Anyone who works in schools knows that too many of our young people exhibit evidence of pending emotional, behavioral, social, and academic problems.  Often these students are inaccurately labeled with learning disabilities or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or considered to be "problem children" who simply need to "control" their own behavior.  What many people may not know is that many of these symptoms are actually manifestations of childhood trauma and the effects of exposure to violence. It's not a question of a young person failing to control his or her own behavior - it's a question of adults recognizing the signs of larger issues, and respond accordingly.  

The Federation for Community Schools invites you to join us in a dialogue exploring childhood trauma and the ways in which community schools can be structured to best support students that are exhibiting the effects.  Jeff Levy, LCSW, CTRS, clinical social worker and expert in child trauma, will discuss how children experience trauma, the differences between acute and chronic trauma and how both can affect a young person's development. Following his presentation we will hear from a panel of individuals working in community schools who have each utilized different intervention strategies to help ameliorate the effects of trauma on children and adolescents.  Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how trauma and exposure to violence affects young people, be better able to recognize symptoms and signs of trouble and to understand potential origins, and learn strategies for organizing school and community resources to best respond to students who are suffering from the effects of trauma. 

Registration is required. Space is limited and registration will close when we reach capacity.

Speak Up for Afterschool Programs & Teen REACH Funding

Here's how you can stand up for afterschool and Teen REACH:

• Write testimony for the Senate and House committees making decisions about afterschool funding. See ACT Now's easy testimony tipsheet. Hearings are being held April 10 and 11; if you write the testimony and email it to Samantha Hedges by April 8, ACT Now will deliver it to legislators. 
• Call or email your state legislators. To email, simply fill in your information and send this formatted email to your legislators. If you call, find your legislators' contact information here and feel free to use these talking points. When you call, simply explain who you are and that you're calling on your legislator to support $8.2 million in Teen REACH afterschool funding. Deadline: Between now and May 1.  Be sure to let  Samantha Hedges at ACT Now know about your conversations and emails.   
• Participate in ACT Now's afterschool advocacy day on April 16 in Springfield. Deadline: RSVP to Samantha by April 3.

Legislators will be making very tough decisions this year. Together, we must make sure legislators hear our unified voice calling for afterschool programs to be a funding priority. Our families and communities are depending on us.