Hidden trauma is widespread problem for children, expert says
Screening has shown that children experience a high rate of trauma that often goes undetected, says a Los Angeles leader in school-based prevention and treatment. In Los Angeles, “about 98 percent of our children have had at least one traumatic event,” says Pia Escudero, who was part of a team that developed the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools program. “The average is between six and eight events. Trauma is common in our children’s lives, but multiple traumas are also very common.”

To read more click on the link  – https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/los-angeles/child-trauma-as-a-silent-epidemic/16869

Health Leads program helps patients address basic needs
Cleveland’s University Hospitals health care system is among the newest members of the Health Leads program, through which advocates help patients meet basic needs such as gaining access to utilities and healthy food. The program is active in five states. “Patient social needs are a greater driver of health; 70% of health outcomes are attributable to these social factors,” program co-founder Rebecca Onie said

To read more on how they did it – Click link below

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2016/03/university_hospitals_launches_health_leads_to_connect_patients_to_food_other_basic_needs_photos.html

Transition-Aged Youth (TAY), including foster youth, youth who have been through the juvenile justice 
system, and youth with mental health diagnoses, have unique needs that are often unaddressed. At this 
crucial stage in development, TAY peer support programs allow young people to work with trained specialists in their own age group who have similar experiences, providing them with both the benefits of best 
practices and the connection with someone they relate to. 

Panelists will discuss their programs and experiences in addition to how participants can create similar programs in their communities. 

Register now for Webinar on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 1:00:00 PM CDT - 2:30:00 PM CDT
Click here to register.​

Dear All,

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights trains students and lay volunteers in the community to serve as Child Advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody.  The spring training will take place on Saturday, April 16^th and Sunday, April 17^th from 9AM-3PM both days.  To become a Child Advocate, volunteers must attend both days of the training; be at least 21 years of age; submit to a background check and health screening; and be approved by the Young Center.  Space in the training is limited and preference will be given to bilingual volunteers. Volunteers that speak Spanish, Bengali, Mam, K’iche’, ASL (American Sign Language), French, Punjabi, Hindi, and Mandarin are highly encouraged to apply. Registration for this training will close on Monday, April 4^th.  See the attached flyer for more information.

 To register for the upcoming training, please:

1.       Complete the registration form at http://goo.gl/forms/shnbEQab0i.

2.       Complete the Young Center Volunteer Application and Release of Information forms. Please email the Volunteer Coordinator, Kate Morgan-Olsen, katemo@theyoungcenter.org to receive the required paperwork for this training.

 About the organization: www.theyoungcenter.org

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Maria Woltjen is the Director and founder of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at the University of Chicago Law School. The Young Center’s primary work is to advocate for the best interests—safety and well-being—of unaccompanied immigrant children. As part of this work, the Young Center serves as Child Advocate (best interests guardian ad litem) for trafficking victims and unaccompanied immigrant children pursuant to the Wilberforce Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. Ms. Woltjen’s focus is on reforming the immigration system to incorporate a best interests standard and developing a dedicated immigration justice system for children. Throughout her career, Ms. Woltjen has focused on children’s rights, at the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the ChildLaw Center at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, and now at the University of Chicago Law School. She earned a BS from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a JD from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, where she was executive editor of lead articles, for the Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal. For more information, please see www.TheYoungCenter.org

Licensed Clinical Psychologist Brad Stolbach, PhD is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Chicago Medicine, and the Clinical Director of Healing Hurt People – Chicago (HHP-C), a hospital-based violence intervention program serving youth injured by violence and their families. Dr.  Stolbach has devoted his career to ensuring that African American children, families, and communities in racially and economically segregated areas have access to services that promote trauma recovery. He has worked with traumatized children and families for over 30 years. Before moving to the University of Chicago full-time in 2013, Dr. Stolbach spent 18 years at La Rabida Children’s Hospital, where he co-founded and ran the Chicago Child Trauma Center. Within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), he co-chairs the Community Violence Committee and serves as a member of the Steering Committee and the Race and Trauma Subcommittee. Since 2009, Dr. Stolbach has served as the Midwest region lead technical advisor in the NCTSN’s Complex Trauma Treatment Network. He has conducted research on complex trauma in urban African American children, links between poverty and trauma, and developmental trauma in the lives of youth affiliated with armed groups. Dr. Stolbach was the 2015 University of Chicago Medicine Urban Health Initiative Faculty Fellow, piloting Project FIRE (Fearless Initiative for Recovery & Empowerment), a program for youth injured by violence that combines glassblowing/glass arts education, mentoring, employment, and trauma psychoeducation.