RTSC Consider This... February 2020

Consider This...

Things to Consider in February 2020 from RTSC

News and information about education, research, and support for SESPs; adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers; and child welfare and education professionals helping children with trauma and other special needs get the most from their education.

Greetings!

When Kids Refuse To Go To School

School refusal or avoidance is not what many of us may have thought it to be. You may think that it is about staying home to do some fun preferred activity like gaming or watching movies, but for most students it's much more complicated than that. More and more educators and parents are starting to see school refusal as a sign of some deeper mental health issues. The question becomes, what is the student's aversion to school? For that we need to take a deeper dive at what's happening for the student.

Fawning: The Fourth Trauma Response We Don't Talk About

We all have heard of the classic examples of fight, flight and freeze due to trauma, but did you know there’s actually a new fourth response?" It’s called “fawn” and is a term coined by Pete Walker , a C-PTSD survivor and licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in helping adults who were traumatized in childhood," says Juliette Virzi . A basic understanding of Fawn is when someone responses in a "people pleasing" way, many times leading to the possibility of being in a codependent relationship. Many times we talk about the possibility of victims being vulnerable to re-victimization, this is one of those situations.

5 Things to Know as California Starts Screening Children for Toxic Stres s

As many of you may already know, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, a leading pediatrician in California, and founder of Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco, was named the first ever Surgeon General of the state. You may recognize the name from the film "Resilience" or her image from the ACE Primer that is part of the Special Education Surrogate Parent training that RTSC conducts. Well since becoming the state's Surgeon General, she is implementing the universal screening for ACEs during all child wellness check-up's. But at the beginning of the process there are some issues that need to be looked at and discussed first.

Secondary Traumatic Stress Awareness and Avoidance

Secondary Trauma or Vicarious Trauma as we call it is “the natural consequent behaviors resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event experienced by another," says Dr. Charles Figley, a Psychology Professor at Tulane Traumatology Institute at Tulane University. Here are some strategies for recognizing and dealing with vicarious trauma that you may be experiencing when working with children who have Developmental Childhood Trauma.

Transition Planning at IEP Team Meetings – The Good, The Fun and The Beautiful

Transition Planning. What comes to mind when you hear those words? If a chill goes down your spine, you're not alone! Many parents, surrogate parents, and advocates will tell you that many times it can seem like an uphill battle to get a transitional age youth the services they need. But not so says Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS , NESCA's Director of Transitional Services. In fact Kelley calls it "dare I say, fun!" In this article from NESCA's monthly blog, Kelley gives some "ingredients" that make for a good transitional team meeting.

It’s Time to Stop Confusing Poverty With Neglect

"The role that poverty plays in child welfare decision-making is a topic that has yet to be meaningfully confronted and addressed. Poverty is a risk factor for neglect, but poverty does not equate to neglect. The presence of poverty alone does not mean a child is unsafe, unloved, or that a parent lacks the capacity to care for his or her child," says Jerry Milner, associate commissioner of the U.S. Children’s Bureau at the Department of Health and Human Services. Yet so often that is the standard that we as an outsider judge a family's ability to "properly" care their children. This article looks at two scenarios in which intervention as a response may prove the lead to a better outcome if we just shift how we view poverty verses neglect.

Understanding Trauma-Informed Education

Although we talk about Trauma Informed Education a lot when working with our students, what does really mean? I often get asked if one needs to know the student's ACEs in order to truly be able to help them. As Matthew Portell, principal of Fall-Hamilton Elementary School, an internationally known trauma sensitive school says, "trauma-informed education is not solely concerned with students’ ACE score." It's the increased awareness that has the impact. Mr. Portell gives 6 misconceptions about what a trauma informed school is and is not.

‘On her 10th birthday, her belongings were jammed into trash bags, already waiting for her. She was yanked from her entire life, and thrust into a new one.’: Social worker candidly shares reality of foster care system .

Many of us work or care for the children in the foster care system, but do we really know or understand how the little things in a child's life are effected by the way they are handle in the system. When my kids were brought to our home they came with the clothes on their backs and a trash bag of personal belongings, mostly old clothes that were too small for them. I remember calling it the "trash bag transfer!" This may resonate with many a foster parent or adoptive parent. One Social Worker has put to pen the cost of this experience for our children and it's lasting effects.

Useful Tools and Resources

What is Epigenetics?

This easy to follow infographic shows how trauma is passed from one generation to another through our genes, helping to explain intergenerational trauma.

A Parent's Guide to Special Education in Massachusetts

Special Education can be a confusing and complicated process, which many parents new to it may need some reference points. The Massachusetts Department of Education and the Federation for Children with Special needs have put together an interactive resource for families to help guide them through the process. Whether you are new to the field of special education or an "old hat", take a look at this easy to use guide.

Managing Fear and Trauma as a Foster Parent

Dr. John DeGarmo is the leading expert in the foster care field and currently has eight children at home. The following is an interview with Dr. John by Samantha Moe, discussing the ways that a Foster Parent can help a child to manager their fears after trauma

Upcoming Federation Events

February Webinar

Reading Between the Lines: Understanding Reading Disabilities and Assessments

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 @ 12:30 PM Eastern Time

Presenter: Bridget Koetsch, M.Ed., Children First: Educational Coaching

Bridget has a Bachelors Degrees in both Special Education and History and a Masters Degree in Special Education. I hold certifications in Elementary Education grades 1-6 and Moderate Special Needs Prek-9. She has worked in the local schools for 22 years as a Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, and a Social Emotional Learning Coach.

March Webinar

School Discipline Reform: What You Need To Know

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 @ 12:30 PM Eastern Time

Presenter: Elizabeth McIntyre, Staff Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services

Elizabeth McIntyre is a staff attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services and director of its School to Prison Pipeline Intervention Project. She represents young people of color in school discipline and related special education cases, collaborates with community groups and student organizers, and engages in systemic, coalitional education policy advocacy and impact litigation. Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism and Boston University School of Law. She is the recipient of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law Leadership Scholarship, Boston University Law School’s Community Service Award, and Supreme Judicial Court’s Adams Pro Bono Publico Award.

April Webinar

Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum in Schools

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 @ 12:30 PM Eastern Time

Presenter: Yulika Forman, PhD, The Expert Ally

Autism is a pervasive developmental condition that affects all domains of functioning. How can you identify children with autism, especially those who are less obviously affected? Once identified, how can you make sure that you fully understand their unique combination of strengths and challenges? What areas need to be supported in schools and how? How do you deal with challenging behaviors, stereotypies, and emotional issues? This webinar will address these questions based on the most current research and first-hand experience as a special education consultant

Federation Networking Series

The Networking Series is a collaborative effort of the Recruitment, Training and Support Center (RTSC), Parent Consultant Training Institute (PCTI), and MassPAC projects of the Federation for Children with Special Needs provided exclusively for SESPs, PCTI Graduates and SEPAC Chairpersons.

Monthly Networking Meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The format alternates between a Speaker Series and Case Rounds.