February 2017

The Drexel University Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice | Healing Hurt People - In partnership with the Drexel University Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, Philadelphia Works and The Behavioral Health Training and Education Network presents: Community Health Worker Peer (CHWP) Training Academy Do you know what it is like to be impacted by violence in your neighborhood? Do you want to help people heal from their injuries? We invite you to learn more about becoming a...

Representing the Philadelphia ACE Task Force and Drexel University , Dr. Lee Pachter, pediatrician, shared an introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the difference between healthy stress and toxic stress in childhood, its impact on lifelong health and well-being & the universality of ACEs in so many of our children's lives. He also discussed the protective factor and buffering value for a child that unconditional love and support from an adult - parent, teacher or neighbor...

The ACE Messaging Work Group met on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. The three messaging groups, Youth, Older Adults, and Parents of Young Children reported in on their progress and current projected timeline for completion by end of June 2017, and provided feedback and questions to each other for each messaging theme. All groups have met within the last two weeks. The Work Group explored challenges that arose around the “what” that we are connecting people to through the messages, and how much...

A researcher and psychologist from Philadelphia pose the question, is President Trump causing toxic stress? The presidency is supposed to age the president, not the public.” And with that Jon Stewart, former host of the Daily Show and comic genius, touched on an overlooked but very serious public health question. Is Donald Trump, with his daily Twitter harangues, impulsive and outrageous executive orders, and all around nastiness harming the health of individuals? Have people become more...

Kudos to Lower Merion High School Basketball Team, The Aces, for their demonstration of unity and tolerance! Arms interlocked, dressed in black t-shirts, Lower Merion presented a united front as the national anthem played Tuesday night at Marple Newtown High School. “I am a Muslim,” the shirt worn by all members of the Aces boys basketball team read in white script. “I am a refugee. I am an immigrant. I am an American. I am an Ace.” Read the full story by Matthew De George ...

Dr. Arthur C. Evans steps down Friday after 12 years as commissioner of the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services – the name is one of myriad changes, large and small, that came under his watch. Evans brought tremendous vision and led a system-wide transformation effort focused on recovery, resilience, and self-determination . He embraced everything from prevention, early detection and intervention, to a variety of treatment types for the most serious...