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Yoga classes will continue in the Encinitas school district for at least the next year, but the conflict over the program is likely to stretch on as the district searches for a permanent way to fund it. At a packed meeting Tuesday, the Encinitas Union School District board approved $416,000 for a health and wellness program centered on yoga practice, as part of its 2016-17 budget. That amount was scaled back from the $800,000 that Superintendent Tim Baird initially wanted to spend on...

Mental Health First Aid is a FREE 8 hour certification course designed to give participants the tools to respond to psychiatric emergencies until professional help arrives and to improve people’s mental health literacy. Specialized classes also for Adults, Adults Working with Youth, Law Enforcement, Vets, Family Members, Higher Education. Classes available in Spanish. (Not eligible for Licensed Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family...

We’ll start to populate the new Resource Center next month. One of the sections lists ACE surveys that have additional questions. The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study revealed that ACEs contribute to most of our major chronic health, mental health, economic health and social health issues. It measured five types of abuse and neglect: physical, verbal and sexual abuse; physical and emotional neglect. And five types of family dysfunction: a family member with mental...

(Image: TBEC Review: the-best-electronic-cigarette-review.com) Among San Diego high school students, prescription drug use is up, and smoking is down, according to recently released survey data from the federal Center for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior. About 45% of teens said they had vaped. For Michelle Gilchrist's powerpoint of the CDC's survey data, please read: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jun/17/youth-risk-behavior/

If AB 1300 helped people access emergency care during a mental health crisis, counties, doctors, people living with mental health conditions, and their families would be the first in line to support it. Instead, the bill represents California’s hospital lobby trying to cut care under the guise of helping those most in need. Statewide, many hospitals lack psychiatrists and emergency room staff are not required to have the specialized training needed to support people at risk in a psychiatric...

This is a wonderful 13 minute video from the NCTSN. LGBTQ young adults talking about trauma experiences as a result of their LGBTQ identity, and how professionals can be helpful to youth facing similar struggles. Here's the link: http://www.nctsnet.org/products/lgbtq-youth-voices-trauma-lives-promise

The nationwide retailer Target joined San Diego County Wednesday in promoting healthy food and living options throughout the nation’s fifth largest county. Target will promote the county’s “ Live Well San Diego " program at its 23 San Diego County locations. “Target stores are good neighbors to their communities and provide healthy options that everyone can enjoy,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts , chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Live Well San Diego promotes healthy eating and living to...

Join Us for a Premiere Screening Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope Dear Colleagues and Friends, We are sending this special invitation for organizational leaders, educators, promotoras, health care providers, caregivers and families to join us for a free Premiere Screening of the documentary film: RESILIENCE: THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS AND THE SCIENCE OF HOPE at Cherokee Point Elementary School - 3735 38th Street, San Diego, CA on June 21st, 2016 from 12:30pm – 4:00pm .

Anxiety. Fear. Sadness. Events like the Orlando shooting can generate strong emotions, especially in children. These emotions can last a few days or weeks. The County of San Diego’s Deputy Director for Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Piedad Garcia, offers some advice on how to talk to children–and how to cope in general—with violent events like this: Parents should be aware of their children’s responses and be ready to talk openly about them. “Each child manifests their distress...

I get daily updates Nutrition.org in which Dr. M Greger reports on the science of the benefits of plant based diets. Here he covers telemores and what science is showing related to meditation, exercise and diet for lengthening telemores. I found these videos very interesting but I won't be eating processed meats anytime soon! Research Into Reversing Aging Does Meditation Affect Cellular Aging? Telomeres: Cap It All Off with Diet

(left to right; Youth Voice Co-Facilitator Talitha Thompson, Mentor Stephanie Linderman, Youth Leaders Jessica Rivera, Tatiana Sanchez, Lizette Diego, and Katherine Rodriguez.) Four student leaders from Youth Voice told twelve Commissioners of San Diego’s Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention last month how important it is that they raise awareness, educate the community, and encourage other youth and adults to become involved in eliminating human and sex trafficking in San Diego.

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...