Cathedral Home

09/17/2026

Grades can tell us how a young person is doing in school.

They can't tell us everything about how a young person is doing.

As the school year gets underway, make room for questions about more than assignments, tests, and homework.

Try:

“Who did you sit with today?”
You might learn about belonging and friendships.

“What felt hard today?”
You create an opening to talk about challenges before they become overwhelming.

“What are you looking forward to?”
You get a glimpse of where they're finding joy, connection, or purpose.

“When did you feel most like yourself today?”
You learn where—and with whom—they feel comfortable being who they are.

You don't need to ask them all at once. Pick one. Listen to the answer. And, when you can, remember to follow up later.

Because knowing how our kids are doing means paying attention to much more than what's on the report card.

Find more conversation starters and practical ideas in our free Back-to-School Mental Health Guide at cathedralhome.org/back-to-school

09/15/2026

“Movement means we are trying, and that is all anyone can ask.”

We love this reminder from Cathedral Home staff member Calliope.

Progress doesn't always look like a breakthrough.

Sometimes it's trying something new. Showing up after a hard day. Having a conversation you weren't ready for yesterday. Asking for help. Taking one small step forward—or trying again after taking a few steps back.

In our work with young people, we know growth rarely happens in a straight line. That's why we pay attention to the movement, not just the milestones.

Trying matters. And sometimes, trying is enough for today.

09/10/2026

The schedules are settling in. And the first-day photos are behind us.

Now comes an important part of back-to-school: paying attention.

The first few weeks can tell us a lot about how a young person is adjusting.

Are they sleeping differently?
Talking about friends?
More irritable than usual?
Excited about something new?
Pulling away?
Coming home completely exhausted?

Not every change is a sign that something is wrong. Starting a new school year takes energy, and adjustment looks different for every young person.

But this is a good time to stay curious, keep checking in, and notice what they're showing you—not just how they're doing academically.

Our Back-to-School Mental Health Guide has more ideas to help caregivers support young people through the transition and build connection throughout the school year.

Find it at cathedralhome.org/back-to-school

09/09/2026

It can feel scary to ask a young person directly about su***de. But asking the question doesn’t put the idea in their head—it lets them know it’s safe to tell you the truth.

If you’re worried, it’s okay to ask: “Are you thinking about su***de?”

You don’t need to have the perfect words or know exactly what to do next. Start by asking. Listen to the answer. Take it seriously. And help them connect with support.

This video from Cincinnati Children's Hospital offers a helpful example of what that conversation can sound like.

During Su***de Prevention Month, let’s make sure the young people in our lives know we’re willing to have the hard conversations—because they don’t have to face hard things alone.

In this episode of Kids' Health Uncomplicated, host Dr. Patty Manni...

09/08/2026

We’re proud to partner with Crisis Text Line to make free, confidential mental health support available to people across Wyoming through Wyo Text. This partnership helps ensure that when someone is ready to reach out, support is just a text away.

Text WYO to 741741 for support any time.

Mountain West texters are more likely to bring up self-harm in crisis conversations than Americans at large.

09/08/2026

Sometimes the people who matter most aren't the ones who give the best advice. They're the ones who make us feel safe enough to be ourselves.

Try asking the young person in your life:

“Who helps you feel like you can be yourself?”

Their answer can tell you a lot.

Maybe it's a friend who doesn't judge them. A teacher who notices when they're having a hard day. A coach who believes in them. A sibling who makes them laugh. Or you.

Knowing where a young person feels comfortable being fully themselves can help you understand where they experience belonging—and who they see as trusted people in their world.

You don't need to turn their answer into a lesson. Just get curious.

“What is it about them that makes you feel that way?”

Sometimes starting the conversation is as simple as giving young people space to tell us where they feel most like themselves. 💛

09/04/2026

A sweet surprise for our campus! 🥤💛

A big thank you to The Soda Pit for stopping by Cathedral Home and treating our young people and staff to sodas. We’re so grateful for community partners who find fun ways to show they care!

09/01/2026

We asked 125 young people what they need from the adults in their lives.

One told us:

“Check in and ask me genuine questions. Follow up on what I tell you.”

That last part matters.

Checking in is important. Following up tells a young person you were really listening.

How did that test end up going?
What happened with your friend?
Were you nervous about practice today? How did it go?

Remembering the details sends a message bigger than the question itself: What you tell me matters. You matter enough for me to remember.

Young people don't necessarily need us to have the perfect thing to say. Sometimes they just need to know that when they let us into their world, we're interested enough to stay there.

This is one of 125 responses we received from young people about what they need from the adults in their lives. We're listening—and we'll keep sharing what they told us. 💛

08/27/2026

Who could you ask for help if you needed it?

It's a simple question. But it's an important one to ask our kids before they need the answer.

Maybe it's a teacher who makes things easier to understand. A coach who listens. A school counselor. A grandparent. A friend's parent. A sibling. A trusted adult who makes them feel safe.

When we help young people identify the people they can turn to, we're doing more than starting a conversation. We're helping them build a plan.

Because eventually, every young person will need help—with an assignment they don't understand, a friendship that's getting complicated, a mistake they don't know how to fix, or feelings that have become too heavy to carry alone.

Knowing how to ask for help is a skill. Knowing who you can ask makes that skill easier to use.

So sometime this week, ask:

Who could you ask for help if you needed it?

And then listen.

You might learn something important about the people your child already trusts—and you might help them realize their circle of support is bigger than they thought.

Find more questions to help start meaningful conversations in our Back-to-School Mental Health Guide at cathedralhome.org/back-to-school

08/26/2026

What makes Cathedral Home different?

Ask ten staff members, and you'll probably get ten different answers.

But underneath each one is the same belief: healing happens in relationships.

This is one perspective from someone who sees that happen every day. We hope you'll take a minute to listen to Sarah 💙