Meet Shaleena Tareen | Founder & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaleena Tareen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaleena, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
This quote, “Sometimes Real Superheroes Live In The Hearts Of Little Children Fighting Big Battles,” deeply resonates when considering children and mental health. It highlights the immense strength, resilience, and bravery that children exhibit as they navigate mental health struggles, often dealing with challenges far beyond their years. These young individuals face and cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. What I find most inspiring about this quote is its acknowledgment of the unseen battles these children fight daily. It serves as a powerful reminder to recognize and support their courage, ensuring they receive the compassion, understanding, and resources needed to continue their journey.

What should our readers know about your business?
Childhood Matters is a Ventura County-based nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and supporting the mental and emotional well-being of children and youth. Our mission focuses on three primary objectives: Educate, Engage, and Empower.

First, we aim to educate the community about mental health and healthy coping skills. We achieve this by organizing community events, conducting workshops for students, educators, and parents, offering parent support groups, and providing comprehensive information on mental health, treatment options, and available services for children and youth.

Next, we strive to engage families, youth, and children by offering hands-on activities that promote positive well-being. We create safe spaces in community areas such as the Ventura County Superior Court, providing children and youth with self-regulation spaces to cope with stress. We also send coping toolboxes to children and youth in the community to help with navigating big life transitions. We are currently working on launching a Cancer Family Support Toolbox to help families impacted by Cancer.

Lastly, we emphasize empowerment through our youth ambassador program providing a platform for youth to advocate for mental health.

Securing funding is one of our biggest challenges, and financial constraints often limit our ability to expand our programs and reach more families in need. . We are witnessing the profound impact of untreated mental health issues all around us, affecting individuals and families in profound ways. The struggles faced by children and youth today are significant and cannot be overlooked. It’s crucial that we come together to raise awareness, offer support, and advocate for mental health resources. By addressing these challenges we can create safer and healthier communities.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Discover Ventura County’s Delights: Begin the day at Ventura County Harbor Village, where we can rent a boat and soak in the morning amidst breathtaking sights and perfect weather. After lunch and some ice cream, explore the charming stores and take a leisurely beach stroll. Next, head to Ojai for a delightful wine tasting experience at Ojai Vineyards, followed by a visit to the iconic open-air bookstore, Bart’s Books. Wander along Ojai’s Main Street and end the day with a memorable sunset dinner at Rory’s Place.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We want to give a big shoutout to the Ventura County Family Justice Center and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for recognizing our mission and partnering with Childhood Matters. Thanks to their support, we’re bringing a wellness center to the Ventura community, providing much-needed resources and services for children’s mental and emotional well-being. We’re excited about this collaboration and the positive impact it will have on local families.

Website: https://www.childhoodmatter.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childhood.matters/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childhoodmatters

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChildhoodMatte2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Childhoodmatter/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qoIX1O6yYYP7tCsnTsP2Q

Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@childhood.matters