East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library to Host “I’M NOT BAD” Social Campaign
BOSTON, MA – February 24, 2017 – The Positive Parenting Initiative’s “I’M NOT BAD” social campaign will be launched at the East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library on March 11th, 2017 from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. The event is open to the public and will feature representatives from the office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh with Massachusetts Senator Joseph A. Boncore and Representative Adrian Madaro to underline support for our community and hand out citations to the children involved in the project.
The social campaign aims to create awareness for the challenges of parenting and to help parents transition from viewing their child’s behaviors as negative but with more depth and meaning. The campaign, starring 27 children and their families, all in attendance, will features an exhibition of the video, photos and stories focusing on giving children a voice and a means to share their wants and advocate for their needs, which are often centered on attention, acceptance, affection, and approval.
“It isn’t difficult for children to express themselves but can be quite challenging for them to articulate their specific feelings through spoken words,” said Anna Svetchnikov, Founder and CEO of Longwood Care, Inc. “Many emotions are exhibited through behaviors or exaggerated expressions such as tantrums, ‘kicking and screaming’, pushing boundaries, and many other forms. Parents struggle with these behaviors on a daily basis. More often than not these behaviors are viewed simply as ‘bad’ on the surface and seldom are the underlying issues examined and addressed. On top of this, many parents are stressed out with work and preoccupied with daily routines as well as a vast number of other priorities that these behaviors are overlooked. In other cases, the responses from parents are in haste and the outbursts are equivalent to those of the child.”
The Positive Parenting Initiative and the campaign is dedicated to providing support to children and families and is intended to help parents become creative problem-solvers, to educate, enlighten and enrich the lives of their children. The goal of the program is to add more meaning and value to children’s everyday behaviors and interactions and to focus on creating meaningful connections rather than simple give or take.
About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
About Anna Svetchnikov
Anna Svetchnikov, LMFT, a licensed Marriage and Family therapist with expertise in trauma and parenting, has worked for a number of non-profits in the Boston area providing in-home therapy to low income families. Her experience ranges in various therapeutic approaches to providing therapy for couples, individuals and families including various family systems as well as parents and children ranging from toddlers to teens. Anna is the reigning Mrs. Massachusetts Universal 2017, a busy mother of two little boys, and is scheduled to present at 2017 Annual Conference for Massachusetts Marriage & Family Therapy.
About Longwood Care, Inc. & Positive Parenting Initiative
The 501(c)3 non-profit organization and initiative both follow the idea that when families are strong, communities prosper and having a strong and resilient family is not an accident, it takes commitment, effort, and follow through, summed up in the maxim “Happy Children, Strong Families!” Everything the initiative offers is designed to be available globally and free of charge supported by Longwood Care’s non-profit funding and the generous donations from partners and members. Find out more at PositiveParentingInitiative.com and LongwoodCare.com.