Overview
The Family Voice blog series offers educational and personal discussions to provide helpful insight on parenting children with mental health challenges. Led by Valencia Gensollen, a Family Engagement Specialist with Texas System of Care, the Family Voice articles will aim to help parents of children with mental health disorders establish an understanding of mental health. The blog series will also create an opportunity to connect with other families going through similar experiences.
Each month, Valencia will share what’s on her heart — from discovering what family voice means to the significance of sharing that voice to impact system change. Get ready for a heartfelt read of Valencia’s experiences, evolving from a community family to a collaborator at a systems level for children’s mental health.
Blog Series
- Supporting Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges: A New Family Voice Blog Series
- This introductory article shares Valencia’s background as a Family Engagement Specialist. The article also highlights how her family life provides her with valuable insight into parenting children with mental health challenges.
About Valencia Gensollen
Valencia Gensollen is a Family Engagement Specialist with UT Austin’s Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health.
Valencia is a parent of three children, each facing different mental health struggles, and also deals with challenges of her own. The desire to start the Family Voice series started back in 2015 after Valencia hosted parent workshops. It was here that she saw a sparkle in parents’ eyes when they connected with others who understood their experiences.
Valencia is a firm believer in uplifting others. She wants to use her knowledge and personal experiences to educate and build valuable connections with other families throughout Texas.
How to Join the Virtual Meetups
Valencia will host monthly virtual meetups on Zoom every third Saturday to connect with other parents of children with mental health challenges. The meetups will also provide a platform to share experiences and find community with others going through similar experiences.
The start date for 2024 meetups is to be determined. Information will be updated on the first week of each month. Check back soon for more details!