Legislation to replace the 14 year-old No Child Left Behind law—The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) signed by President Obama on Dec. 10—was widely praised by the administration, legislators of both parties in the House and Senate, and the organizations concerned about education policy from the NEA to the Education Trust. The consensus is that the bill is not perfect but provides a needed recalibration of federal authority over the states in education policy while protecting...

An impromptu gathering took place in Washington, DC on Dec. 14 to address the need for a national organization to advance a public policy agenda based on current knowledge about adversity and trauma, and to provide a platform for collective advocacy. Another goal of such an organization would be advancing a public health approach that integrates prevention and trauma-informed policies, programs, and practices. The individuals around the table included pioneers in the field of trauma with...

The following press release—with new links to a video and audio recording of a statement by Senator Heitkamp (D-ND)—about the need for federal support to reduce trauma in children was the subject of a  post by Dan Press on the Native Americans group on ACEs Connection . Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine joined Senator Heitkamp and nine other Democrats in sending a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human...