March 2019

Susan Cole, director of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative at Harvard Law School and Massachusetts Advocates for Children, believes the most effective school settings weave trauma sensitivity into other affairs of the school day. The principal of a small elementary school in central Massachusetts was approached by his staff with a request. They asked about their school becoming more responsive to trauma owing to the number of children in their classrooms who seemed to be facing...

By P. Berman, K. Hecht, & A. Hosack Did anyone see anything? The police go systematically through the restaurant, talking to people who are still eating and talking to the staff. Several people come forward. The waitress was about to go over to their table and witnessed Larry reach towards Claire and punch her in the face. The couple sitting at the next table hadn’t seen the punch but were shocked as they watched Larry drag Claire out of the restaurant. The woman sitting directly behind...

The first three years of a child’s life are the most critical for brain development, yet Mississippi has done too little to support this cognitive evolution. The state needs to improve its policies to ensure children are in good health, have stable homes and have access to early learning opportunities. Those are the findings of a new report, the State of Babies Yearbook 2019 , released by the nonprofits Zero to Three and ChildTrends. The authors of the report analyzed state policies and...

RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Talking about trauma is important to start healing, according to a local mental-health professional. “Most people coming back from war have some sort of post-traumatic stress,” said social worker and therapist Tatiana Percival. “It’s really all about taking that first step to get help.” Percival said in her experience, many people with symptoms of PTSD think they can handle it on their own or feel isolated with their experience. [For more on this story by STEPHEN MONTOYA,...

As explored in JPMorgan Chase is Done With Private Prisons , hundreds of #FamiliesBelongTogether activists and grassroots organizations in cities across the country took to the streets — or rather, the banks — this past Valentine’s Day to let banks profiting from mass incarceration and immigrant detention know that it’s time to “break up” with the private prison industry and “show love” to communities instead. JPMorgan’s announcement last week to stop funding was indeed a taste of victory...

Editorial note: This is a moving account by Jennifer Gonnerman of triumph over trauma in a just minutes-long election night speech by Jumaane Williams, recently elected Public Advocate for New York City. The video does not include his remarks about being in therapy for three years (important for many to hear) so please read Gonnerman's outstanding report. I was moved by the entire account—his demonstrative affection for his mother and sister and his tribute to his fifth-grade teacher, Ms.

What a deeply engaging yet fun-filled conversation I enjoyed with ACEs Connection member, Jason Lee, discussing his personal triumphs and passion to help others, particularly men, along their healing journey from anger to tranquility. Thank you, Jason, for sharing your inspirational mission and shining the light of hope.

Cissy's note: I am a huge fan of the way @Claudia Gold works with those of us Parenting with ACEs . The first time I read her writing I relaxed. She was speaking with and for parents not about or at us. Unfortunately, her approach is rare. Fortunately, she just launched a new project she's been dreaming of for years. I love the way she supports all families and how she centers the role of all parents in the lives of all children - especially those - not all except those...

The promotion of trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed schools has grown tremendously in education. Broadly speaking, trauma-informed schools maintain a framework whereby the entire school staff maintains awareness of the impacts of toxic stress and trauma, and strive to ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and connected. Such awareness and motivation among educators and caregivers to promote such a framework presents multiple opportunities to change the lives of students and help...

A new program for parents and infants, thanks to generous support from Mill Town Capital , is coming to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Hello It’s Me Project shines a spotlight on these tender new relationships, investing resources around the birth of a baby with the long-term goal of building a healthy community from the bottom up. When world-renowned child development researcher Dr. Ed Tronick spoke in the spring of 2018 for an audience of a wide variety of practitioners in Berkshire County...

This is the final installment in Villa of Hope's 3-part series on adaptive change in organizations. We started with REBUILD, continued with RECOVER, and now we will finish with "RENEW: Adaptive Change to RENEW Personal Resilience, Organizational Vision, and Your Brand." Enjoy!

In recent years, there have been alarming reports of increased anxiety among young people. Trends like the growing influence of social media, increased competition to get into college, and changing sexual norms put tremendous pressures on our kids. But many of these pressures are exacerbated for girls—especially girls of color, argues psychologist Lisa Damour, author of the new book Under Pressure . Girls face headwinds that boys don’t, including a narrow standard of beauty, prejudice around...