to reset,” you teach your teen a concrete tool for self‑regulation. 

• Connect with Cheryl!

  The Cleansing Within Program

  https://www.practicewithpresence.com/cleansing-within/?sa=sa0019992619598254bda4daae3980777062778b19

  The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQ

  Show more...