By Taylor Walker, Witness LA, September 13, 2019 An estimated 10 million US children have parents who are currently locked up, or who have previously been incarcerated. A bill currently on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, SB 394, seeks to reduce the number of parents and children separated by incarceration by boosting diversion. Children arguably suffer the worst consequences of mass incarceration. In 2014, a UC Irvine study found that having a parent behind bars can be more damaging to a kid’s...

http://blitzweekly.com/lawrence-phillips-the-broken-kid/ http://www.thenation.com/article/who-killed-lawrence-phillips/ Today NFL athlete Lawrence Phillips' death was ruled a suicide by the coroner. His ACEs score (Adverse Childhood Experiences) was by all accounts extremely high. By all accounts, he did not receive treatment for this unrelenting childhood trauma and attachment disruption. Abandoned by his father, abused by his stepfather, removed from his mother, placed in group homes, and...

Thank you so much for these clips. Each brought me to tears over the contrast between the wisdom and compassion shown here (and the results) vs. the punitive responses to trauma I've witnessed in years working withing child welfare, criminal justice and domestic-violence intervention systems. What a hopeful, inspiring, restorative vision!

I just wish I had an answer as to how to get others to see what for me is so obvious. I am glad someone can understand what is true. Why are we criminalizing and hurting already hurt people whether they be homeless, have a mental illness or have an addiction or all three. People in these situations never had it easy or they wouldn't be here. I wish someone had that magic answer that would allow us to open closed eyes, hearts, and minds. It makes me cry too.