www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/parenting/improv-comedy-kids.html
You’re the star of your own show. Improv is about speaking truth in the moment, that’s funny.
Equity and Shared Vision
Normalize racial dialogue. Lead with empathy. Be healthy so we can respond authentically. Growth happens outside of comfort zones.
James Wogan, LCSW, featured speaker (main stage), ACSA Symposium Conference 2021.
Educational leadership. Association California School Administrators (ACSA).
Greetings from Stinson Beach
Sometimes nature, sometimes music 🎶, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone.
Tiny Homes help Homeless Youth in Oakland / Berkeley
Tiny home village for homeless youth in Oakland / Berkeley. Way to go @YouthSpiritArts Sally and team at #YSA. Thank you for making community better and for giving young people a chance to give back.
‘I’ve Given Up’: Parenting in Quarantine
This article came out a while back in NYT. Shout out to Rachel L. Harris and Lisa Tarchak with New York Times for putting this together. I hope it brings kids and parents validation that you’re not alone. Kimōchi wa kimōchi.
School Based Mental Health (SBMH) Guidebook
www.dropbox.com/s/yf375ywj6rf0ieb/School Based Mental Health Guide Book SBMH.pdf
Recently released School Based Mental Health (SBMH) Guidebook. Authors across disciplines (School Social Work, School Psychology, and School Counseling PPSC) collaborated to develop this manual.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Equity
Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Equity, and Social Responsibility (by CASEL)
Suicide Prevention by NASP
Suicide Prevention during COVID / Distance Learning
SEL Guiding Principles
Distinctions of Equity by Zaretta Hammond
Social Justice Standards by Teaching Tolerance
“Stop asking, “Why the addiction, start asking, “Why the pain?”
https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/1271/the-addict-in-all-of-us
Check out this interview with Gabor Maté, MD, Canadian Doctor and Addiction Specialist.
I recently helped a father to get sober after years of addiction to opioids and alcohol. He said “it feels SO GOOD to get honest…. um, kinda sorted, well mostly honest, well okay there is some stuff I left out because I’m too ashamed to talk about it.” We all need someone on our side, especially if we need to get honest with ourselves before we get honest with others.
It’s bad ass when clients see articles like this in my waiting room, or online, then come in to therapy appointments ready to face their pain, learn, and change patterns of thinking and behaving.
You might have heard that we “can’t save our ass and save our face at the same time,” (thank you NA), but that sure the hell doesn’t stop brilliant addict brains 🧠 from trying.
We learn the most from the people we serve. Mostly from teenagers, I’ve that we can’t criticize ourselves into positive and lasting change. We can’t criticize ourselves out of criticizing ourselves. The trap of negativity creates the illusion of growth and change.
When I was a younger therapist, I would say things like, “Don’t beat yourself up…give yourself a break….”. Now that I’m a little more um seasoned, I say things like, “You can go ahead and beat yourself up, I can’t stop you, just not all day.”’
In therapy (along with concurrent programs like AA and NA), many clients reduce the negative thinking that comes with addiction by 50% and then, when the time is right, we walk through that fire 🔥 together.
It’s possible. You’re not alone.
The science of music 🎶 mental health
🧠 Expert musicologist and friend Michael Emeneu (Montreal, Canada) breaks down the benefits of learning music by ear. Click link above to see concise article on Medium.
Be aware to be authentic
Mindfulness, in-the-moment awareness, and being “present,” goes hand-in-hand with being authentic, mental health and wellness. See link to article in Flipboard magazine SEL.
Trust
If you’re struggling in any way, whoever you chose to reach out to is a lucky person. You help them by allowing them to help you, and you’re tacitly saying, “I trust you.”
Successful Federal Grant Application – SEL, PBIS, Elementary Counseling & School Social Work (US Dept. of Education).
This successful grant application to the US Department of Education combined structured play during recess with school-based counseling and school social work services to strengthen social, emotional, and behavioral health wellness. Inclusion and school climate skyrocketed, attendance increased, and rates of discipline declined.
James Wogan, LCSW was the lead author and project coordinator for this successful SEL program.
Based on data, PBIS was applied through an equity lens to serve historically underserved communities. The district hired 3.0 FTE” “Social Work Specialists” and expanded support for MTSS Tier 2 and Tier 3 students. Parents from diverse backgrounds strengthen their connection with school.
Staff members straddled the school day and worked in the after school program as well, therefore were present when parents picked up their children.
Example for others to build upon.
We met or exceeded target goals and outcome measures.
www2.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/fy15awards/2015-215e-0516.pdf
James Wogan, LCSW
5 Tips: Trauma-Informed De-escalation of teens
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6462889721298194432
#Trauma-#Informed #DeEscalation #Angry and #Aggressive #Teens: From Wogan #Training / #Professional #Development:
– Safety1: Don’t block a kid’s path or put your arm out to stop a student from leaving a classroom. No “hip checks.”
– Safety2: Kid’s escalate quickly, go the opposite direction – slow things down, time is your friend for proximity, distance & safe space.
– Safety3: pause for the call, don’t be alone.
– Safety4: Avoid command language such as “You need to… I need you to…” vs. – “It’s time to… + Ask Questions; engage the frontal lobes. “What happened? Are you ready to…?
– Safety5: Rehearse Comprehensive School Safety Plans, Know your role and what you’ll do ahead of time, so you can #respond vs. #react.
Training / Professional Development
Youth | Crisis Support Services of Alameda County
Youth | Crisis Support Services of Alameda County
— Read on www.crisissupport.org/resources/suicide-prevention/youth/
Suicide Prevention in Alameda County. You’re not alone. Maybe it’s hard to imagine things getting better, but they can, and they will. Reach out. People you don’t even know will be there for you.
Providing outreach and support to districts, schools, parents and high risk youth populations – Los Angeles County Youth Suicide Prevention Project
Providing outreach and support to districts, schools, parents and high risk youth populations – Los Angeles County Youth Suicide Prevention Project
— Read on preventsuicide.lacoe.edu/
