Tagged With "Mindful Moment"
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Trauma Sensitive Approaches to the COVID -19 Response
We at Alive and Well Communities wanted to take a moment to present some considerations for how our community responds to COVID-19, through the trauma lens. These suggestions assume that additional core institutions will close and/or must limit the ways they typically engage with community members. It is also assumed that a number of community members will have to self-quarantine and “shelter in place.” These suggestions are guided by the principles of trauma informed care: trustworthiness,...
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West county doctor recognized for work with homeless [Sonoma West Times & News]
HOMELESS SERVICES TEAM — Staff of West County Health Center take a moment to point out this year’s “Leaders In Healthcare” award winner, Dr. Jared Garrison-Jakel.
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What Do Caregivers Do?
This story occurred in the early part of the AIDS epidemic. In 1991, I was part of a coalition working to develop local home care options for AIDS patients. This was before the first AIDS treatment drugs became available, so the prognosis for someone with AIDS was not good. They got sick. If they recovered, they were likely to get sick again soon. Back then, HIV disease was still an unfamiliar and frightening illness, even for medical personnel. The general public was concerned about...
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What Wildfires Do to Our Minds
A Northern California community offers mental health first-aid to survivors of devastating fires. Yes Magazine-- posted Aug 07, 2018 https://www.yesmagazine.org/ issues/mental-health/what- wildfires-do-to-our-minds- 20180807/ It’s late spring, and I’m hiking Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma County with therapist, ecopsychologist, and California naturalist Mary Good. A mist is drifting down, and we have the park mostly to ourselves. In October 2017, 80 percent of Sugarloaf’s 3,900 acres...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting 5-25-16
We look forward to coming together again on May 25, 2016 at 12:30 in the City View Rooms at Public Health at 625 5 th Street . We’ll continue finding ways to connect around reducing toxic stress and providing trauma-informed care in our community. We plan an engaging meeting including a deeper exploration of some local trauma-informed efforts as well as report outs on field trips and other activities to connect with ACEs & Resiliency initiatives around the state. Please also note our...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting 7-26-17
Dear Friends, We look forward to coming together to continue our efforts to raise awareness around Adverse Childhood Experiences & Resiliency. Join our community coalition’s meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 12:30 at 625 5 th Street, Santa Rosa in the City View Rooms. Attached is the agenda for our meeting and last months meeting minutes. Your voice, community insight, and local action is helping us achieve community healing. We thank you for your participation and support! (Please...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting 7-27-16
Dear Friends, Please join us for the upcoming Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting on July 27, 2016 12:30 - 2:00 at 625 5 th Street, Santa Rosa. We will not meet in August , but please do mark your calendars for our September 28, 2016 meeting which be held from 12:30 - 2:00. We are looking for an agency to volunteer to host this meeting by providing a meeting space for 30 people. Please let us know if you would like to have the ACEs Connection come out to your site for the September...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting 9-28-16
Dear Friends, I believe we are at the tipping point of an incredible community transformation! Please join us next Wednesday from 12:30 – 2:00 for our next Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting to review our momentum as we close our first year of the Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities grant. Your voice is needed at the table to share your accomplishments and make plans for next steps. Our engaging agenda is attached. Minutes from July’s meeting will be circulated at the meeting.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Agenda 3/21/18
Hi everyone, Attached is the agenda for today's meeting. I look forward to seeing you all there!
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting - Agenda & Minutes
Attached is the agenda and minutes for the Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting that took place on August 22, 2018.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Agenda October 2018
Attached is the agenda for the General Assembly meeting on October 24, 2018.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Minutes 4/25/18
Attached are the meeting minutes for the Sonoma County ACEs Connection General Meeting on 4/25/18.
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Minutes 4-27-16
Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. We had a great turnout given many partners also planned to attend the Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention luncheon the next day! Today, we started the meeting with a meditation for our mindful moment . Sue Stephenson introduced us to the Tonglen meditation of breathing in suffering and breathing out compassion. With just a few breaths and a focus on our intentions, we were all quickly grounded in the compassion-centered work that...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Minutes 5-25-16
(Please see the attachment for a nicely formatted version of these minutes.) 5/25/16 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Today, we started the meeting with a meditation for our mindful moment with Kate Jenkins . With just a few breaths and a focus on our intentions, we found improved focus for our meeting. Grace Harris led a discussion around the concept of “Trauma-Informed Care.” Folks turned to their neighbor and shared...
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Minutes June 2017
Attached are meeting minutes from the Sonoma County ACEs Connection General Assembly.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Minutes October 2018
Attached are meeting minutes from General Assembly meeting on October 24, 2018.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Minutes September 2018
Monthly meeting minutes for September 2018.
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Minutes September 26, 2018
Here are the meeting minutes for the General Assembly meeting that took place on September 26, 2018.
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 1-17-16
Dear Sonoma County ACES Connection Enthusiasts, Guess who is coming to our town? Dr. Macy is a tireless pioneer in the field of psychological trauma, psychosocial recovery and resiliency in research, interventions and violence prevention initiatives for children, youth, their families, and adults and their communities exposed to traumatic events including large-scale disasters, terrorist events, and political, school based, community and armed conflict violence. Check out his upcoming...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 1-25-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 01-25-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Allen Nishikawa graciously warmed washcloths for each member of the coalition to encourage a traditional Japanese “mindful moment” of washing the face and hands with a steaming cloth. Allen offered this in a gesture of showing care for those who often serve as caretakers and may benefit from...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 2-22-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 02-22-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Kate Jenkins started us off with a prompt to learn five things about two of our neighbors in the room. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on listening, while also paying attention to the different sensations that were occurring in our body and mind. Were we focused on what we wanted to...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 2-24-16
(See the attachment for a colorful version with photos.) Dear Sonoma County ACES Connection Enthusiasts, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. We packed the City View Rooms and showed a team of grant evaluators a great display of passion fueled by our local network. Today, we started the meeting with a quiet mindful moment . Kate offered everyone a raisin and led is in eating it slowly and consciously. Kate reminded us how taking time to deeply observe eating is a...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 3-22-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 03-22-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Kate Jenkins started us off by inviting us to close our eyes and focus on being present in the moment. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on our breath, while also paying attention to the different sensations that were occurring in our body. Javier Rivera-Rosales from Positive Images...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 3-23-16
(Please see the attachment for the version with photos and colors - it is much more visually interesting!) 3/23/16 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Enthusiasts, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Today, we started the meeting with a quiet mindful moment . Susan Barnett-Hampson led us in a short meditation, using her soothing, slow voice to ground us in the present moment. A few deep breaths and positive affirmations can help us refocus whenever needed! “ A...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 4-26-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 4-26-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Holly White-Wolfe started us off with a meditation app (voice recording) that was shared at the MARC Gathering in Philadelphia. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on our breath, noticing the rise and fall of our chest as a way to center ourselves throughout the day Nick Dalton from the...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 5-24-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 5-24-17 Thank you to all that participated in our May ACES meeting. Grace Harris started us off with a mindful moment. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on being present. Jane Weil and Tré Vasquez from Restorative Resources shared with us a film that provided an overview of Restorative Resources. Restorative Resources is using trauma-informed practices in multiple schools throughout Sonoma...
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Meeting Notes November 30, 2016
(For a graphically engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Dory Escobar invited the group to take a mindful moment by listening to a “reflection” or short tale with a powerful message about intentions. Grace Harris welcomed the group, and gave a brief overview of the folks that assemble each month. Sonoma County ACEs Connection is a growing community coalition, with...
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Strategic Planning Session Update
Thanks to all of the members who contributed to our Strategic Planning Session on 6/29/16. The engaging agenda is attached to this post, as is the presentation on the scope of the problem of ACE's in Sonoma County. Our fabulous facilitator, Selena Polston (Innovation Team Program Manager for Public Health) captures some of our meeting highlights in these notes: ACES Connection Retreat: Developing a Vision Statement Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Elsie Allen High School What Makes A Great Vision...
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Sonoma County Resiliency Collaborative A Practical Approach to Post-Wildlife Resilience and Wellbeing
The traumatic events of the North Bay wildfires affect our emotional and physical health, social functioning, and overall well-being, both as individuals and as a community. Unresolved, they can damage our health and limit our potential to rebuild a strong community. Join diverse Sonoma County leaders and representatives to participate in dynamic workshop where you will practice tools for effectively addressing personal and team stress after the fires, network with peers, and learn about an...
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Sonoma County to explore divestment from firms tied to migrant detention centers [Press Democrat]
Residents hold up "Divest" signs Tuesday before the public comment portion of a Board of Sonoma County Supervisors meeting. Residents urged supervisors to divest from U.S.-Mexico border detention facility-connected companies. (Tyler Silvy/The Press Democrat)
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Stop Dreaming & Start Doing
With graduation season upon us, I have been thinking a lot about one of my favorite graduation speeches. It’s the speech that Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy, gave in 2014 at Dartmouth College. She references the typical expected advice from a graduation speech: “Follow your dreams. Listen to your spirit. Change the world. Make your mark. Find your inner voice and make it sing. Embrace failure. Dream. Dream and dream big..." And then she says, “I think that’s crap.”
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Syrian Children in a state of Toxic Stress
An article posted by BBC News captures what the children of Syria are experiencing and how many of these children don't know anything but war. This is a huge public health concern that could lead to irreversible damage to an entire generation of children. Save the Children shares, "Millions of Syrian Children could be living in a state of "Toxic Stress" due to prolonged exposure to the horrors of war." I have attached the Report, Invisible Wounds produced by Save the Children if you're...
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Youth court banishes blame; leads with ACEs science
YMCA Marin County Youth Court in San Rafael, California In her opening statement, 17-year-old youth advocate Eva advises jurors how to proceed and summarizes her “client’s” good qualities. “As you will see, Julian is genuine, well-spoken and friendly. I recommend asking him about his friends and family, his future plans and his activities outside of school.” (First names only of all minors are used to protect their privacy.) Welcome to the YMCA Marin County (CA) Youth Court, one of 1,400...
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Re: Mindful-Based Practices, Therapeutic Activities, & Ways to Relax: For Teachers, Parents, & Children
Thanks for this reminder. I also do yoga and it helps to remind others to do some of the other things you mentioned.
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"Addiction begins with solving a problem, the problem of human pain, emotional pain"
In his groundbreaking book , In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction , trauma and addiction expert Dr. Gabor Maté writes, “There are almost as many addictions as there are people.” ACEs Connection founder and publisher Jane Stevens read that quote as a springboard to asking Maté to define addiction and explain whether or not it is always rooted in adverse childhood experiences. Maté, along with filmmaker Michelle Esrick and Saturday Night Live star Darrell Hammond,...
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ACEs Champion Brian Semsem — Transforming Trauma Neural Pathways into Resilience Pathways
Brian Semsem, a pastor based in Fresno, California, who has been working with troubled youth and adults for most of his professional life, says when he first learned about ACEs in 2014 from a colleague in a county foster youth program, “I started seeing numbers over everybody’s head.
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Shocking example of how Sonoma County devalues human rights (Sonoma Sun)
Letter to the Editor, by John Donnelly, July 6, 2020. The killing of George Floyd has unleashed a much-needed reckoning with our nation’s long history of systemic racism. Right here in Sonoma County we need to acknowledge the realities of white supremacy and the ways in which this has been manifested in police biases and in the disproportionate enforcement of “law and order.” Because “Black Lives Matter,” it is most dismaying to learn that Dmitra Smith has announced her resignation as Chair...
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Friendly Reminder: our July meeting is Weds 7/22 at 3:30!
Please join our July Zoom meeting - all are welcome! If you prefer, there is a call in option too. ZOOM LINK or see calendar for more details. So much is happening across the county (and beyond) so maybe we can put our heads together and find ways to support this important work! See below for the draft agenda and the attached references: 1 OCAP released their strategic plan 2020-2025 2 MCH released a report on how health inequities emerge before birth 3 EfC just released Trauma Informed...
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Child Life specialists empower kids in hospitals, disasters and now the pandemic
In late May, Betsy Andersen’s 7-year-old son, Ezra, had a serious meltdown. He and his six-year-old sister Abby had been enjoying an online Zoom interaction with “Miss Eileen,” “Miss Savannah,” a couple of their colleagues, and a puppet. Betsy Andersen “I could see him trailing off and then he started crying,” says Andersen, who lives in Mundelein, Illinois. But before she swooped in, she heard Miss Eileen talking to him: “She was saying ‘Hey, I see you’re having some big emotions.” Speaking...
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"It's All Connected": NJEA ACEs Task Force Reaches Beyond Educators
The March meeting of the New Jersey Education Association’s ACEs Task Force opened without an agenda. It was a virtual gathering with more than 50 people—educators, social workers, professionals in pediatrics, juvenile justice and child abuse prevention. The pandemic had landed emphatically close to home, with a governor’s order to close all schools on March 18, and participants were grappling with what that meant for their students, their families and themselves. So ACEs Task Force co-chair...
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Friendly reminder: join us tomorrow (Wed 9/23) at 3:30!
Plan to participate! See the attached notes from our last meeting too. SCAC agenda ACEs Enthusiasts Community Meeting September 23, from 3:30 to 4:30 Location: Zoom Sonoma County ACEs Connection About this community: We bring the community together to prevent, heal, and treat ACEs while promoting resiliency. Sonoma County ACEs Connection emphasizes community collaboration and seeks opportunities to leverage and coordinate with others. Please join us! Agenda Items ● Welcome – Mindful Moment ●...
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Even when the smoke clears, schools find student trauma can linger (Lake County Record Bee)
By Carolyn Jones, September 29, 2020, Lake County Record Bee. Schools can serve as a hub for an entire community after a disaster, experts say For some students, the fire is only the beginning. The nightmares, the grief and an all-consuming dread can persist for months or even years. That’s what teachers and school employees have observed among students in California’s fire-ravaged areas, especially Sonoma and Butte counties, where deadly wildfires have struck repeatedly in recent years.
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Why do trauma survivors self-sabotage?
No one ever told us that it was ok for us to be our own person. No one ever said that we could have self-love, self-esteem, or self-believe. No one told us that we didn’t deserve to be hurt, abused, and mistreated. No one said to us that we could be somebody. And yet they wonder how we got so fucked up? Honestly, it is a miracle that many of us have made it this far in life. We have been ill-equipped with the wrong tools, the wrong mindset, and the wrong understanding of what it means to be...
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Why I joined ACES CONNECTION
Kia ora from Auckland, NZ. My name is Adriana. I am the community manager of trauma-informed NZ with ACES CONNECTION. ACES CONNECTION, is based in the States, far from New Zealand, and our way of life, yet, I am the community manager of a community with ACES CONNECTION Today, I am going to share with you, my reasons for joining ACES CONNECTION. I will make a call for action at the end of my talk, so please stay to the end Why did I join ACES CONNECTION? Here is my story. I live in NZ, always...
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FIRST CALIFORNIA SURGEON GENERAL’S REPORT PROVIDES CLEAR CROSS-SECTOR ROADMAP TO ADDRESS HEALTH AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS OF ADVERSITY
SACRAMENTO – The Office of the California Surgeon General today released the first California Surgeon General’s Report - Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General's Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, and Health. The report serves as a blueprint for how communities, states, and nations can recognize and effectively address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress as a root cause to some of the most harmful, persistent, and expensive societal and...
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Sonoma County Multicultural Roots Project - Joy Ayodele (Sonoma County Gazette)
By Adriane Mertens - srcity.org, December 7, 2020. The Multicultural Roots Project was created to increase visibility for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in Sonoma County, with a particular focus on Santa Rosa; and to recognize, through historical stories from BIPOC, contributions and impacts that have shaped Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. Working with local historians and community partners, Community Engagement staff gather stories and facts about local BIPOC leaders, as well as...
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50,000 members strong! ACEs Connection invites you to celebrate, reminisce and commemorate our collective growth
Where were you when you first learned about ACEs science? What do you remember about that moment? Were you relieved, scared, shocked, happy or sad? And where were you when you first learned about ACEs Connection? How did it feel to know there was a community of people who knew some of what you knew, and, perhaps, felt as passionately about learning more of the science and preventing childhood trauma as you do? On March 4th at 12 pm PT (3 pm ET), we’re stopping for an hour to gather around...
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February SCAC Meeting Notes
Wow, what a full and informative meeting we had last month. Thank you to all those that was able to attend. All voices are valued and need to be heard. Everyone has a seat at our table :) Our meeting started out with introductions from over 20 community members in attendance. Ellen Barnett of Imagine YOU shared a mindful moment with the group and guided us through a powerful "What Matters Most" technique. SCAC partnered with Sonoma First 5, Dovetail Learning, Early Learning Institute,...
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Imagine YOU workshop
ACES Connection! You are invited to participate in a workshop for YOU. The Imagine You workshop Monday from 9-10:30 on Zoom will give you several tools for self reflection, a moment of peace, and to use on your own path of wellbeing. You are invited to an Imagine You Workshop: When: Mar 29, 2021 9:00 - 10:30 AM Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/ tZcrfuiopj4vGtN_RQAugA7EQ_ SX9gdeGsq8 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email...
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Youth Detention Facility finds culture of kindness more effective than punishment
A corner of the Multi-Sensory De-escalation Room, All MSDR photos courtesy of Valerie Clark When a young person enters the de-escalation room in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility , they’ll find dimmed lights, bottles of lavender, orange and other essential oils, an audio menu featuring the rush of ocean waves and other calming sounds, along with squeeze balls, TheraPutty, jigsaw puzzles, and an exercise ball to bounce on. TheraPutty, squeeze balls and more Sometimes, with a...