Blog

By Sixto Cancel Mr. Cancel is the founder of an organization dedicated to changing foster care in America. When I was 15, an usher at my church offered to become my foster parent. Hers was one of the best foster homes I lived in. But she wanted a son. It was more than I was able to give. I had been in foster care since I was 11 months old because of my mother’s drug addiction and poverty. Adopted at age 9 by a racist and abusive woman, I was locked out of the house at age 13. For two years,...

The study found that scores assessing childhood trauma exposure among adults with substance misuse issues were 24% higher than previous estimates for other adults in the child welfare system, and 108% higher than the general population. While many parents and caregivers involved in the child welfare system suffered trauma as children, new research suggests that those with substance misuse issues as adults may have had particularly difficult childhoods. Not surprisingly, children in these...

By Latria Graham , Artwork by Alanna Fields, The Atlantic, September, 2021 T he photographs are about the size of a small hand. They’re wrapped in a leatherette case and framed in gold. From the background of one, the image of a Black woman’s body emerges. Her hair is plaited close to her head, and she is naked from the waist up. Her stare seems to penetrate the glass of the frame, peering into the eyes of the viewer. The paper label that accompanies her likeness reads: DELIA, COUNTRY BORN...

By: David Montgomery, the Pew Conservation Trusts, September 14, 2021 Should William Barret Travis, whose name is enshrined on schools, monuments and public buildings across Texas, continue to be honored solely as the valiant commander who led vastly outnumbered defenders of the Alamo in their doomed 13-day siege in the 1836 battle for state independence? Or should he also be seen through another lens—that of a “pompous, racist agitator” helping lead a revolt by Texas colonists primarily to...

By Sierra Carter , Georgia State University , the Conversation, September 15, 2021 Black women who have experienced more racism throughout their lives have stronger brain responses to threat , which may hurt their long-term health, according to a new study I conducted with clinical neuropsychologist Negar Fani and other colleagues. I am part of a research team that for more than 15 years has studied the ways stress related to trauma exposure can affect the mind and body. In our recent study...

By Pamela Cantor, The American Federation of Teachers,, Fall 2021 E ducation has long been central to the promise of the United States of America. But our current education system has never been designed to promote the equitable opportunities or outcomes that our children and families deserve and that our democracy, society, and economy now need. The people who built the education system in the 19th and 20th centuries believed that talent and skills were scarce. They trusted averages as...

As a business owner, you have certain expectations from your employees. You want to create a reliable workforce for the future of your business. Of course, productivity, discipline, diligence, and innovation are among the most vital attributes you look for in your employees. But to have a competitive advantage over others, you need more. You need an agile workforce that can drive incredible positive changes in the workplace. The most vibrant feature of the corporate world is its dynamic...

EmpowerSurvivors is looking for upcoming guests for our Monday evening program Conversations With Evey & Elizabeth!!! Conversations with Evey & Elizabeth is a weekly zoom program where we introduce conversation starters and discuss issues of interest for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. This relaxed, informal, interactive program meets Mondays from 6:00pm -7:30pm ( central time) over Zoom Are you a professional working in the mental health realm? Would you like to be...

Much research has been done on the topic of this series of posts in February 2021. Scientists want to understand how people who go through sometimes horrific events often overcome adversity and seem to thrive afterward. In this first part of the series, we’ll discuss what resiliency is and answer some common questions about this interesting topic. What is Resiliency? Everyone experiences traumatic events, yet some people seem to encounter more than their fair share of events that change...

We know a high ACE score is connected to a higher likelihood of “substance-related disorders.” However, sometimes it’s overlooked that food can be that substance of choice, too—not just drugs or alcohol. Learn about food addiction and ACEs, and a weight loss solution that heals from the inside out endorsed by Dr. Felitti, the CO-Principal Investigator of the ACE Study.

Responding to Fears Between 3 and 5 years, children are fascinated by the world of pretend and imagination, and may believe in all kinds of fantasies. That also means they get scared of things that may sound silly to grownups. Even though monsters aren't real, the fear is real for the child, and they can't distinguish between fantasy and reality. Keep reading for tips you can offer to parents on how they can understand and respond to their child's fears: Acknowledge the fear - If parents...

By Amanda Winn, 9/16/21, positiveexperience.org/blog Aimee Zeitz, Regional Director of Strategic Advancement at the San Diego YMCA, joined the HOPE Innovation Network in January. She knew that if the YMCA wanted to serve children and families differently, they needed to support and engage staff and leadership differently. Aimee wanted to create a space that was person-centered, family-focused, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. She knew that childhood adversity is so common with the...