The Parenting Brief

Today we’re talking about early childhood literacy AKA the difference between being able to sound out words and making context connections. 

In this episode of The Parenting Brief, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Cynnamon Woodberry from Make Way for Books to discuss how Arizona parents can build foundational literacy skills through simple, everyday interactions like talking, singing, and playing. 

Host:

Jessica Stewart...

Ever feel judged for your parenting choices? We're talking with Dr. Charissa Chamorro about where parent shaming comes from and how to navigate the cultural shift toward "perfect parenting" in our hyper connected world. 

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 book...

Find out how pregnancy hormones affect oral health, what to watch out for if your gums look unhealthy, and why taking care of your teeth while pregnant is important for your baby's future oral health.

Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Laurie Clark, a Registered Dental Hygienist with the Dignity Health Early Childhood Oral Health Program, to answer all your questions about oral health and going to the dentist while pregnan...

Toddlers have big feelings but haven't learned how to talk about them yet. Hitting, biting, and throwing are normal for their age and usually stop as they get older and better at communicating. Parents play a huge role in teaching their children how to handle their emotions.

Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is joined by Mirna Tomic, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a child therapist at Arizona Child Psychology, to discuss these b...

Primitive reflexes are involuntary responses that a newborn is born with to help them survive. These reflexes naturally disappear as your baby’s brain matures. In cases of injury, these reflexes can show back up and are a sign of a larger issue.

Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Karen Pryor, a physical therapist, to cover what parents need to know about primitive reflexes.

Host:

Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of ...

Strep is more than just a sore throat. Today we’re talking about Group B Strep (GBS), which usually isn’t serious for adults, but it can hurt newborns. Learn what it is, how to test for it, and the importance of treatment.

Host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Sarah Sams, a family physician and American Academy of Family Physicians board member, for a comprehensive guide to prepare moms for the safest possible delivery.

Ho...

Infants and children can experience brain injuries in many ways.

What signs can parents keep an eye out for and what can you do to prevent traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)? 

Tune in to hear Jessica talk about childhood brain injuries with Dr. Sue Wolf, an Educational Psychologist with Empowerment Research. Learn about causes, signs, prevention, and recovery. 

Host:

Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children’s Health...

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 concerns

Jessica 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...

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 shou...

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 Wittenberg

Psychologist

Author: Le...

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 Klein

Author: Raising Resilience; How Todd...

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 Gomez

MHC Case Manager 

the Health Start Program

the CHS Department

Re...

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 Berlin

Cognitive Neuroscientist

Associate Clinical Professor Of Psychiatry And Neuroscience

The Icahn School Of Med...

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 y...

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 a...

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 ...

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...

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 entir...

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 tal...