Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys’ Post

Last week I attended the screening of a short documentary called Raising Bar, about Bar Swain, the eldest son of our friends, Robert Swain and Ginny Swain, who was born with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). The film is about the challenges people like Bob and Ginny and their families face when their loved one reaches the age of 22 and ages out of the public support system that has existed for them up to that point. At a time when most children would be leaving home to start their own lives in earnest, families of those with IDD now face the challenge of how to ensure their loved one will be cared for when they are no longer able or around to provide that care, never mind help their loved one lead a fulfilling life. Bob and Ginny’s efforts to provide a solution to this problem for Bar and others has been nothing short of heroic. In founding High Spirit Community Farm (https://lnkd.in/es5n3KTs), they came up with a long-term solution to the problem of how to provide meaningful lives for people with intellectual disabilities. But that raises the question: Why can’t the state do more? Like many New Yorkers riding the subway and walking the streets of New York every day, I am frequently struck by the moral inadequacy of the ways we respond to mental health issues in our society. While those with intellectual disabilities like Bar are distinct from our fellow citizens suffering from mental health issues, the societal response is similarly inadequate. Over-institutionalization in inhumane conditions—as was common decades ago—is clearly not the answer. But neither is shifting to private citizens the burden of caring for our most vulnerable, who often don’t have Bob and Ginny’s dedication, compassion, and resources, and whose loved ones suffer as a result. Here is the trailer for Raising Bar: https://lnkd.in/eBhKpnCF. I hope it piques your interest and that you will consider making a donation to HSCF. I also hope it will go some way to raising awareness about these issues and the shortcomings of our response as a society. We can do better.

Creating #MightyChange is not possible without the incredible work of #nonprofit partners like notMYkid! Check out how they're helping make a difference in our latest Stories of Mighty Change feature!

[Homelessness as Patient Safety Issue | Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia] Systems Thinking teaches us that systems are complex and our own individual and collective perceptions shape our understanding of "reality"; and therefore, how we behave. By simply redefining a problem, we can often make incredible advances in addressing it - and in this case, exponentially improving the quality of life and care for others. Correctly defining a problem allows us to see the problem differently, understand it's nature in new ways, and opens up entirely new solution-sets to help address it. An important awareness for problems that can seem too big, complex, and deep-rooted to address - from homelessness to inequities in healthcare and medicine. Thanks to the Mutter and The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, for highlighting this important issue for society, medicine, and healthcare!

Where care is inseparable from our daily lives, my latest writing is a heartfelt reminder that the community care efforts led by compassionate mothers are just as vital as other private care, yet they often go unnoticed. Let's take the first step in giving them the recognition they deserve in the vast landscape of the care economy. Please, check on the link below if you are interested 👋 https://lnkd.in/gpUuJnbM

Advance care planning is an important part of #EndofLifeCare. During #ACPWeek refresh your knowledge of the fundamental requirements when caring for people approaching the end of their life. Learn about the nine guiding principles in the 2nd edition of the National Consensus Statement - relevant to primary, community care and residential aged care facilities. Download the latest resources, tools and actions at https://lnkd.in/gdQbcVRz #EOLC

We're delighted to see the Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) reports released today, advocating for a children-first, trauma-informed, and rights-respecting approach to secure care. This vision is bold and presents a new future for children. Led by Katie Upsdale, our team collaborated on this project by bringing expertise in systems change and user-centred design. We generated rich #evidence, working with children and young people in - and with experience of secure care - and their families/carers, with a vision to affect change at a national level. We know that place-based, systemic change can be complex. It requires working differently, working in equity at the grassroots levels, and sharing system-learning and decision-making opportunities with those impacted in the community. We hope that this roadmap for change is a bold step towards a more compassionate future for children and young people. #vision #children #families #future #systemschange #national #policy #youngpeople #ThePromise #collaboration #securecare #caring

📢 Launch Announcement 📢 We are excited to share the Reimagining Secure Care reports, which outline a transformative vision for Scotland’s secure care system. These reports, commissioned by The Scottish Government and developed by CYCJ, advocate for a children-first, trauma-informed, and rights-respecting approach to secure care. Drawing on extensive collaboration with stakeholders, young people, and practitioners, these reports provide a roadmap for change — ensuring children's needs are prioritised in care and justice settings. From keeping children with their families to creating community-based, therapeutic environments, this is a bold step towards a more compassionate future. https://lnkd.in/ebH9h6YZ #YouthJustice #SecureCare #ChildrensRights #CYCJ #ThePromise #SocialChange #ScottishGovernment

"_we just need to join up the data_" - in over a decade of work to improve safety for people most likely to experience harm, I have so often heard this phrase. Sometimes after it's too late. But for so many structural reasons - sometimes good ones, sometimes less so - this is not as easy as it might sound. This proposal to link data of #children and #youngpeople presenting at A&E will be an important step in showing how to ethically join data in order to prevent further harm. If you are part of the #Qcommunity or know folks who are - please support this important work with your vote. The Q community @dougalhargreaves Chris Owen @CarolineGadd Rosanna Hardwick Katy Saunders #SupportCYP #MentalHealth #ChildrensHealth #EmergencyCare

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📅 As Summer winds down, most elected officials are back home in their districts for August recess. Many are holding town halls or appearing at community events. These events provide the perfect opportunity for moms to show up and ask elected officials and other candidates for their plan to address the child care crisis. Need some help on how to show up at an event near you? Check out our resource guide at momsfirst.us/ontherecord Our guide includes tips for how to: 🔍 Find your candidates 🗺 Locate an upcoming event near you 📣 Make your voice heard Once you make your plan to attend, let us know at ontherecord@momsfirst.us. #ChildCareOnTheRecord