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Products -- Safe from the Start Newsletter Archives
SFTS April 2005 Newsletter
SCHOOL READINESS INFORMATION
An initiative involving a 17-state partnership has focused on developing a comprehensive set of school readiness indicators to inform public policy for young children and their families. The National School Readiness
Indicators Initiative provides a set of indicators that policy makers can use to monitor school readiness and early school success. Check out this report at http://www.gettingready.org.
NEW RESEARCH
In recent years, it has become clear that, during adolescence, as in childhood, the brain is highly plastic and shaped by experience. Recent research by Duke University suggests that, as a result of the changes in brain function that occur during adolescence, alcohol affects adolescents differently from adults. This research discusses recent findings regarding adolescent substance use, adolescent brain development, and the impact of alcohol on adolescent behavior and brain function. For more information, check out http://www.duke.edu/~amwhite/Adolescence/index.html.
Violence is one of our most significant public health issues, and children exposed to violence frequently develop post-traumatic stress symptoms. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, poorer school performance, more days of school absence, and feelings of depression and anxiety. To help address this issue, a team of clinician-researchers from several institutions, including the RAND Corporation, UCLA, and Los Angeles Unified School District, collaborated to develop, implement, and evaluate an intervention designed to help children traumatized by violence. For more information, check out http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB4557-1/.
NEW RESOURCE
During a typical week, as many as 14 million children and youth across the United States lack adult supervision during non-school hours. According to the FBI, the lack of structured and supervised after-school programs contributes to a higher incidence of drug and alcohol use and delinquent or criminal behavior. A new report from the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families shows the leadership roles that mayors and city council members can play to improve the quality of after-school programs. The complete report is available online at http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/1076/nic/afterschool.
The National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics was established in May 2004 for the purpose of identifying major educational challenges facing Hispanic children throughout the United States from birth through the primary grades and making recommendations for actions. The Task Force's Web site includes news and emerging research in the field of early childhood education. For more information, check out http://www.ecehispanic.org/.
The Family Violence Prevention Fund has released a new handbook designed to help agencies, community development groups, and leaders of all kinds mobilize communities to stop family violence. To view or download this new resource, check out
http://endabuse.org/programs/display.php3?DocID=346.
The Web site for the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information has been updated with a new community resource packet. The Web site and resource packet feature fact sheets and a poster in both English and Spanish that emphasize the theme of shared responsibility for preventing abuse and neglect and protecting children's safety and well-being. To view this Web site or order the 2005 Community Resource Packet, check out
http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/topics/prevention/index.cfm
The We Are Family Foundation together with many partners have come together to produce and distribute the “We Are Family: A Musical Message for All” children's educational music video and teacher's guide. The DVD and teacher's guide are designed for use in preschool and primary grade classrooms as a supplement to instruction in literacy, math and other subjects, as well as in after-school programs that emphasize citizenship, character, diversity, and other family values. For more information or to order the "We Are Family" Children's music video, check out http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/.
UPCOMING TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
The California Health Framework Workshop to be held on April 20, 2005 in Sacramento provides an opportunity for communities focused on health to come together for the benefit of all - students, families, schools and collaboratives. This half-day, interactive workshop sponsored by Region 3 Healthy Start and After School Partnerships, will be an opportunity for health advocates and teachers to explore the framework and identify opportunities for K-12 initiatives. Participants will learn the mandates for school-based health and how to find or better use resources. Please contact Thea Riley at (916) 984-2056 by April 13 if you want to attend.
The Child Care Services Association has created the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood Project to address the issues of under-education, poor compensation and high turnover within the early childhood workforce. The 5th annual National T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Conference will be held on April 20-22, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The theme for this year's conference is Helping Meet the Demand for Tomorrow's Workforce Today, and the conference will bring together those who are working to create effective strategies for meeting the needs of the early childhood workforce. For more information, check out http://childcareservices.org/TEACH/TEACH_Project.html.
UPCOMING SFTS TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
Partnership for Safe Families - featuring Dr. Vincent Felitti and Dr. Linda Chamberlain
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will be giving the luncheon keynote address
For more information, contact tmiller@icfs.org
Annual Conference featuring Dr. Linda Chamberlain
For more information, contact margaret@victim.org
"Growing a Community" Great Valley Conference featuring Dr. Bruce Perry speaking on "Mobilizing the Community: The Importance of Brain Development"
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will be giving the luncheon keynote address
For more information, check out http://www.greatvalley.org
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