Blog

One of these days it will be common knowledge that most, if not all, of these rampage killers experienced adverse childhood experiences, some of which may be associated with unsupportive and harmful parenting. The solution is a new kind of public health approach parenting education that reaches everyone, everywhere, all the time. Perhaps national parenting education campaigns akin to the smoking and seatbelts campaigns of the past. Perhaps national multi-media messaging that teaches...

Multisystemic Resilience brings together for the first time in one volume a wide range of resilience scholars who have been wrestling with how to explain processes of recovery, adaptation, and transformation in contexts of change and adversity. With contributions from psychologists, epigeneticists, ecologists, architects, disaster specialists, engineers, sociologists, social workers, and public health researchers among others, this innovative volume creates a platform for an...

Before reading: I invite you to take a few deep breaths to take a mini break from your day and calm your nervous system before reading this blog. Go ahead, no one’s watching, and you deserve it. I’m tired. I’m sick and tired. I’m jumpy and can’t sleep. I’m numb and only want to sleep. I’m angry. I want to cry. I want to scream. I want to punch someone. I want to hurt myself. These are some of the common and, believe it or not, normal reactions to all the stress and trauma most of us have...

By Reuters, April 12, 2021 Does having school at the beach sound like a dream? After a year of remote learning and socially distanced classrooms, one school in the Spanish region of Murcia is doing just that, trying to combine clear air and a new way of teaching. Outside the Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente school, mask-wearing children sit before a portable blackboard at rows of green desks neatly spaced out on the sandy shores of Playa de los Nietos (Grandchildren's Beach). "It's safe, the...

By Gina Hijjawi, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, April 8, 2021 When we imagine a caregiver, we often picture a woman: a mother caring for young children, spouse, and the daily household chores, a daughter nursing a father with disabilities, or a female child care provider. Historically, women have been expected to serve as primary providers of “caretaking” work, whether it’s parenting or caring for an aging family member or paid work in positions typically associated with women such as...

In piece two of the series on eating disorders, we have already explored how dopamine and serotonin play vital roles in influencing eating disorders. In this article, we’re going to take a closer examination of what happens in the brains of those who live with the life-threatening problem of disordered eating. Two Types of Nervosa, What’s the Link? The term Nervosa means “lack of appetite” which is misleading but close to what happens when a person forms anorexia or bulimia. The Relationship...

By Carolyn Jones, EdSource, April 15, 2021 The best way schools can help students catch up academically after a year of distance learning is to ensure they feel relaxed, safe and connected to their friends and teachers as they return to the classroom. A year after the pandemic forced school districts to close campuses, students across California are beginning to return to the classroom at least a few days a week. But their experiences during the pandemic and their needs upon returning to...

What is Possible? By Scarlett Lewis I love reading stories about victory! It seems we all have had something in our lives to overcome, to some degree, and learning and growing from the struggle can benefit others. Courage and perseverance are two of the most powerful ways that can be taught to get through and grow from difficulties, and sometimes the best way is by example. However, one thing is for certain -- we need each other. It has been fascinating to me to witness how we rise to the...

The 9th Annual community gathering begins tomorrow.

From ACEs Aware, March 25, 2021 Grantee Highlights: The Kyer Group Corporation, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, and American Academy of Pediatrics – CA Chapter 3. Three ACEs Aware grantees met last month with Dr. Burke Harris to share their successes promoting ACE screenings, trauma-informed systems, and self-care and resilience through their grant activities. Read the highlights below, or watch the full presentation here. [ Please click here to read more .]

There is unprecedented momentum to tackle the mental health crisis affecting our children. The universally felt isolation and suffering caused by the pandemic are helping to strip away the stigma of mental illness. In its place is an energized movement, led by advocates, that is transforming the way California provides mental health services for its most vulnerable children—the majority of whom are black and brown. This movement has captured the attention of state and local policymakers,...

Dr. Bob Sege, 4/15/21, positiveexperience.org/blog On April 9, the HOPE National Resource Center hosted our first annual summit. This year’s theme was Spreading HOPE, and among rich discussions on HOPE in various sectors, we celebrated the growing recognition of our work around the country. Over three hundred people participated from across the U.S. and five other countries, from the health, education, child welfare, and public health sectors, including front-line providers and senior...