Communications Director

Articles by Sara Rattigan, Communications Director

Sara Rattigan, MS is the communications director for The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and a public health communicator whose passion has always centered around innovative approaches to health education and health promotion for youth of all ages. At the Clay Center, Sara oversees the production, marketing, and evaluation of all original Clay Center content, as well as the Center's public relations and brand awareness. Prior to joining the Clay Center, Sara served as a health communications specialist at the MA Department of Public Health (MDPH), working with epidemiologists and industrial hygienists to use data findings to inform injury prevention intervention. At MDPH, Sara had the honor of project managing and creatively contributing to Getting Hurt Is Not In Your Job Description, a statewide social marketing campaign to raise awareness among young workers about injury prevention and their rights and responsibilities on the job. After MDPH, she went on to provide oversight at Harvard University for a range of high-level Title IX projects specific to sexual and gender-based harassment education, prevention, and response, including project managing the adaptation of an undergraduate online training module for multiple graduate schools across the University. Sara received her M.S. in health communication from Tufts University School of Medicine, and her B.A. in theatre arts from Fordham University’s College at Lincoln Center, with minors in communications and media studies, and creative writing. To learn more about Sara, or to contact her directly, please see Our Team.

Grateful May – 2023 Mental Health Month Calendar

April 26, 2023

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Grateful May – 2023 Mental Health Month Calendar

Make this May Mental Health Month a grateful one! When you express gratitude, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin. These two neurotransmitters play an important role when it comes to our emotions. Having a regular gratitude practice can help to increase your happiness and well-being and to better cope through challenging situations. This month, give […]

May Mental Health Month 2022

April 28, 2022

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May Mental Health Month 2022

It’s May, Mental Health Awareness Month! What better way to learn and engage those around you than with a calendar of content and activities. The mental health of our children, teens, and young adults has never been more important. Please join us this month in shining light on mental health through education and outreach! Download […]

9 Self-Care Tips for Teachers

January 20, 2021

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9 Self-Care Tips for Teachers

Since COVID-19, teachers have continued to feel additional pressures on top of their already demanding work lives:  Being responsible for teaching and emotionally supporting students Responding to increased parent communications, through multiple online platforms  Creating innovative ways to interact remotely, and navigating the technology to do it  Being prepared to offer hybrid meetings and events (both in-person and remote) to parents and others These […]

Ask Ellen: How to Respond to Your Child’s Big Emotions

November 24, 2020

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Ask Ellen: How to Respond to Your Child’s Big Emotions

During challenging times, it’s normal for families to feel overwhelmed and anxious. But kids don’t always have the necessary skills to cope with those emotions, and this can sometimes lead to tantrums and meltdowns. What can parents do in these situations?  In our latest Ask Ellen Q&A, child psychologist Dr. Ellen Braaten took questions directly from parents, […]

Ask Ellen: How to Develop Your Child’s Executive Function Skills

September 15, 2020

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Ask Ellen: How to Develop Your Child’s Executive Function Skills

Executive function skills are essential for kids to thrive at school and at home. Planning, staying organized, and managing time are important for academic success and balancing the responsibilities of daily life. But what if your child is struggling with these skills?   In our latest Ask Ellen Live Q&A, our co-director Dr. Ellen Braaten took questions directly […]

May – Meditation Challenge

May 2, 2020

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May – Meditation Challenge

Every day is time for supporting our mental health, but this year families everywhere are in need of extra hope, support, endurance, and moments of calm. This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we hope you’ll accept our meditation challenge. As parents, grandparents, teachers, community workers, and other caring adults, it’s important to take care […]

Young Healthy Minds: Shining Light on Mental Health Through Education

December 19, 2018

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Young Healthy Minds: Shining Light on Mental Health Through Education

Here at The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we know that there just aren’t enough child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers — anyone who helps to take care of kids — to go around. Yet there is an incredible need for resources to help support the mental, behavioral, and emotional well-being of our future generation. […]

HOME: Bringing Voice to Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness

November 22, 2018

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HOME: Bringing Voice to Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness

Ask your children or the young people in your life: “What is a home?” “What do you want to be when you grow up?” How do their answers compare to the children in this video? No matter their background, no matter where they live, all children have hopes and dreams. We can all play a […]

Shrinking It Down: Our Greatest Strengths (Season 1, Episode 16)

June 14, 2018

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Shrinking It Down: Our Greatest Strengths (Season 1, Episode 16)

You can also listen to this podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and iTunes.  *** Did you know that Dr. Ellen Braaten has a mild form of dyslexia and had to work really hard at reading when she was a child? Did you know that Dr. Gene Beresin has always struggled with math? We all have challenges. We all have […]

Shrinking It Down: Navigating the System (Season 1, Episode 13)

May 2, 2018

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Shrinking It Down: Navigating the System (Season 1, Episode 13)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for “Shrinking It Down.” *** We’re not going to pretend it isn’t so. If you’re seeking mental or behavioral health services for your child, it can be tricky and frustrating trying to navigate the system. But resources are […]