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TAKING CARE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH I’m excited to introduce Taking Care of Our Mental Health, Vol. 2, a collaborative book to which I contributed alongside Medgar Evers College Social Work Department faculty. Through Let’s Talk About It Inc., I would welcome the opportunity to discuss bringing this resource to your school or organization. Consider it for parent-engagement events, staff wellness initiatives, mental-health awareness activities, or community resource tables. W

Taking Care of Our Mental Health: A Personal Commitment and a Shared Purpose By Tamara Dopwell, LMSW I am excited to share that I am a contributing author to Taking Care of Our Mental Health, alongside fellow faculty members from the Social Work Department at Medgar Evers College. As a social worker, therapist, educator, and founder of Let’s Talk About It Inc., I have seen how much people carry while continuing to show up for their families, classrooms, workplaces, and commun

A student has an assignment due Friday. They know about it. They understand the material. They want to complete it. But Friday arrives—and the assignment is still unfinished. It can be tempting to label the student as lazy, unmotivated, careless, or irresponsible. But for many students with ADHD, the challenge isn't knowing what to do. It’s managing the executive functioning skills needed to actually do it. What Is Executive Functioning? Executive functioning refers to the me

Attendance Is More Than a Number: Understanding What’s Behind the Empty Seat When a student is repeatedly absent from school, the first question is often: “Why aren’t they coming to school?” At Let’s Talk About It Inc., we encourage schools to ask a different question: “What might be getting in the way of this student getting to school?” Chronic absenteeism is not always about motivation or a family’s commitment to education. Attendance challenges can be connected to transpor

Caring for a child with special needs is not for the faint of heart. ❤️ Parents often become advocates, researchers, case managers, appointment coordinators, and educators—all while trying to manage work, family, relationships, and their own well-being. From understanding a diagnosis to navigating educational and mental health systems, caregiving can be mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding. That’s why parent self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Self-care means i

A father misses a school event, and the story often writes itself before anyone asks a question. He must not care. He must be hard to reach. He must not want to be involved. Those assumptions can do real harm. They can shape how schools communicate, how organizations design programs, and how fathers experience support. They can also keep meaningful relationships from forming. A better starting point is curiosity. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t fathers involved?” ask, “What ba

By Tamara Dopwell, LMSW | Founder, Let's Talk About It Inc. A student can walk into a spotless classroom, sit at a labeled desk, receive a new schedule, and still feel unsafe. That feeling may not show up as fear. It may look like silence, sarcasm, refusal, withdrawal, perfectionism, irritability, or constant trips to the hallway. Before a student can fully engage with academic instruction, they need to know the adults around them are consistent, respectful, and prepared to s

Parent engagement is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Research consistently shows that when families are actively engaged in their child's education, students experience better attendance, stronger academic achievement, improved behavior, increased motivation, and greater social-emotional well-being. Yet, many Parent Coordinators face the same challenge: "How do we get more families involved?" The answer isn't simply hosting more events—it's creating meanin