Tagged With "safe schools"
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Teens teach trauma care to Camden schools [Courier Post]
"Gemyra Wynn doesn't need to go into the details of her childhood in Camden. After sketching out how adverse childhood events can traumatize people and cause lifelong health consequences, the 17-year-old can just offer her ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score — it's seven out of 10 — and leave it at that. The same goes for her fellow instructors, 16-year-old Aunyay Fussell and 15-year-old LeBaron Harvey. They each survived psychologically trying experiences. But these students are...
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The Camden story: A physician and a priest plant seeds of repair
Simultaneously making changes at the organizational level and building alliances across sectors for larger system change, Father Jeff Putthoff, SJ, and Dr. Jeffrey Brenner realized they had to dig deeper — beyond symptoms to root causes —...
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The City of Philadelphia wants to help its frontline workers better deal with trauma [generocity.org]
A PGW worker is killed by an explosion in 2016 and his coworkers are still dealing with the emotional toll more than two years later. A longtime school nurse calls it quits when the school police officer who broke up fights between students has a heart attack and dies. A parole officer tries to deal with the personal emotional toll when one of his parolees commits a rape and a murder. These are a few of the tales of secondary traumatic stress — the stress that results from indirect exposure...
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The connection between trauma and the dropout crisis [The Philadelphia Public School Notebook]
When reflecting on the factors that derailed them academically, Quad’ir Ford and Nalik Lark-Hightower didn’t mention living in poverty or exposure to trauma as factors. But experts have said that these two distinct yet intertwined conditions in children’s lives can go far in explaining the root cause of the dropout crisis. “Trauma is not a singular event; neither is poverty,” said Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Network and co-chair of Project U-Turn.
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The Latest from Philadelphia Region (archives)
June 2014 PHILADELPHIA ACES CONNECTION MEET-UP: TALKING ACES WITH JAMES ENCINAS Come to this informal gathering at the Friends Center on Thursday, 6/26/14 from 4 - 6pm, to meet others in the Philadelphia region who are interested in ACEs, trauma,...
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The Link Between Mental Trauma and Diabetes
Based on a newly released study , women who suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are twice as likely as their peers with no diagnosable trauma history to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as be at higher risk for developing Type...
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The Philadelphia story: Education and activism converge in "ACEs epicenter"
The women and men gathered for a training on trauma and resilience were recovery counselors and social workers, charter-school teachers and prison administrators. But to Stephen Paesani, the child and adolescent training specialist who was leading the...
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The Public Health Consequences of Hate
Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH- Dean and Professor, Boston University School of Public Health wrote his weekly blog in reaction to the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the health effects of hate. Read the full blog here . "Witnessing the extreme expression of...
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Therapist Resource Guide - Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress
Working with children and families experiencing medical traumatic stress: A resource guide for mental health professionals What do mental health professionals need to know about pediatric medical traumatic stress? How can mental health professionals improve their collaboration with medical providers around pediatric medical traumatic stress? What resources and tools are available for professionals working with children and families who have experienced pediatric medical traumatic stress?
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This former Philadelphia cop had an incredibly simple plan to keep kids out of prison. Don’t arrest them. (washingtonpost.com)
Kevin Bethel didn’t become a police officer to lock up children. But it was under his watch as deputy police commissioner that Philadelphia’s school to-prison pipeline was in full effect. Now retired, Bethel is on a mission to keep children out of prison, with a police-led school diversion program that is showing impressive results. “My issue became, what is the trauma of me taking a 10-year-old child, for example, the minimum age for us, putting him in handcuffs, and taking him out of the...
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This shamefully ignored school shooting is why kids should walk out for 18 minutes, not 17 [philly.com]
It was a moment of sheer terror that surely none of the hundreds of kids flooding the corridors for the end of the school day will ever forget. One moment, 17-year-old Courtlin Arrington — already accepted to college for the fall, with dreams of becoming a nurse — was seen with another teen student, a wide receiver on the football team. Then came a loud pop as a bullet went right through Courtlin’s heart , ending her life way too short of adulthood. “The last thing I told them was ‘I love...
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Thoughts about school? Strawberry Mansion students talk [Philadelphia Tribune]
“The Philadelphia Project” is an inspirational film about hope and possibility, funded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, focusing on 16 juniors attending Strawberry Mansion High School and presented recently at a panel discussion that featured students from the community in Philadelphia where the U.S. Attorney's office, Dr. Sandy Bloom, Michael O'Bryan and the community have been working to build a trauma informed environment. Philadelphia Tribune Staff Writer, Ryanne Persinger, shares messages...
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Tools for a Trauma Informed Philadelphia
Organization Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia Mission : To end youth homicides in the city of Philadelphia by the year 2016 by leveraging the resources, expertise, and capacity of a wide range of community and government stakeholders. Website: ...
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Toward a trauma-informed city: Challenges and opportunities in Philadelphia
After many months of interviewing, editing, more interviewing and more editing, “Toward a Trauma Informed City: Challenges and Opportunities in Philadelphia” will be launched next week. A group of leaders who have adopted trauma-informed practices were interviewed about their experiences recognizing trauma as an issue, what they decided to do about it, and the change they have seen from the work of their organization. These 27 leaders come from public health, behavioral health medicine,...
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Toxic Stress, Toxic Streets (4 minute video)
This video is about 2 years old, but I just came across it last week and wanted to share with you all. It is a powerful statement by the students at Leadership High School in San Francisco, CA. They speak about the ongoing adversity and toxic stress in their daily lives and in their community, all through the power of music. The youth voice is so important as we work to bring trauma-informed and resilience building practices to communities. Link to video: Toxic Stress, Toxic Streets
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Trauma-Informed Social Justice: Q&A with Dr. Bukuloa Ogunkua
Cissy's Note: I work with people who challenge systems and policies, who reform or start non-profits, and who see hope and promise where others see despair or destruction. While some folks shake their heads or shrug indifferently in the face of injustice and suffering, others organize, mobilize, and channel their time and energy towards making a change. Maybe a physician hosts an annual conference bringing trauma-informed approaches to medical practice. Perhaps a woman shares ACEs 101...
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Trauma-Informed Workforce Development
The Workforce Development Work Group of the Philadelphia ACE Task Force met on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. The group discussed next steps with regard to upcoming projects for the group. The group discussed possible steps to support for the School District of Philadelphia’s Action Plan 3.0, Action 7 - Recognize, respond to, and support the social- ‐ emotional and behavioral health needs of our students. 7a. Equip staff to recognize and appropriately address students’...
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One year after Parkland, Philly students, teachers say more counselors needed to deal with trauma from gun violence [whyy.org]
Thursday marks one year since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which set off a wave of activism across the country, as students and youth called for more gun control and safer schools. Young people in Philadelphia and other urban areas seized the opportunity to bring long-awaited attention to gun violence and trauma that impacts them on a regular basis. But some activists, students, and teachers say one year later, not much has changed in the way of...
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United Way to fund four-part Trauma Series: Apply Now!
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is funding a four-part trauma series of college courses (graduate or undergraduate) leading to a certificate in Trauma Studies in Infancy and Early Childhood from Saint...
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Wagner Middle School makes a difference in students’ lives [phillytrib.com]
The best leaders lead by example. At the Gen. Louis Wagner Middle School at 1701 Chelten Ave., students are able to come into their own, succeed in the classroom, and prepare for their future because of the leadership roles and innovative thinking of the administration and teachers at their school. “Some of our goals this school year was continuing to improve our attendance and providing trauma informed training for everyone,” said principal Maya Johnstone. “Last year, we improved our...
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What can Pennsylvania schools do to address the prevalence of trauma among students? [pennlive.com]
Childhood trauma is a widespread issue. According to Child Trends, nearly half of children in the United States and in Pennsylvania have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE, which often leads to traumatic stress. Research is clear that traumatic stress in children can negatively impact cognitive, academic and behavioral outcomes. Yet schools are not equipped to address these problems. A recent ACLU report notes that 90 percent of U.S. public schools do not meet the...
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What it’s Like to Teach at One of America’s Least Racially Integrated Schools [theatlantic.com]
On a late February afternoon, Angela Crawford, an English teacher, stood in front of about three dozen Philadelphia educators—mostly young, black women—as they all swapped stories of small victories and challenges in their classrooms. Dressed in a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt and slim black slacks, Crawford, at one point, reflected on what has helped her remain resilient while working in some of the nation’s least resourced and most segregated classrooms for 23 years. “Black women are...
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What makes us safe: Facing trauma, gun violence, and hatred
An onslaught of violence begs the question: What makes us safe? Should we run and hide, should we become heavily armed, should we only speak with people who look like us? It would be easy to frame recent hate crimes in Monsey , Pittsburgh , and San Diego solely as anti-Semitic. It is that and more. Hateful attacks against Jews indicate a “rot in democracy” and call for systemic reform, according to History Professor Dr. Deborah Lipstadt. I began thinking about safety over 25 years ago when a...
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With new proposal, trauma-informed care could become standard in Pa. schools [WHYY.org]
If a pair of powerful Pennsylvania state senators get their way, a burgeoning approach to managing student behavior could become a mandate. State Sens. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, announced a proposal last week to create a “trauma-informed system of education.” The central plank of their proposal is a requirement that all teachers, school board members, and school employees “with direct contact with students” receive trauma-informed training. The details don’t...
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1 in 5 Philly High Students in Criminal Justice, DHS or both systems - PolicyLab at CHOP shares
Philadelphia Inquirer News Article quotes that one in five high school students in Philadelphia are involved either with criminal justice system or DHS or both - report from the PolicyLab at CHOP. Lori Shorr our Chief Education Officer, Dr....
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Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm?
Daun Kauffman currently has an article on ACEs Too High that elucidates the fundamental problems that occur when a school system does not directly confront one of the basic underlying issues: childhood trauma. One of the headings in Daun's...
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Feedback for School District of Philadelphia
At the Philadelphia ACE Task Force Community of Practice Meeting on October 18th, 2017, representatives from the School District of Philadelphia presented their plan for Trauma-Informed Schools. Please use this space to provide any feedback for the School District. Key questions include: What did you like? What would you change? What would be your recommendations for next steps? Their presentation and our full meeting minutes are attached for your reference.
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Headteacher in the UK interested in meeting with Philadelphia schools who have implemented trauma-informed practices
Hannah Albery is a Headteacher in a school in England. She will be visiting Philadelphia in March with a colleague and they are interested in visiting schools that are using trauma-informed/trauma-responsive practices. They are hoping to plan visits on March 25th and 27th and would welcome any opportunity to learn about what folks are doing here in Philadelphia. Please let me know if you'd be interested in meeting with them. My email address is cobrien@scattergoodfoundation.org.
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Moving from Vision to Action: Philadelphia ACE Taskfoce Updates
This forum will house updates from the Philadelphia ACE Taskforce (PATF) and the designated working groups to further the goals of the Philadelphia ACE Taskforce. History In April 2012, the Institute for Safe Families (ISF) formed the Philadelphia Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Task Force to develop policies, practices, and research within pediatric settings that mitigate conditions arising from toxic stressors and ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and that increase the health and...
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Philadelphia Collaborative Teacher Center offering collaboration grants
PCTC/PhilaSoup Collaboration Grants are designed to encourage teachers in Philadelphia public schools to look for innovative, fun and effective ways to increase teacher collaboration, improve teacher and school morale, and establish stronger cultures of cooperation, collaboration and support within their schools. Applications are due on March 14th. For more information, please click here .
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Philadelphia Loses Two Child Abuse Prevention Icons
On June 4, 2014 Philadelphia lost Paul Fink, MD. Dr. Fink, a psychotherapist, psychiatry professor, and speaker, was a fierce advocate for his beloved specialty. "I have been an activist most of my life," he wrote . "Part of my role and...
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Research on Effectiveness of TIC in Camden
Hello, everyone! Hopeworks N Camden is embarking on formal academic study of the difference that our implementation of Trauma Informed Care has had on our outcomes with youth. We are lucky in that we have strong "before" and "after" datasets. Natasha Fletcher, of the Center for Urban Research and Education, is leading the study. I have posted a brief summary of the study below. Who is excited by this? Who would like to continue to hear more about our progress in this? We think it is a really...
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Two U of Penn researchers release report on the "Biological Embedding of Child Abuse and Neglect"
Sara R. Jaffee, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Reader in Gene-Environment Interplay at King’s College London, and Cindy W. Christian, Chair, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention at The Children’s...
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What does a "trauma-informed" Philadelphia look like?
The Philadelphia ACEs community, as well as other communities nation-wide, has been striving to make Philadelphia one of the first "trauma-informed cities". But what does this mean? Sanctuary-trained City officials? Trauma-informed policy?...
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2nd Annual Strengthening Families Philadelphia Summit
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Artists Plus Trauma-Informed Practice for Youth
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Arts in Education Webinar
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Biological Embedding of Neighborhood Stress in Children
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Brain Strain II - The Effects of Trauma on Education
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First Annual Greater Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference
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