It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, and a parent gets a call from their child’s school saying the child has been disruptive—again. An immediate meeting is called with the principal. The parent’s workflow is disrupted and their focus is divided even after returning to work. Their production suffers, their coworkers are affected, and ultimately the employer pays the macro consequences.
Beech Acres Parenting Center exists to help prevent situations like this by mitigating childhood behavioral issues before they flow over into the workplace. “A parenting issue is not just a family issue but can really become a workplace issue,” says Laura Mitchell, president and CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center, who worked as a leader and educator with Cincinnati Public Schools for 27 years before shifting her career focus in 2022.
Mitchell was drawn to Beech Acres after witnessing countless behavioral issues in the schools that could have been addressed at home if only parents had the right tools. The Beech Acres Parent Connext program is an evidence-based hub for just such tools, offering 1:1 coaching, workshops, a resource library, a podcast, and a community app to help parents navigate common parenting challenges. From sleep issues and picky eating to managing big emotions, co-parenting, positive discipline, ADHD, and screen time, Parent Connext covers the gamut of parenting hurdles.
Beech Acres’ vision is to address parenting issues not only of today but also longer term. Its 10-year target for 2036 is to foster a regional ecosystem that supports emotionally healthy children, families, and workplaces. “It’s about developing kids who have a positive outlook on life and who are resilient and can bounce back from adversity,” says Mitchell. “We want Cincinnati to be known a region where you come if you want to raise healthier kids.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about Beech Acres, Mitchell says, is that their services are only for low-income families or those in crisis. On the contrary, Beech Acres seeks to be a place all parents can turn before crisis occurs.
“Parenting challenges cut across demographics, age, and socioeconomic status,” she says. “As opposed to thinking about us as a last resort, think of Beech Acres as a proactive partner.” Fees are determined on an income-based sliding scale, with many resources offered free of charge.
With a team of professionals in education and child development, Beech Acres uses methodology backed by science while seeking to understand each parent’s unique values. “We ask parents, ‘What kind of adult do you want to raise?’ ” says Mitchell, who encourages employers to become familiar with Beech Acres services so they can refer them to employees struggling with family issues.
The organization is eager to host informational sessions at Lunch and Learns, team-building workshops, and PTO/PTA meetings. “We’re interested in partnering with other organizations to make this a region we can truly be proud of—a place where you can raise healthy families,” Mitchell says.
[Illustration by Tatsiana Burgaud]