November serves as a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It also serves as a time to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.

Caregivers include parents, grandparents, foster parents, and other legal guardians. Project SUN would like to bring attention to the need to support these caregivers, especially those who are caring for children dealing with mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. 
 
We can all help support a caregiver around us by doing one or more of the following:

• Offer to get groceries
• Bring premade food
• Help with yard work
• Spend time visiting
• Offer a break
• Help with laundry

Read more about family caregivers’ month here.

Although caregiving can be very rewarding, it can also bring about stress for the individuals providing the care. 

Signs of stress in caregivers can be seen in many different ways. Anything from weight change to abusing drugs and alcohol could be a sign of the stress a caregiver might be under. 
 
Below are strategies caregivers can take to lessen their stress :

• Accept Help - Develop a list of tasks you need help with
• Set Realistic Goals - No one can do everything, focus on what you are able to realistically provide and accomplish
• Get Connected - Connect with caregivers around you and build a support system, join us at Project SUN's next Caregiver Craft Class
• Set Personal Health Goals - You can only help others if you're mentally and physically healthy
• See Your Doctor- Let your doctor know you are a caregiver 

Read additional information on this topic here.
Learn more about how to deal with family caregiver holiday stress here.

Schools and community mental health service providers working with children and adolescents dealing with mental, emotional, and behavioral health concerns are encouraged to nominate a caregiver to receive special recognition from Project SUN.  
 
Select a caregiver who meets the following qualifications:

• Legal guardian caring for a child with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition
• Child must be under the age of 21
• Family must reside in Kankakee County
• Has shown outstanding support for their child in addressing this condition

Service providers who would like to nominate a caregiver are to call or email Augustina Rios at (815)-304-5933 or augustina@cfkrv.org for additional nomination information. You must contact Augustina by December 3, 2021, to participate.  

Our monthly newsletters are intended to inform family members and those working with families. You are all valuable members of the Strong and Unified Network (SUN) we are building to support the children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health system of care in Kankakee County. We want to encourage and equip you to help others to become involved in our efforts to help children flourish. Please share this newsletter with those who may find this information useful. Suggest they visit projectsunkankakee.org and sign-up to receive their own copy and become a member of the Network.