Fast Facts

WE MUST Respond to the health Crisis of Adverse

Childhood Experiences

It’s time for all professionals working in the health, education and incarceration fields — and all communities — to respond to this health crisis. It’s also time for all to consider if they are passing on to their children the impact of their own adverse childhood experiences.

By: Joyce Schelling, Retired Educator

Maine has the ACEs create a disrupted nation’s highest stress response affecting the rate of anxiety and neurological, immune, hormonal the third highest and cardiovascular systems. This rate of depression among children toxic stress determines which ages 3-7. It is above the national genes get turned on or off when rate for behavior problems and dealing with stress, which can be children diagnosed with Attention passed on to the next generation, Deficit/Attention Hyperactivity as discussed in “ The Deepest Disorder (ADD/ADHD). The Well” by California’s Surgeon average number of suicides per General Nadine Burke Harris. year by youth under age 20 is well The studies in her book emphasize above the national average and that ACEs occur at similar rates has risen by 50 percent in just five across all socio-economic groups. years. It’s time to ask if these frightening awareness of ACEs one of her top statistics from the Maine priorities, and professionals here Children’s Alliance’s Maine KIDS in Maine are increasingly part of COUNT 2019 Data Book are this work. connected to Adverse Childhood Burke Harris has made raising Experiences (ACEs). “Adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress constitute the The experiences include emotional major public health issue of abuse, witnessing domestic our time,” Burke Harris said in violence, alcoholism, bullying and an interview earlier this year. divorce. Children with two or “Childhood adversity (ACEs) more ACEs are more than three leads to long-term changes in times as likely to consider suicide the structure and function of than children with zero or one, our brains and bodies, and those according to the data book. changes can subsequently impact educational attainment and risk Joyce Schelling, Retired Educator

of violence or incarceration. They providers in southern and central dramatically affect health, with Maine are beginning universal significant risks for the leading screening for ACEs. The Maine causes of death… including Resiliency Building Network heart disease, stroke, cancer and hosts presentations state-wide Alzheimer’s disease.” to educate teachers, parents, The need for intervention is clear. community about ACEs, and how Magnetic resonance imaging to help all children thrive. Clarity (MRI) and functional magnetic Services offers trainings on how resonance imaging (fMRI) have language can help heal brains and demonstrated that a child who help us create connection with experienced a certain level of others even during conflict. trauma at a young age will still have measurable changes in his/ Over the years, I have worked her brain as a teen — even if with a wide variety of children the trauma no longer exists and and families: special needs to his living situation is stable and gifted, toddlers to adult, rich to secure. But, as Burke Harris poor. I and my colleagues, too points out, poor outcomes are not often, had no apparent answer inevitable. for a child with overwhelming “Adversity is not destiny,” Burke missing piece was ACEs. Harris said. “The science is clear: early intervention improves It’s time for all professionals outcomes.” working in the health, education She names six critical treatment all communities — to respond to areas: sleep, exercise, nutrition, this health crisis. It’s also time for mindfulness, mental health all to consider if they are passing support for child and parent, on to their children the impact and healthy relationships. These, of their own adverse childhood as well as meditation, boost the experiences, and how they can brain changes that help rewire help heal themselves and their the brain and promote increased loved ones. physical and mental health. health providers and the business problems. I now believe that the and incarceration fields — and Schelling’s opinion article first The movement to combat appeared in the Bangor Daily ACEs is national and active in News. Maine. Hospitals and health February 2020 • www.maineea.org 19

TITLES FOR MIDDLE GRADE READERS

Cover images used with permission.

These short stories by powerful and diverse voices show how heroes come in all shapes and sizes and small acts of kindness can save the day.

Read about inventors and inventions, the science behind their work, and how to get started tinkering, inventing, and innovating.

Twelve-year-old Güero, a freckled, red-headed, Mexican-American border kid, discovers the joy of writing poetry, thanks to his English teacher. Candace sets out to find the treasure her grandmother searched for and expose an injustice committed against an African American family.

With the help of her chorus teacher, Genesis learns to love herself and finds her voice to overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family.

The graphic biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor whose faith led him to devote his life to the German Resistance and stopping Hitler. While her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. After losing both her father and her home, Nora and her mother have no place else to live but the shantytown of Manila’s North Cemetery.

Prince Veera and his best friend Suku use their wits and wisdom to deal with some of the trickiest problems presented in King Bheema’s court.

At his new Miami school, Salvador Vidón meets Gabi Reál, with whom he soon shares his secret: he can open portals into another universes. The adventures of the fictionalized Zora Neale Hurston and her best friend Carrie explore the idea of collective memory and the effects of slavery. While still grieving his best friend’s death, seventh-grader Mason and his new friend Calvin are targeted by neighborhood bullies.

TITLES FOR TEEN READERS

Cover images used with permission.

Two African-American teens find themselves working together to solve the murder of a mutual friend, Paris Secord, aka DJ ParSec.

The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School share their emotional journeys that began on February 14, 2018, and continue today. Through 100 chapters, each 100 words, sixteen-year-old Will walks the streets of L.A. to deal with tragedy and loss. Seventeen stories that offer unique perspectives to explore what it means to be young and black in America today.

In this raw graphic memoir, Jarrett J. Krosoczka shares his day-to-day life with his grandparents and his difficult interactions with his heroin-addicted mother. Darius’ life of dealing with depression and high school bullies takes an unexpected turn when he travels to Iran to meet his grandparents for the first time. After Rukhsana’s conservative Muslim parents catch her kissing her girlfriend Ariana, they whisk her away to Bangladesh and a world of tradition and arranged marriages. The lives of two cursed sisters become entwined with two enchanted boys in this contemporary retelling of “SnowWhite and Rose-Red’ and “Swan Lake.”

Epic heart-pounding fantasy set in an alternate ancient India where a rebel assassin and a reluctant soldier find forbidden love as they battle to save their lands.

Heartbreaking and hopeful stories about nine courageous young adults who have lived with a secret for much of their lives: they are not U.S. citizens.

Best friends Chelsea and Jasmine find and use their voices to confront stereotypes, biases, and societal wrongs in their community. A Muscogee (Creek) girl attending an overwhelmingly white high school, Louise “Lou” Wolfe deals with the difficulties of “dating while Native.”

Advocating for Your Students Outside the Classroom

By: Rose Walker, Lewiston Ed Tech

Iam an educator that stands in the fight for equality in public education. I first began my involvement with the Lewiston Education Association after a Listening Tour that was organized in my school district. Local association leadership and MEA staff came through our school and talked to us about issues that matter to us. The Association was trying to better understand what the educators in Lewiston needed so we could best support our students. I liked this idea and wanted to be involved in learning more about how I could help my students, on a bigger scale.

When I joined the Lewiston Education Association, I was eager to become a building rep. That role then turned into becoming a member of the Ed Tech bargaining team, and then the chair of the Lewiston Education Association’s Instruction and Professional Development Committee.. I quickly realized there were a lot of opportunities for me to get involved and be an advocate for my students if I just asked and paid attention to what was happening in the bigger world of education policy. I began advocating at the Maine State House to become a voice for educators, and in the spring, I testified in the legislative committee with my two children, (Daisy who is 5 and Olivia who is 3) during a Red for Ed event. I wanted to show them that having a voice and ensuring that you are heard is a very important life lesson.

All of this helped lead me to the realization that not only in the community where I work and the community where I live, there is a sincere need to advocate for those family, friends, coworkers, community members, and neighbors that have voices and messages that need to be heard. In the combined cities of Lewiston and Auburn, there is an average of 18.3% of families living in poverty which becomes a real obstacle for many students in public schools. Too many times our voices and calls for help have been unheard. Too often decisions are made without the perspective of what is happening in the classroom. All stakeholders need to have a seat at the table to facilitate the necessity of a new direction and leadership within my community.

On August 22nd I took the jump and began a campaign to run for the school committee in Auburn, Maine. The beginning of October the MEA sponsored my participation in the See Educators Run program organized by the National Education Association in Detroit. This became an invaluable resource as it provided me the tools necessary to run a successful campaign. I took that knowledge, and a month after my return, I used those resources and I won my committee Ward 1 seat in Auburn against an incumbent.

Presenting at NEA Headquarters in D.C. about my work and advocacy.

While I work in Lewiston and I live in Auburn, I had a unique perspective from not only an educator but a parent and community member. Throughout this whole process, I began to understand the need for Rose Walker with MEA staff, Amanda Fickett and MEA President, Grace Leavitt.

transparency within the school department and the collaboration with key stakeholders. Educators, parents and community members were not feeling heard which ultimately became a disservice to the students that we strive to educate. Rebuilding these relationships cultivates the success of students and unifies the community. By investing in classrooms, we set a priority to building a foundation for student learning. What is important to teachers is that students have access to quality education to prepare them for the jobs of the future. As the voice of an educator, I understand the need to put students at the center of any educational policy and am now empowered to do so. It is my purpose to demonstrate my commitment to change and to encourage others to follow.

In December, I was invited to the National Education Association staff meeting in Washington DC to speak about my experiences. My election was one of many across the country from fellow alumni of the See Educators Run program, which puts the voice of educators on local school committees, city councils, state and federal government. We need to continue building momentum. I would encourage each and every one of you to become involved and let your voice be heard. A small idea inspires big change.

None of this would have happened without the commitment and support of my local association, leaders in the Auburn schools, the Maine Education Association and the NEA. It will take all of us, working together -- parents, school board members, teachers, educators, administrators, community members -- all working together to make our schools places where students are inspired to learn and grow.