As students prepare to return to the classroom, experts remind families that nervousness is common—and support can make all the difference.

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As the new school year approaches, many children are looking forward to seeing friends, meeting teachers, and returning to familiar routines. For others, however, the transition back to school can bring feelings of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty.

Mental health professionals are encouraging parents and caregivers to recognize that back-to-school anxiety is common and manageable when addressed early with understanding, preparation, and support.

“Many parents expect anxiety to look like nervousness, but children often show anxiety in different ways,” said Haley Ischer, Behavioral Health Therapist at The Center for Youth and Family Solutions. “A child may complain of stomachaches, struggle to sleep, become irritable, or suddenly resist getting ready for school. These behaviors are often signs that a child feels overwhelmed and needs support.”

According to mental health experts, transitions can be particularly difficult for children who have experienced trauma, frequent school changes, anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or other challenges that affect emotional regulation and adjustment.

To help families prepare for a successful start to the school year, The Center for Youth and Family Solutions is sharing seven practical strategies parents can use to support children experiencing back-to school anxiety.

Seven Ways to Help Your Child Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

1. Establish Routines Early
Begin adjusting bedtimes, wake-up times, and daily schedules one to two weeks before school starts. Predictable routines help children feel safe and prepared.

2. Acknowledge Feelings
Let children know it is okay to feel nervous. Listen without judgment and reassure them that many students experience similar worries.

3. Practice Coping Skills
Teach simple techniques such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, and grounding exercises to help children manage anxious feelings.

4. Visit the School
If possible, attend an open house or walk around the school before the first day. Familiarity can reduce fear of the unknown.

5. Build Social Connections
Encourage opportunities to reconnect with classmates or meet new peers before school begins. Social confidence often reduces anxiety.

6. Focus on Small Successes
Celebrate progress, whether it’s getting on the bus, entering the classroom, or making it through the first day. Small victories build resilience.

7. Partner with School Staff
Teachers, counselors, social workers, and school administrators can play an important role in supporting a child’s transition back to school.

When Parents Should Seek Additional Support

While most children adjust within the first few weeks of school, persistent anxiety may warrant professional help.

Parents should consider consulting a pediatrician, school counselor, therapist, or psychologist if a child:

• Regularly misses school due to anxiety
• Experiences severe emotional distress
• Struggles with sleep for an extended period
• Has panic attacks
• Shows significant withdrawal from friends, family, or activities
• Experiences anxiety that interferes with daily functioning

“Early intervention can make a significant difference,” said [Spokesperson Name]. “When families, schools, and mental health professionals work together, children learn that anxiety is something they can manage rather than something that controls them.”

Supporting Children Through the Transition

Mental health professionals emphasize that some anxiety during major transitions is normal and expected. By maintaining routines, encouraging healthy coping skills, and providing reassurance, parents can help children build confidence and develop the resilience needed for a successful school year.

The key message for families is simple: most children adjust with support, preparation, and encouragement.

 

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About The Center for Youth & Family Solutions
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions is a nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare agency serving children, youth, and families throughout central Illinois and eastern Iowa. CYFS provides trauma-responsive counseling, foster care services, youth programming, and family support with the mission of helping individuals build safe, healthy, and resilient lives.

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Media Contact
Celeste Matheson
Director of Marketing & Development
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions
(309) 634-1611 cmatheson@cyfsolutions.org
www.cyfsolutions.org

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In times when troubling headlines are hard to escape, children and teens often feel the impact long before adults realize it. At The Center for Youth & Family Solutions, families regularly turn to us with the same question: “How do I talk to my child about what’s going on in the world?”

Our behavioral‑health experts have compiled practical, evidence‑informed guidance to help caregivers navigate these conversations with confidence, honesty, and care.

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Peoria, IL — With ongoing national and global events dominating headlines, many children and teens are being exposed to frightening or confusing information—often before caregivers even know what they’ve seen. The Center for Youth & Family Solutions (CYFS), a leading provider of behavioral health services across central Illinois, is offering guidance to help parents and caregivers navigate these challenging conversations with confidence.

“Kids take their emotional cues from the adults around them,” said Director of Therapeutic Services Stephanie Barisch. “When difficult news breaks, what children need most is a steady, honest, and compassionate adult who can help them make sense of what they’re hearing. You don’t need the perfect words—just presence, connection, and appropriate truth.”
CYFS clinicians recommend the following evidence-informed strategies for caregivers:

1. Start With Yourself
Children are highly sensitive to caregivers’ emotional states. Before talking, take a moment to breathe, ground yourself, and get into a calm space. “Regulated adults help create regulated kids,” CYFS experts emphasize.

2. Listen First
Begin with open questions such as “What have you heard?” or “What questions do you have?”
This helps adults correct misinformation and tailor the conversation to a child’s developmental level without overwhelming them.

3. Be Brief, Honest, and Age-Appropriate
Share accurate basics without graphic detail. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know, but we can find out together.”
With so much online misinformation, caregivers should point children toward reliable, credible sources.

4. Name and Normalize Feelings
Children may feel sad, worried, confused, or angry— and all of those feelings are normal. Younger children may show stress through clinginess or regression, while older youth may have sleep disruptions, irritability, or withdrawal.
Caregivers can share their own feelings in calm, age-appropriate ways to model healthy emotional expression.

5. Reassure Safety and Maintain Routines
Highlight the ways families, schools, and communities keep children safe.
Predictable routines—bedtime, meals, schoolwork—help stabilize the nervous system and reinforce a sense of security after frightening news.

6. Monitor Media Exposure
Research consistently shows that repeated viewing of distressing images increases anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms—even for youth far from the event.
CYFS recommends:

• Turning off autoplay and push alerts
• Avoiding graphic content before bedtime
• Creating “tech-free recovery breaks”
• Co-viewing content with older youth and discussing it together

7. Emphasize Agency and “Helpers”
Small acts of kindness—making cards, donating, helping others—build resilience and reduce helplessness. Caregivers can encourage kids to “look for the helpers,” a well-known Mr. Rogers reminder that remains powerfully grounding.

8. Tailor the Conversation by Developmental Stage

• Ages 0–5: Keep explanations extremely simple; offer comfort; avoid news exposure.
• Ages 6–12: Correct rumors, clarify facts, and discuss safety routines.
• Teens: Discuss how social media algorithms amplify distressing content and collaborate on boundaries and trustworthy news sources.

9. Know When to Seek Additional Support
If intense worry, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, or avoidance of regular activities continues beyond 2–4 weeks, additional support may be needed.
“Effective, evidence-based treatment exists—and it works,” CYFS clinicians note. “Families never have to navigate this alone.”

Sample Phrases Caregivers Can Use Tonight

• Preschool: “A scary thing happened far away. You are safe here with me. Let’s take some balloon breaths together.”
• School-Age: “You may hear different stories. What did you hear today? Let’s sort out what’s true.”
• Teens: “You’ve probably seen a lot in your feed. How is it affecting you? Want to talk about reliable sources and boundaries together?”

About The Center for Youth & Family Solutions
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions is a nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare agency serving children, youth, and families throughout central Illinois and eastern Iowa. CYFS provides trauma-responsive counseling, foster care services, youth programming, and family support with the mission of helping individuals build safe, healthy, and resilient lives.

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Media Contact
Celeste Matheson
Director of Marketing & Development
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions
(309) 634-1611 cmatheson@cyfsolutions.org
www.cyfsolutions.org

View PDF →

Peoria, IL — The Center for Youth and Family Solutions (CYFS) announces a leadership transition within its Finance Department as Chief Financial Officer Greg Miller prepares to retire after years of dedicated service to the organization.

During his tenure, Miller played a key role in strengthening and elevating CYFS’s accounting and financial processes, helping position the organization for continued stability and growth. His leadership and commitment have contributed significantly to the agency’s ability to serve children and families across the region.

“We are deeply grateful for Greg’s leadership and the lasting impact he has had on CYFS,” said CEO of CYFS, Patrick Phelan. “His work has strengthened our financial foundation and helped ensure the sustainability of our mission. We wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”

CYFS is pleased to announce that Ann Campen joined the organization as its next Chief Financial Officer effective March 2, 2026. Campen brings extensive financial leadership experience in the nonprofit and behavioral health sectors. She most recently served as Executive Director of Finance at Trillium Place, overseeing behavioral health financial operations. Her background also includes CFO roles at Tazwood Mental Health Center and Human Service Center in Peoria. Following their merger with UnityPoint Health, she continued in a key leadership role in the newly formed entity, Trillium Place, an affiliate of Carle Health.

“We are excited to welcome Ann to CYFS. Her extensive experience in nonprofit financial management and behavioral health organizations will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our financial stewardship and expand services to children and families in the communities we serve,” stated Phelan.

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The Center for Youth and Family Solutions is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative services that build strong families, strong children, and strong communities throughout Illinois.

About The Center for Youth and Family Solutions
The Center for Youth and Family Solutions provides a wide range of services including foster care, adoption, counseling, family support, and community-based programs designed to strengthen children and families.

Media Contact:
Celeste Matheson, Director of Marketing and Development
The Center for Youth and Family Solutions
(309) 323-6619
cmatheson@cyfsolutions.org

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Our FY25 Annual Report reflects a year of growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact. Inside, you’ll find highlights from our programs, key milestones, and the progress we’ve made toward advancing our mission. We are grateful to our supporters, partners, and community members who make this work possible.

We proudly announce receiving for the second year, the Solid Foundation for Inclusion Seal from the Human Rights Campaign for our LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts in our service delivery! To review the full details of this esteemed honor, click here.