The Pause Way
At Pause, we want kids to be and feel safe and loved. We want them to be seen, heard and understood. The Pause Way of interacting with children is rooted in growing resilience. When interacting with kids, Pause staff and volunteers use trauma responsive interactions strategies. Through this approach, we model and teach kids to be present, stay curious and regulate their bodies and emotions.
We know that kids are kids, not mini grown ups. As humans they, like adults, experience a wide range of emotions: small, medium, and big - all at varying levels of intensity about a variety of things. We allow kids to express their emotions and help them identify their needs. We teach co-regulation through practice and community by pairing connection with safe limits and boundaries.
Did you know that 60%-70% of human communication is nonverbal? This means we all use our behavior to communicate what we need. Behavior, put simply, is what a person does that others can see. To understand a person, or a child, we must approach their behavior with curiosity so we can build our understanding. So, how does Pause approach big emotions? The short answer - with love and compassion. The long answer, The Pause Way Philosophy!
Our team implements this philosophy at every event, but it is especially the focus for our Resilience Support Team! This team, led by Director of Family Strategy, Melody Schurgast, strives to connect with all Pause kiddos, offer tools and resources to help them regulate their bodies and minds and meet them where they are at the moment.
It takes special people to make up this team. They must lean into their curiosity and compassion at every interaction with a kiddo, be creative and quick thinkers and must be able to naturally stay rooted in seeing the strengths of each child. When Jillian Zuzolo joined our team as an intern in January, we immediately knew she would be a perfect fit to join the Resilience Support Team after graduation and become a permanent member of the Pause staff family as a Resilience Coordinator!
Jillian just graduated college with her Bachelor's in Family Science with a concentration in Child Life. She also graduated with minors Disability Studies and Art Therapy! Jillian loves being with her dog Mr. Murphy, who she got about a year ago. They love to go hiking and swimming as he loves the water! When she’s not at work, she loves to vacation at the beach!
What are you most excited about in your role with Pause?
I am most excited to be connected with the families and their kid(s) as they come and be a part of Pause! I love being able to support people in whatever capacity they may need me to and I am able to!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? How did that play out in what you are doing now?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a Child Life Specialist! I had one when I was in the hospital, and ever since then I loved the idea of helping to support kids and their families during a difficult time in the hospital. I get to be a Child Life Specialist as a Resilience Coordinator with Pause, just not in a hospital, which is something that I wanted. I know a lot of people have trauma in a hospital setting, so I want to be able to support people in the same capacity in a setting that they are more comfortable with.
When you think about who you were intricately designed to be, how will you be a benefit to the families and volunteers we serve?
I think I will be able to support those who we serve in whatever capacity they need me, I think that my love for connecting with people will be able to create a comfortable setting where we can watch their whole family unit grow.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Well usually it's Mr. Murphy to go outside (my pup!), but it's always the love I have for living everyday like a new day. A new day to try new things, meet new people, connect with those who cross paths with me in my life, and to just be able to live a life that I want to live.
What do you want our Pause families to know about you?
I want them to know that I am going to absolutely love hanging out with their kids that come to Pause, and I can't wait to help support not only their kids, but support the caregiver's and parents, siblings as well!
Jillian - you are a light that shines on our Pause team everyday! We are so thankful for your energy, willingness to jump into new situations!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
These approaches were shared with Pause through the Resilience Project,* click here to learn more.
(*The Resilience Project was funded by Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and administered by Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services working in partnership with Finding Hope and SoulBird Consulting.)
