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​Our educational oppression (One of the major factors that bring on mental health situations.) is a timeless message that tells of the struggle of our marginalized families and how every day they push their children to rise above the education system's low expectations. We must see and name the process of knowing and connecting to the mental state of our families. We ask all to join in this endeavor? We must be a team!
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This site presents a refreshing approach as well as alternatives to put in place of reforms that do little to address pervasive educational inequity. This report is compiled with the intention of raising awareness of the school system's failure to meet the needs of our black, (BIPOC), immigrants, special needs, and poor white families. Most info. is presented by teachers!
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The NEA article says “Improvements include increased on-task learning behavior, better time management, strengthened goal-setting and problem-solving skills, and decreased rates of absenteeism and suspensions,” the report states.
We add being dogmatic about partnering with the families! The increased team involvement will create a strong sense of community that will in turn create a secure well-educated child.
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Grateful!
Sheila Washington Warren Portland Parent Union
This is What We Need
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We want to see district-wide efforts, all over the country, to overhaul Public School's mental health programs. We have seen students commit suicide, we have seen students criminalized, bullied, chastised, profiled, marginalized, demonized, as well as pushed out. We can name many more inhumanities put on our children, but we will stop here.
Our shaken community has galvanized their thoughts on how to push back on the education system to improve and support the strong school and community mental health programs. We have seen examples of districts taking students' mental health seriously, there is evidence of a strong team of counselors and school psychologists, plus solid relationships with community agencies and parents.
Example: https://simplysheilas.wixsite.com/hopefrommentalhealth/tell-us-what-you-need
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There are districts that are doing a lot of things right. Including a team being valued in the community. We are asking the largest Public School Districts especially to be examples to take a step back and think systemically and comprehensively about the work that has to be done! That shift is a critical first step forward and would be indicative of many schools and communities beginning to think about mental health early. It's imperative to include the family's input as well. They are the last to know or the last to be included. Yet the Children belong to them!
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​We do understand that the system believes it is doing the best it can. The education staff is usually overworked, not included in decision making, underpaid, understaffed, overwhelmed with large classrooms, and underfunded.
We believe overhauling the process can solve a bulk of the inadequacies by the system intentionally including families in the decision-making. Families, communities, and parents/guardians must have an equal role (a most important part of the team). This will take the burden off those who think it is their job to save our children.
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The NEA Article says: Despite the obvious return on investment, comprehensive mental health programs are still only scattered across the country. Many resource-starved districts have cut—or never had on staff—critical positions, namely school psychologists, undermining their schools’ ability and capacity to properly address these challenges.
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It is the responsibility of all involved in a Child's life to make sure the child is centered. We can do our specific part. This would be the team! When all are committed it could no longer be about funding, not having enough staff or scarce resources.
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Again we want to thank NEA for their informative article. Some of our quotes in this statement come from that particular article.
https://simplysheilas.wixsite.com/hopefrommentalhealth/tell-us-what-you-need