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After my first daughter was born, my abuser's grandfather gave us a check to buy necessities for our newborn. Not a single cent of that money went to diapers or onesies. Instead, my abuser took the check and spent the money on himself. That wasn't the first time he took what wasn't his. He was constantly in and out of work, and he often left it to me to cover the bulk of our rent, utility bills, and sometimes even his car payments. If I ever raised concerns about his spending, on expensive...

In response to an alarming rise in the number of students who have experienced trauma and mental health issues and who do not succeed in school, the National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) and the Successful Practices Network (SPN) announce the release of the Trauma-Skilled Schools Model. The Trauma-Skilled Schools Model was developed to address two serious challenges faced by our nation's schools: The growing negative impact of childhood trauma and the absence of clear and doable action...

Soon after news broke that the Trump administration could further roll back civil rights protections for transgender students, one New York City teacher sent an email blast to her fellow educators. She was searching for materials to use in biology class that reflect people of different gender identities, but couldn’t find anything. Many city educators may similarly grapple with how to support transgender students after it was reported that the Trump administration is considering whether to...

According to thousands of years of tradition, Buddhists meditate to understand themselves and their connections to all beings. By doing so, they hope to be released from suffering and ultimately gain enlightenment. In recent decades, researchers have been gaining insight into the benefits of practicing this ancient tradition. By studying more secular versions of mindfulness meditation, they’ve found that learning to pay attention to our current experiences and accept them without judgment...

When documentary producers first approached Beverly Walker about featuring her family in a film, the Milwaukee mother and grandmother knew what that meant: cameras trailing them, her cherished privacy breached. But her husband, Baron Walker, by then having served nearly two decades of a 60-year sentence, saw an opportunity. “I thought it could be quite helpful, though at the moment I didn’t know to what extent,” says Baron, who had been sentenced in 1996 for being party to a pair of bank...

The obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17 ranged from 8.7% in Utah to 26.1% in Mississippi, according to the most recent state-by-state data from the 2016-17 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Nationally, 15.8% of youth in this age range have obesity. Nine of the 10 states with the highest rates are in the South. Nine of the 10 states with the lowest rates are either in the West or Northeast. Prior to 2016, the NSCH was significantly redesigned. Due to changes in the survey’s mode...

When we: But is it really Justice for all? What is the counter-narrative around this most crucial question? Adding Social to Justice changes the narrative. What is social justice? Where is it hiding? Why are so many blind to the issue or pretend that it does not impact them; it is about “others” who are less fortunate. That could not be furthest from the truth because there is a ripple effect. If we are to really care about our children, then we must care for ALL of our children. We cannot...

Health and Human Services Reporter, Mattie Quinn spoke with the Change in Mind Institute at the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities about childhood trauma, brain science and the Families First Prevention Services Act. Here's her article... ...

This is an exciting day as I posted the first ever video recording of an episode of The Healing Place Podcast on YouTube. A huge shout out to Stephanie McPhail of Being Loved Shouldn't Hurt for allowing me the opportunity to attempt a vlog post of our amazing on-air conversation.

I have seen a future where ACEs is history. Allow me to back up two years to explain. As the last election was “called”, I made an oath then and there: my addiction to hourly updates from my media news sources would end. My so-called morning ritual of coffee and keeping abreast of the topical events—as viewed through the lens of media producers and publishers—was over. Keeping Up Versus Feeding Purpose When I told my friends about my decision there were concerns and I was asked, “But how...

Creating change was not meant for the faint of heart. Whenever you try to reach that "tipping point" people don't always tell you about the slamming doors, the resistance, or the looks of skepticism. How many of you have heard these questions: "why are you bothering? "'they' will never change...people don't change!" and probably my favorite "trauma doesn't impact me so I don't need to worry about it!" It doesn't "impact you"? I have crushed many a dream by informing them that unless they are...

What would we do if we could see every psychological wound ever inflicted as a physical bruise? We would see a lot of black and blue people walking around! We might also be more careful of each other, understanding the degree of suffering we each have endured.