It’s not every day I get to bring an entire pizza party to 30 kids, but a few weeks ago, that’s exactly what I got to do. I went to visit the youth leaders at Cherokee Point Elementary School, San Diego’s first trauma-informed elementary school. We were celebrating a major accomplishment.
A few months ago, I wrote about my visit to Cherokee Point to visit youth leaders and talk about Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month, which occurs every April. During my initial visit in March, youth leaders were asked to think about what makes them feel safe and loved, and then to draw or write it out. The youth leaders created 23 original, thoughtful, and creative pieces. This artwork was used to create a gallery of art for our CAP Month event, made by kids, who all have at least one thing that makes them feel safe (family, friends, teachers, pets, food, neighbors). Their pictures (see below) are a reminder of the simple things we can do to help kids feel safe. This concept of psychological safety, or feeling safe, is so important as a wise mentor once told me, “if we don’t feel safe, nothing else matters.”
On April 20th, the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego (RCHSD) partnered with the students, teachers, and administrators at Cherokee Point to host a media event on the school's campus to bring awareness to the students, administrators, and the community on preventing child abuse, with a specific focus on protective factors. We utilized the artwork created by the youth at the event, showcasing all of the pictures in the school courtyard during the media event.
Chadwick Center Senior Director Charles Wilson made some opening remarks to students, teachers, and Channel 8 (CBS) news, which was the lone media outlet to show up for the event. Wilson spoke briefly about the prevalence of child abuse in San Diego County, with over 40,000 reports of child abuse and neglect reported last year. While knowing how big the problem is in the community is important, the real message delivered was one of hope and solutions, with a specific focus on protective factors that can prevent, and mitigate, the impact of abuse and neglect. There are many protective factors that can help prevent abuse and neglect, but we chose to focus on 4 on this particular day: social connections, basic needs, positive school and community environment, and social and emotional skills.
Cherokee Point Principal Godwin Higa highlighted the importance of implementing trauma-informed practices in schools and communities, approaching the students, their families, and the entire City Heights community with a “whole child” perspective. This considers the needs of the child not just at home, but in all environments in which they exist.
Dressed in blue RCHSD t-shirts, youth leaders made their way down the outdoor staircase that leads to the courtyard area in the middle of campus to form a living blue ribbon, the national symbol honoring CAP Month. Four students held signs naming each protective factor, while four other students took turns, speaking one by one about what each protective factor means to them. Other teachers and students from Cherokee Point were in the audience to observe, along with Channel 8 news.
Cherokee Point youth leader reads about social connections: “I feel safe when I have caring adults in my life, like my dad and my family. I’m a Youth Leader and I will be there for my friends and family too.”
Some of the kids were nervous, some were quiet, while others were outspoken about what we were doing. But we all worked together, and they supported each other to make all of this happen. They really got excited when the Channel 8 news showed up and they realized they might make it on TV!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, the day of the pizza party, and we got to connect again and talk about what this was like for them. Many of them were wearing their blue RCHSD t-shirts while we talked about what they learned, and each of them stated what they were thankful for. I heard things like “thank you for the pizza,” “thanks for letting me help the kids at Rady’s,” “thank you for the t-shirts,” “thanks for getting me on TV,” and “thank you for being in my life." We showed them all the photos we took of that day, and they finally got to see the news footage, which was a big hit!
That same day, Principal Higa came to speak with youth leaders about child abuse. What should they do if they see it, or experience it? Who should they tell? Who can they call? The kids went around the room, sharing their feelings about child abuse. “Heartbroken,” sad,” “disappointed,” and “sorry” were feelings we heard from many of the kids.
We then had a conversation with youth leaders about what happens when children are removed from their families. In San Diego County, if there is no family or caregiver available for a child upon removal from an abusive or neglectful situation, they go to Polinsky Children’s Center, a short term shelter for kids coming into protective custody. We talked with the youth leaders about what that might feel like for kids, and how they would feel if they couldn't be with their families. Many kids expressed concern over being separated from their siblings, which we know often happens in these situations, for a variety of reasons. This was a difficult concept for the kids to fathom.
As part of the class activity for the day, Dana Brown, who works with the youth leaders (and is also the Southern California community facilitator for ACEsConnection.com), asked the kids to write a letter to the children at Polinsky Center, kids they have never met. She asked the kids to think about how they might feel if they were in that situation, and what might make them feel better. The kids got to work, some working individually, and some working in pairs and trios to create their carefully crafted messages of hope. Their messages of hope, love, and encouragement are shared below, as their own words are far more powerful than anything I could ever say.
Each time I visit this amazing school, I leave with a full heart. Between the thank you messages I received upon arriving, to the thoughtful discussion about child abuse, to the heartfelt messages of hope they generated for kids they have never met, this day was no exception. I see these kids as living, breathing, walking examples of what can happen when you incorporate a trauma lens, infiltrating compassion throughout all levels of a community. I look forward to sharing more stories with you about these amazing kids, who are growing into empathetic and compassionate human beings that we can all look up to.
Special thanks to Domino's Pizza for donating pizza, bread sticks, AND brownies for the youth leaders, my team at the Chadwick Center who worked hard to pull off this event, and as always, to Dana Brown and Dr. Audrey Hokoda for allowing me the opportunity to invade their classroom yet again to hang out with this wonderful group of youth!
Youth leaders enjoy their pizza party, care of Domino's Pizza!
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