Sesame Street Addiction

Sesame Workshop is enlisting the power of the Sesame Street Muppets to tackle a serious problem in America: addiction.

The nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street launched a new initiative that’s specifically designed to support kids and families affected by parental addiction. In a new series of videos and other content, familiar characters, including Elmo and Abby Cadabby, support their friend Karli, a 6 ½-year-old Sesame Street Muppet whose mom is dealing with addiction. The full suite of resources is available free to all as part of the Sesame Street in Communities program.

“Addiction is often seen as a ‘grown-up’ issue, but it impacts children in ways that aren’t always visible,” says Sherrie Westin, president of social impact and philanthropy at Sesame Workshop. “Having a parent battling addiction can be one of the most isolating and stressful situations young children and their families face. Sesame Street has always been a source of comfort to children during the toughest of times, and our new resources are designed to break down the stigma of parental addiction and help families build hope for the future.”

The bilingual videos and other materials — available in English and Spanish — were created in consultation with experts in addiction and early childhood development.

The initiative is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Joan Ganz Cooney Fund for Vulnerable Children.

Sesame Street continues to celebrate its 50th birthday, with new products, collaborations, and initiatives rolling out through the end of the year.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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