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Hindered by video screens, fluctuating schedules, and health regulations, teachers are up against the odds this school year when it comes to getting to know their students. “It’s hard to really get to know your students through a webcam," @mark_bevacqua wrote on Twitter, while @cheri_cheralex shared her struggles of seeing students in masks or “with eyes only.” While get-to-know-you activities are typically earmarked for the first weeks of school, they shouldn’t end there, say educators and...

Dive Brief: Activities typically used in the fall can be tapped throughout the year by middle and high school teachers to strengthen connections with students, writes Edutopia . These projects can also help students focus better on their work and strengthen their execution. Teachers can ask students to create personal blogs, podcasts, photo albums, movies or essays that show something about their personal interests. Students could also discuss people or events that have influenced their...

By Child and Family Blog, The Good Men Project, January 18, 2021 New research from Romania has demonstrated a clear correlation between adverse childhood experiences in fathers’ lives and their children’s development, including sleep disruption, inattention, anger, and anxiety. Fathers’ symptoms of depression partially accounted for the correlation between their early experiences and their children’s inattention and anger. Fathers’ negative parenting practices partially accounted for the...

Chronic diseases are common among African Americans, but the extent to which research has focused on addressing chronic diseases across multiple members of African American families is unclear. This systematic scoping review summarizes the characteristics of research addressing coexisting chronic conditions among African American families, including guiding theories, conditions studied, types of relationships, study outcomes, and intervention research.

I would like to invite you a special live event from Paradigm Shift Education through he Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast on January 28, 2021 at 6pm CST. Podcast host and trauma-informed principal, Mathew Portell, will engage three experts in the field a special live podcast which will be streamed on Facebook ( Paradigm Shift Education , Trauma Informed Educators Network , and Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast) , YouTube ( Paradigm Shift Education ), and Periscope! Dr. Lori...

As California’s new program to screen Medi-Cal patients for adverse childhood experiences (which are termed “ACEs”) gets underway, experts at UC San Francisco are trying to ensure that the adults and children who report trauma get the help they need. Experts now believe it’s most effective to treat the whole family when traumas occur. But any successful program would need to overcome fragmented payment systems, which usually dictate separate and poorly coordinated care for children and...

January is Birth Defects Prevention Month. The theme for 2021 is “Best for You. Best for Baby.” We know that not all birth defects can be prevented. But, you can increase your chances of having a healthy baby by doing what you can to be your healthiest self both before and during pregnancy. What is best for you is also best for your baby. The NBDPN Education and Outreach Committee has developed materials and resources to assist state program staff and others interested in raising awareness...

A survey across 25 states reported that about 61% of adults had experienced at least one type of adverse childhood experience (ACE) (1) . Exposure to ACEs can have lasting and adverse effects on health, well-being, and opportunity. ACEs can increase the risks of injury, transmitted infections, maternal and child health problems, and leading causes of death, like heart diseases, diabetes, and suicide. ACEs and associated conditions can also cause toxic stress, altering an individual’s brain...

1. Kwanzaa is less than 60 years old. Maulana Karenga, a Black nationalist who later became a college professor, created Kwanzaa as a way of uniting and empowering the African African community in the aftermath of the deadly Watts Rebellion . Having modeled his holiday on traditional African harvest festivals, he took the name “Kwanzaa” from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.” The extra “a” was added, Karenga has said, simply to accommodate seven children at...

By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com For nearly 10 months, police officers, firefighters and medical professionals have reported to work risking exposure to the coronavirus, enduring the emotional toll of witnessing so much suffering. To meet the unique needs of first responders and health care workers, the state Department of Human Services and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care announced this week it will operate helplines staffed by crisis counselors. Law enforcement...

New guidelines say to involve parents, issue warnings and look to dismiss charges if possible. Starting next month, New Jersey police and prosecutors should consider using any of a number of methods to avoid placing a juvenile offender in detention under a directive issued Thursday by the state attorney general. The goal of the new order from Gurbir Grewal , which takes effect Jan. 11, is to minimize the number of youth behind bars, a longtime goal of youth and social justice advocates. New...

By Vanessa Sacks, Rebecca M. Jones, and Hannah Rackers, et al., Child Trends, December 15, 2020 youthCONNECT is an integrated student supports initiative, developed by Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), that is being implemented in Prince George’s County, Maryland, in partnership with the Prince George’s County government and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). At Suitland High School, the youthCONNECT theory of change posits that providing college and career preparation...