This month, GLAD House has said goodbye to two of our retiring board members, David Lindner and Gary Dunbar. Both members have made an extraordinary difference to GLAD House and in the lives of the children we serve. Gary Dunbar, Divisional President of Great American Insurance Group, joined the GLAD House Board of Directors in April of 2012. During this time, GLAD House was located on the St. Aloysius campus, and we were looking for a building of our own to accommodate our e

Our kids had a ton of fun creating these unique silhouettes! As part of our Art Show, the GLAD House kids posed for silhouettes, then decorated them with the things they love about themselves, and the things that make them unique. These pictures were displayed in our hallway gallery, so that EVERYONE can see how special each of them are! "I have good ideas!" "Believe in yourself no matter what!" "I'm awesome, I'm respectful, I'm successful" "I'm happy, I'm funny!" "I am kind!

One of GLAD House's primary purposes is serving as a safe place for children of addicted parents to learn and grow. We understand that in their home lives, these kids are often faced with challenges and burdens that can be overwhelming to ones so young. Our goal is to equip these kids with coping skills that they can use to move past their difficulties: positive self-talk is just one of the many skills we teach! Positive self-talk is like having an optimistic voice in your he

When children feel good about themselves, they are set up for success. In everything from friendships to academic performance, kids that have high self esteem will set off on the right foot as they traverse the obstacles and trials of childhood. Positive feelings like self-acceptance or self-confidence help kids try new challenges, cope with mistakes, and try again. Taking pride in their abilities and accomplishments helps kids do their best. The kids at GLAD House have been

Summertime is about making memories to last a lifetime. It is about being carefree and seeing where the day takes you—a splash in the pool, a hike in the woods, meeting new friends, or hanging around the camp fire catching lightening bugs at the end of the night. It is about feeling safe to explore your surroundings to inspire creativity, and having the confidence to try new things. Many children are not able to spend their summer feeling safe and carefree because they are wo

Coping skills are ways in which we learn to deal with various stressors. At GLAD House the kids learn coping skills to utilize when they are experiencing strong emotions. These coping skills help them to stay in control of their emotions, reduce their acting out behavior, decrease anxiety, and/or to stay calm during conflict. The kids at GLAD House are taught a variety of coping strategies such as positive imagery, belly breathing, muscle relaxation, using a stress ball, taki

This year at GLAD House, our theme had been "be the change you want to see in the world!" All of our kids have the power to impact a positive change in the world, but too often due to their stressful home lives, they feel burdened and powerless. At GLAD House, they are discovering that they DO have the ability to make changes not only in their own lives, but in others' as well! They are learning more each day about their own personal potential, and how they can use their stre

This year, our kids have worked hard. Being in their shoes isn't easy--all of our kids have a caregiver who has struggled with addiction. At GLAD House, these kids have been working every single day to learn the tools they need to surpass their difficult surroundings and build a drug-free future. And they're doing GREAT! This year they have learned about coping skills, empathy, anti-bullying, and how to be a positive force in this world--just to name a few! At the end of our