October 2021

The pandemic has had a lasting effect on youth mental health. Moved by a desire to reduce youth’s toxic stress and increase their resilience, The Dibble Institute, in partnership with a team of students and alumni from ArtCenter College of Design and author Carolyn Curtis, PhD, is releasing Me & My Emotions —a new, free adaptation of our beloved Mind Matters Curriculum. The mobile-friendly Me & My Emotions website features engaging graphics and bite-sized lessons teens can access and...

Paxinosa Elementary School (Easton Area School District) is a community school supported by Communities in Schools Lehigh Valley, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) and Crayola, Inc. As a community school, Paxinosa focuses on addressing the holistic needs of the child and family through before and after school programs, family services and events, and providing basic needs like food, clothing and health services for students. Principal Elise Jones knew the profound impact that...

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), like experiencing child abuse or witnessing domestic violence, are some of the most intense sources of stress that children can experience. This toxic stress produces an abundance of stress hormones that can rewire a child’s brain and body, causing cognitive and social delays and long-term health concerns. Along with immediate health and educational effects, ACEs have also been linked to higher rates of damaging behaviors, like smoking, excessive alcohol...