The Parenting Brief

What is child care licensing and why is it important for families? Today’s episode covers how licensing keeps kids safe, how to make sure your child care facility is licensed, and practical tips for parents like what to look for during a tour and how to report any concernsJessica chats with Margaret Bernal, the Chief of the Bureau of Child Care Licensing for the Arizona Department of Health Services, about all this and more in this final episode of our childcare series.Don’t miss our previous episodes on transitioning back to work after having a baby and early childhood education, available now on our channel.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez Guest: Margaret BernalAZDHS: Child Care Facilities Licensing AZ Care Check Licensing Services Online Complaint Forms Bureau of Child Care Licensing Top Ten Citations – 2024 Transitioning Back to Work After Having A Baby Early Childhood Education 

What does it mean to show up as your true self? Listen to learn how to practice authenticity in every situation like the school pick ups, work, and more!Live this week from the Strong Families AZ 14th annual Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez talks with Chris Molina, who is always looking to help others become better Professionals & better Leaders. “Change is something that is always going to happen, so we should embrace it and understand [it].”Guest: Chris MolinaResources:Strong Families AZBook: Anthony Jack: The Privileged Poor

There’s so much pressure on parents when it comes to potty training. Listen to learn what a “potty personality” is and how it can help you design a potty training approach that will work best for your child. Live from the 14th annual Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez chats with Dr. Heather Wittenberg, a Psychologist, Author, and Mom of Four.Guest: Dr. Heather WittenbergPsychologistAuthor: Let's Get This Potty Started!Mom of FourResources:Strong Families AZ

Parents know life can be unpredictable. Teaching kids to navigate hardship, adjust and recover gives them the tools to handle life’s challenges. Live this week from the Strong Families AZ 14th annual Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez talks with Dr. Tovah Klein about what it means to be resilient and how parents can raise their children to be resilient. Guest: Dr. Tovah KleinAuthor: Raising Resilience; How Toddlers ThrivePsychology professorBarnard College, Columbia UniversityDirector, Barnard College Center for Toddler DevelopmentResources:Strong Families AZ

Live this week from the 14th annual Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez spoke with Nereida Gomez, a community health worker for the Health Start Program and the 2025 Innovator Award winner. They talk about what Nereida has learned from working with young families and how those lessons are helpful to all families. Guest: Nereida GomezMHC Case Manager the Health Start Programthe CHS DepartmentResources:Strong Families AZ

Live this week from the Strong Families AZ 14th annual Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez spoke with Dr. Heather Berlin to get to know how our brains work. Tune in to learn about the importance of boredom, the extinction effect, understanding appropriate child development, and more!Guest: Dr. Heather BerlinCognitive NeuroscientistAssociate Clinical Professor Of Psychiatry And NeuroscienceThe Icahn School Of MedicineMount SinaiNew YorkResources:Strong Families AZ

Have you heard about kindergarten readiness? It's a term that's been floating around on social media and school websites lately, and we’re here to break it down for you. Host Jessica Stewart Gonzalez sits down with Laura Lee, the Director of Early Childhood at the Arizona Department of Education, to talk about kindergarten readiness, Arizona's school choice system, and practical steps to ensure a smooth enrollment process.Whether you’re feeling super excited or a little bit anxious about your kid starting kindergarten, don’t worry! We’ve got everything you need to make this transition a good one.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Laura LeeArizona Early Learning StandardsADE ECE Webpage

This episode is focused on drowning prevention. We share comprehensive tips to keep your family safe, especially around backyard pools and spas. Jessica discusses drowning prevention with Jay Arthur, the President of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona and a retired Phoenix Fire Captain that helped start the fire service drowning prevention efforts in Phoenix. Learn about the importance of multiple safety layers, audible alarms, and having an emergency plan in place.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Jay ArthurThe Drowning Prevention Coalition of ArizonaThe Child Crisis Center Pool Fence Safety Program

Feeling overwhelmed as a parent? You're not alone! Learning how to be aware of your level of stress and how to manage it can be a game changer. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez talks with Karissa Whitlatch, a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in parenting therapy, “ …We tend to do things on our own instead of reaching out to friends or support or family. When we weren’t meant to try to navigate parenthood on our own. We were really wired for community.”Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Karissa Whitlatch

Early childhood education helps kids develop social, cognitive, and physical skills. Whether that learning comes from a formal child care setting or a stay at home parent, this episode covers what you need to know about early learning experiences.  Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez talks with Ruth Ray, the Program Director of Early Learning Professional Support at Candelen, about how to support your child’s growth and development. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Ruth RayCandelenQuality FirstArizona Child Care Resource and Referral

Returning to work after parental leave can be very emotional. From finding a day care you feel confident in, to trying to focus on work when you’re away from your new baby, this can be a stressful time. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Michelle Saint Hilarie, the Senior Program Director for Child Care Resource and Referral at Child & Family Resources, to share practical tips to make that transition better for your entire family.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Michelle Saint HilarieChild & Family ResourcesArizona Child Care Resource and ReferralChild Care Information Line: 1-800-308-9000

How long should families wait after giving birth before getting pregnant again? There’s a lot to consider when making that decision- things like whether you’re ready to have more than one kid in diapers or the cost of childcare- but most importantly, there needs to be enough time between pregnancies for mom’s body to recover.Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Doctor Siobhan Dolan, an OB/GYN and clinical geneticist, to talk about how birth spacing keeps moms and their future babies healthy.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Doctor Siobhan Dolan

About one in five babies will experience colic, which means they may cry for three hours a day, at least three times a week, for about three weeks, even when they are perfectly healthy. With time, it goes away on its own but it’s important for families to get support while they’re caring for a colicky baby. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez talks about the challenges of colic and the importance of  support networks with Adrienne Brotherton​​​​, a Birth to Five Helpline Specialist at Southwest Human Development. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Adrienne Brotherton​​​​The Birth to Five HelplineSouthwest Human Development: Fussy Baby program

You know that moment when your kiddo’s holiday excitement turns into a meltdown? It’s a familiar scene for many parents— when holiday travel or celebration disrupts kids’ routines, it’s normal for little ones to struggle to manage their feelings. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez chats with Maria Lopez​​​​, the Senior Program Manager at the Birth to Five Helpline, about how parents can co-regulate by modeling healthy behavior for their children and ways to prepare your kiddo so the whole family can enjoy the holidays.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links:Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Maria Lopez​​​​The Birth to Five Helpline

Every year, there are more and more single-father homes. These dedicated dads face unique challenges, including societal stereotypes and biases against fathers. Many navigate their parenting journey without the community support that mothers often receive. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Sleepy Vildosola, a Family Involvement Center Parent Ally and father, to talk about the unique challenges single fathers face in today’s society and the benefits of father education. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Sleepy VildosolaFamily Involvement Center Nurturing Fathers

Co-parenting your newborn is a challenge, but we’re here to confirm it can be done. In this episode, we dive into how to work with your co-parent to meet the needs of your little one while they grow up. Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Billie Tarascio, an Arizona family law attorney, owner of Modern Law and co-owner of Win Without Law School. Together, they go over co-parenting an infant from a legal standpoint. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Billie TarascioWin Without Law School

Playdates are a great way for kids to have fun and develop social skills.. But before parents send their kids over to a friend’s house, it’s important to make sure that the environment they are playing in is safe by checking in with the parents. But this can be a tricky conversation to navigate.Host Jessica Stewart Gonzalez sits down with Yomy Castillo, Injury Prevention Program Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Together, they go through some methods for approaching these conversations with other parents. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Yomy CastilloAZ Dept. of Health Services- Prevention

After you give birth, you want to make sure you’re taking the right vitamins. That way, you have all the nutrients you need to support yourself and your growing family. But with so much advice out there about specific brands and postnatal vitamins, it can be hard to tell what’s true and what's not.Host Jessica Stewart Gonzalez sorts it out with Susie Leo, a Professional Parent and Child Health Dietitian for the Arizona Department of Health Services and registered dietitian nutritionist with the Power Me A2Z program. Together, they explain everything parents need to know about prenatal vitamins and vitamin recommendations between pregnancies.Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren’t driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Susie LeoPower Me A2Z

On the final day of the 2024 Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Pamela Stewart to discuss the history of women-headed households and how that impacts families today. Guest: Dr. Pamela StewartHistorian, Educator and ConsultantResources:Strong Families AZACTIVHISTorian

In a live interview from the 13th annual Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez speaks with KC Davis on how to help parents overcome cleaning roadblocks. The conversation aims to teach parents they’re not bad people if they struggle to do care tasks, like laundry or cleaning the kid's playroom. Listen to learn how to create a more functional home that meets your family's needs. Guest: KC DavisLicensed Professional Counselor,Author, Speaker, Podcaster Resources:Strong Families AZStruggle Care- A Website For Those Who Struggle To Complete Care TasksHow To Keep House While Drowning