September 2021

Knee-jerk and wrong-headed proposals. Courageous young people giving voice to the issues at hand in the middle of a school board meeting . Bold leadership from our superintendent. And a puzzling mix of regressive and promising policy proposals from Metro Council leadership. Thus is the landscape of Louisville as we grieve the tragic murder of Tyree Smith . And as we reflect upon the Louisville landscape, it is a collective imperative that we take a hard-eyed look at solutions to honor Tyree...

The healthcare workforce is amid a unique epidemic, coping with the ravages of collective occupational trauma . Physicians and nurses have been heavily impacted, but also an endless list of behavioral health professionals (behavioral analysts, counselors, social workers, psychologists), case managers, community health workers, medical assistants, nutritionists, pharmacists, phlebotomists, public health workers, rehabilitation professionals, respiratory therapists, not to mention those...

By Larissa Marulli, Moms, September 23, 2021 When it comes to our children and lives with our families, making memories is a vital part of the whole experience. We can only live in the present and ultimately when our kids are grown up and move out, all we will have left are the memories that you made. While that can be a sad way of looking at parenting, it is the reality of it all. This chaotic time of child-rearing that involves school, friends, homework, sports, playdates, mood swings and...

By Rachael Zimlich, Contemporary Pediatrics, September 23, 2021 Toxic stress can have lifelong negative effects. A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) examines how healthy relationships may serve as a buffer. It isn’t enough to try and prevent traumatic events in childhood. Supporting healthy growth also means helping children identify stable and supportive relationships in their life. These relationships can buffer bad experiences and promote resiliency,...

While natural disasters can strike at any time with very little warning, families and communities can take steps to prepare in the event that a disaster does occur. With the devastation caused by ongoing events (hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, COVID-19) across the nation, this reaffirms the need for disaster preparedness. Our thoughts are with the families, children, and communities who have been affected by these disasters. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has resources...

Spring in my garden is a riot of color. I caught the above pic of my poppies just past their peak after deciding to replace them and wanting to document the process. Because uprooting a cheery, bright colored plant that makes me happy in order to take the chance that something else might do an even better job can feel, as a friend of mine once quipped, "fraught with peril." And that's what it can feel like when we are in the process of healing. When, instead of believing that this is the...

Access 45+ Online Talks plus a Series of LIVE Events to Explore How to Address Collective Trauma in Our World Today Dr. Christina Bethell is speaking today. The presentation is free. Just register here to watch: https://collectivetraumasummit.com/?affiliate=cbcts Join over 100,000+ souls for an all NEW online event with expert presentations, talks, poetry readings, movement sessions, guided meditations, and panel discussions where we will delve into the theme of Collective Healing in Action.

Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership is pleased to announce an upcoming course for educators. This is 5-week, 45-hour course goes well beyond an introductory understanding, and will equip you with tools you can use in your classroom right away.

In Case You Missed It: "The Science of ACEs and Toxic Stress, (Part 3)" September 22 Webinar Now Available WATCH NOW at ACEsAware.org A recording and materials are now available for the second in a series of webinars exploring the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, presented by Rachel Gilgoff, Clinical and Science Senior Advisor, Aurrera Health Group. Clinicians seeking CME/CE and MOC credits* must complete a separate activity evaluation in order to request...

NEW EPISODE OF THE 180 PODCAST Listen: Jeff Duncan-Andrade: The Purpose of Education Should Be Youth Wellness "When you find the tenacity and the will to show up to school in a society that teaches you to hate yourself for the color of your skin and the texture of your hair, the language that your parents speak, the neighborhood that you come from, and you still show up? How do we not have institutions that see that as the most important ingredient for intellectual development?" — Jeff...

Just a reminder to all educators out there (PreK-- 12): The second cohort of the Virtual Teachers Lounge is launching this Saturday, Sept. 25th from noon -- 2:00 p.m. est. Join us for across the globe. Share, vent, learn now strategies, connect. It is an opportunity to garner help to navigate forward with 4 trained facilitators. FREE! Sign up at website below. New teachers welcomed. Experienced teachers welcomed. Counselors welcomed. Sign up at www.virtualteacherslounge2021.com. And, we are...

By Li Cohen, CBS News, September 21, 2021 For years, LGBTQ military members were only allowed to serve so long as nobody openly acknowledged their sexual orientation or gender identity. On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that those service members who received other than honorable discharges for their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status are eligible for full benefits. The announcement was made on the 10th anniversary of the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't...