February 2021

By Jerry Almendarez, EdSource, February 17, 2021 When we began classes in Santa Ana Unified School District in the fall, we knew that in addition to varying degrees of learning loss, students would be returning to class having experienced isolation and a high potential for emotional trauma. We also knew that the information that we educators and administrators typically rely on, like the Smarter Balanced tests, would be unavailable this year because the state suspended administering them...

By Gary W. Harper and Leah C. Neubauer, Pedagogy Health Promot., February 23, 2021 *full article available 1 March2021 Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) realities have demanded that educators move swiftly to adopt new ways of teaching, advising, and mentoring. We suggest the centering of a trauma-informed approach to education and academic administration during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) guidance on...

Dear Friends and Allies, This is a moment for transformation led by youth advocates—those with lived experience—to reimagine a mental health system centered on equity and justice. While concerns remain with the state's proposals on both Telehealth and CalAIM, there are some hopeful signs of reform on the horizon including: $700 million proposed in the Governor’s budget to support student mental health in schools. The updated CalAIM proposal which advocates for the removal of a diagnosis for...

Overview Using the science of adverse childhood experiences, ACEs Connection helps communities solve their most intractable problems. We do this by creating and connecting networks of people, organizations and communities to prevent ACEs, heal trauma, and build resilience. For more information, visit ACEsConnection.com and ACEsTooHigh.com. ACEs Connection is a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (www.tsne.org). Responsibilities Joining a team of regional community facilitators, the new...

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...

Please join us for our next episode of our ‘A Better Normal’ Community Discussion where we envision the future as trauma-informed! We are honored to be joined by the authors and editors of ‘We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health--Stories and Research Challenging the Biomedical Model’ , Kelechi Ubozoh and L.D. Green. Hosted by @Jenna Quinn (ACEs Connection Staff) and facilitated by @Alison Cebulla (ACEs Connection Staff) of ACEs Connection. Friday, February 26th, 2021 12pm...

By Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, February 25, 2021 Fourteen- and 15-year-olds in California cannot be prosecuted in adult court, where they would face sentences of up to life in prison, the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday, upholding a 2019 state law that was challenged by prosecutors. The law requires youths younger than 16 to be tried in juvenile court. The maximum confinement for juveniles is up to age 25, although a juvenile court judge could then order a “safety...

WATCH NOW at ACEsAware.org 1.0 Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Credit Available* Providers seeking CME/MOC credits* must complete a separate activity evaluation in order to request CME/CE certificate. Those seeking MOC credits must also successfully complete the post-test with a score of 75% and higher. Please follow CME/MOC instructions available on ACEsAware.org. Presenters discuss: How COVID-19 set conditions in motion involving new, acute stressors...

In this month’s ACEs Aware Spotlight , Artie Padilla, Senior Program Officer for the Neighborhood Development at the Central Valley Community Foundation, discusses his experience of building a trauma-informed network of care team in Fresno County. He also offers guidance and encouragement to organizations just beginning to build their networks of care.

By Kristen Taketa, The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 20, 2021 California’s Black students, Black boys in particular, are far more likely than their peers to be suspended or expelled throughout their school career, especially during kindergarten through third grade, a recent study by San Diego State University professors found. Black students are suspended more often than any other student racial group in California. In the 2018-2019, the last school year of complete data, Black students...

By Kate Gonzales, The Imprint, February 17, 2021 California will provide additional cash benefits to low-income residents battered by the pandemic — including working poor families, children and parents on welfare and undocumented immigrants who are elderly, blind or disabled. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a deal with top state legislators that will send one-time stimulus payments of $600 and $1,200 to millions of Californians in the coming weeks, residents who “have borne...

By John Myers and Michael Hendrix, Bloomberg City Lab, February 19, 2021 When Sacramento proposed changing its zoning rules to allow four homes on land that had permitted just one, something remarkable happened: The reform passed city council, unanimously, with little of the outrage over new housing that’s long haunted California politics. The public comments were overwhelmingly supportive. Politicians lined up to praise the measure, which passed this January — even San Francisco Mayor...