Blog

August is National Wellness Month. This takes on a new significance with the presence of COVID-19, determining what this school year will look like and many of the other firsts we are facing. We, especially teachers, often operate at breakneck speed and do for others, at the detriment of our own wellness, but this fall, let’s take care of ourselves first and focus on self-care to enable us to be present for those we love, strengthen our immune system, and give ourselves a greater capacity...

In this episode of the Heart Rate Variability Podcast, Jeff and Matt discuss the science of heart rate variability, stress, and homeostasis. Homeostasis is the balance between our biology and the environment. Stress challenges homeostasis requiring a change in our mental, emotional, or physical state to respond successfully to the challenge. HRV provides a scientific way to measure how well our body responds to stress and reestablish homeostasis. ...

By Gina Paradiso Cathcart, The Pueblo Chieftain, August 8, 2020 My garden is remarkable this year; it has brought me hours upon hours of tranquility. Sometimes, I sit on the bench, located at the front, surrounded by flowers, and simply peer at all my vegetables growing. From my peppers to my pumpkins, which have slowly begun the process of turning orange, it is simply a wonderment, to me. There is one exception, of course -- my tomatoes. While the veins are green and hardy, the blossoms are...

By Rachel Swaner, Elise White, Andrew Martinez, et al., The Trace, August 2020 Despite a significant decline in violent crime nationally over the last 15 years, high rates of gun violence persist among youth in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. In 2017, over 21,000 children and teenagers were killed or injured with a gun, and gun violence was the leading cause of death among Blacks ages 1-19 (Children’s Defense Fund 2019). Data show that young people are both the primary victims (e.g., Xu...

By Mallory Warner-Richter and Christina M. Lloyd, Child Trends, August 6, 2020 Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all families, especially those caring for young children with disabilities. Of the 24 million children under age 6 in the United States, about 5 percent (1.2 million) have a diagnosed disability, which qualifies them for early intervention or special education services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 1 IDEA categorizes 13...

By Abigail H. Gewirtz, Stephen J. Cozza, Kenneth W. Kizer, JAMA Pediatrics, August 10, 2020 The United States has been continuously at war for nearly 2 decades, during which time some 2.7 million Americans have answered the call to arms. Such prolonged conflict is unprecedented in US history. Also unprecedented is the number of service members of the National Guard and military Reserve forces who have left their families to deploy to the battlefields of southwest Asia. As a result of these...

CRI offers Resilience Based Trainings to Address Trauma Trauma-Informed Trainings: Moving to Resilience (3 Courses) Train the Trainer Course Community-wide Resilience Building Framework in Response to Trauma Customized Training, Support, and Coaching For complete training course descriptions and information visit our training offerings page… Our community-building framework and 21 years’ experience in capacity building is the essence of what created the platform for the documentary Paper...

The Management Analyst supports the Department's Director and Deputy Director by managing highly visible and complex projects by: developing and tracking critical milestones; monitoring project tasks, scope and resources; and addressing risks and problems. Supervises the provision of administrative support to the Director and Deputy Director. Directs a variety of management services, including: policy and procedure analysis and development; legislative analysis; meetings and hearings; and...

At the heart of the argument over whether the economy should be open or closed is an explosive question that is often ignored: “How much is a human life really worth?” Put another way, “Do we save thousands of lives or do we save the economy which affects millions of people?” Either way, almost everyone is facing a traumatic experience.

Stillness is like a balm that calms our frazzled soul. Mindfulness allows us to slow down and better respond to anxiety-inducing challenges we so often face. Gratitude gives us perspective, and self-awareness helps us recognize and understand our emotions, and that builds strength and resilience.

By Manisha Aggarwal-Schiefellite, The Harvard Gazette, August 3, 2020 Experiencing adversity early in life has a direct effect on a person’s mental and physical health as they grow, and certain kinds of trauma can affect the pace of aging, according to new Harvard research. In addition to being risk factors for anxiety, depression, and stress, early life experiences like poverty, neglect, and violence are powerful predictors of physical health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, diabetes,...

By Gabriella Velasco and Martha Fedorowicz, Housing Matters, August 5, 2020 In June, the Housing Matters editorial team , spurred by the national uprisings against police brutality and anti-Black structural racism , and the uneven effects of COVID-19 pledged a renewed commitment to racial equity. To manifest this promise, we committed to “reexamine evidence and assumptions in order to advance antiracist housing policy and practice,” and as a first step, we are reviewing five years of Housing...