Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. 

To learn more, including ways you can celebrate, click here.

Critics Call Out Discipline Practices

2,500 uses of seclusion or restraint in NJ schools

SPAN Policy Director, Peg Kinsell is quoted in an article published on September 14 via the USA Today Network - New Jersey, including the Asbury Park Press, NorthJersey.com, and the Herald-Tribune:

In a first-of-its kind survey this past spring, New Jersey schools reported about 2,500 incidents in the 2022-2023 school year in which students were physically restrained or shut away in rooms by themselves to deal with difficult behavior.

Educators say restraint and seclusion are used on rare occasions to stop students from hurting themselves or others, but critics say the methods are both harmful and ineffective. Statistics also show the interventions are used disproportionately on children of color and those with disabilities.

'We don't view restraint or seclusion as anything but abusive practices, quite frankly,' said Peg Kinsell, policy director at the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, a disability group based in Newark. 'Restraint and seclusion should be outlawed in all public schools. And it's clear that the danger of physical injury, trauma or emotional distress is evident in any student that it is practiced on.'

Instead, schools should be using approaches informed by neuroscience and driven by positive relationships built between school employees and students who most need their help, said Guy Stephens, founder of the Maryland-based Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, a national nonprofit focused on eliminating the use of such tactics in schools. Understanding and supporting children's behavior keeps situations from spiraling out of control, he said.

To read the entire article, click here.

Resources

Trauma - Informed ACEs Screening &

Intervention Evaluation (TASIE) Results Webinar Series

"Adverse Childhood Experiences" (ACEs) are stressful events in a child or teen's life. ACEs can happen to anyone (even adults), and most Americans have at least one. Children have both good and bad times in life, and science shows the bad times can have long-term effects on children’s brains and bodies.

Stress from an ACE is different from the everyday stress that all children experience. ACEs can cause asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.

A study was done to measure how well doctors could screen for ACEs in pediatric offices. Read more about this program here. To discuss the results of this program, two results webinars will be held on Wednesday, October 9th and Wednesday, October 23rd at 1pm ET. Sign up for both webinars here."