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Children living in poverty often are exposed to high levels of constant stress that can be debilitating, not only in terms of their physical health but also their ability to learn. So what are schools to do? Below, two writers argue — in their own voices, first, and then together with one voice — that schools and health providers must join forces to make sure children are getting the help they need. Sheila Ohlsson Walker, who studies the intersection between stress and educational outcomes,...

I was very intrigued, and eagerly registered- this is what we're trying to ramp up here in Sacramento! And there were many great nuggets of wisdom shared. (Powerpoint slides are attached).

The incidence of suicide in nearly all age groups has increased by 24 percent since 1999 — and by 200 percent among girls between ages of 10 and 14. Theories behind such astounding unprecedented increases, reported recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , vary. Some research says that among older Americans, the recent recession may have played a part, though the correlation is not a simple one. As for why so many more young girls are killing themselves, the answers there,...

During the safety briefing on every plane journey adults are reminded that, in case of an emergency, they are to secure their own oxygen masks before they help their children fit theirs. Why? Because it helps you look after children more effectively. The same is true of mental health, and it is something teachers should consider. After all, it is difficult to discuss good mental wellbeing in front of class if we, as adults, do not practise it ourselves. Action to improve the mental health of...

We know sexual assaults increase along with ACE scores for many. And you've probably already heard about the six-month sentence received by a 19-year old, Brock Turner, convicted of assaulting an unconscious woman. And the people calling for the judge be removed for such a light sentence saying that more time would have 'serious impact' to the offender. Maybe you saw the father of Turner, refer to his son's sexual assault as "twenty minutes of action." More on the entire story here . It's...

If you follow the railroad tracks about an hour southwest of Richmond, beyond rolling green fields dotted with yellow buds of spring, down wide and winding country roads, past faded barns, some overgrown with climbing weeds and others slumping towards earth, you'll find the Nottoway County School Board Office. [ METHODOLOGY: The Data Behind 'Title I and Inequality' ] The central office oversees the school district's 2,200 students, more than 30 percent of whom live in poverty. For a...

For several years, John Snelgrove began his workweek with a lengthy fax from the local police, listing the home addresses where officers had answered domestic violence calls over the weekend. Snelgrove, head of guidance services for Brockton (Mass.) Public Schools, would check those addresses against the district’s student database. When a match came up, he’d alert the counselor at that child’s school, who, in turn, would take a red envelope and deliver it to the child’s teacher. Inside was...

During opening remarks for the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition’s conference, “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide,” Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott talked about the challenging and traumatic experiences he and his family experienced. “My mother — a full-blooded Tlingit lady — her entire experience of life was that of adversity. Her mother was born, and living at the time that missionaries came to our community and changed our world forever,” he said to an audience of more than 200...

The Trust for Public Land has just released its annual scores and rankings on city parks across the U.S., as Laura Bliss reports . These scores claim to evaluate what the trust considers the “three important characteristics of an effective park system: acreage, facilities and investment, and access.” While this assessment is supposed to be the gold standard for determining park quality, its criteria is severely undermined by its failure to consider the legacy of racism in the U.S. park...

Spoken word (or performance poetry as it’s also known) has been creeping into the public consciousness of late. Thanks to sites such as YouTube and SoundCloud, artists have found a digital platform on which to share their voice and their work. Performers such as Kate Tempest , George the Poet and Jess Green , and festivals such as Glastonbury and The Last Word , have also helped. Performance poetry is fast becoming a staple of the entertainment circuit. Aside from the obvious entertainment...

I first saw a psychiatrist for my anxiety and depression as a junior in high school. During her evaluation, she asked about my classes and grades. I told her that I had a 4.0 GPA and had filled my schedule with Pre-AP and AP classes. A puzzled look crossed her face. She asked about my involvement in extracurricular activities. As I rattled off the long list of groups and organizations I was a part of, her frown creased further. Finally, she set down her pen and looked at me, saying something...

1. You are not a bad sister. Or a bad daughter. Or a bad friend. Or a bad anything. You are sick. You are suffering from a disease that has to do with genetics and brain chemistry and environmental factors and probably something much deeper than what our human minds can comprehend. Try to bring curiosity, rather than blame, into this moment. 2. The point is not to look like you are changing so that the people you love are happy. It is to actually change within yourself. And sometimes that...