Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters’ Post

ICYMI: Advocates, Editorial Boards Praise Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Investments In Intellectual Disability And Autism Services, Workforce: https://bit.ly/4bDfAuw The Shapiro Administration believes that every Pennsylvanian with intellectual disabilities and autism deserves to receive the supports they need to achieve an everyday life with dignity and opportunity to pursue their goals and live, work, and recreate among their families and peers. Pennsylvania’s current system needs to change to better support these individuals. Moving forward, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will shift away from setting capacity in programs by numbers or “slots” and instead will shift to an overall budget-based system. This shift, paired with investments in this system, begins a multi-year program growth strategy to eliminate ODP’s emergency waiting list.

We were excited to see this recent cost-benefit analysis by Drexel University researchers showing the financial benefit of a school-based diversion program in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program (PPSDP) is a school-based, pre-arrest diversion initiative that results in better, more equitable student outcomes. According to the Drexel team, the initiative is not only better for students - it also saves the city millions of dollars. Connecticut also has a successful school-based diversion model, the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI), which emphasizes addressing behavioral health needs as an alternative to exclusionary discipline and arrest. In fact, CHDI's Dr. Jeana Bracey (a "school responder model" expert and lead for CT's SBDI) worked with the Philadelphia program back in 2018 to strengthen its behavioral health components. SBDI has helped 73 schools across Connecticut reduce arrests and connect more students to behavioral health services. (Learn more about SBDI: https://ow.ly/7E2E50QrtTz) Read the Drexel cost-benefit analysis in Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice: https://ow.ly/bfqZ50QrtTy?

Are you looking for tips and strategies on how to be more inclusive for your disabled and neurodivergent colleague? Check out our employment introductory course here that aims to equip individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with Autism in the workplace. https://buff.ly/4h3ATrO

Are you looking for tips and strategies on how to be more inclusive for your disabled and neurodivergent colleague? Check out our employment introductory course here that aims to equip individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with Autism in the workplace. https://bit.ly/3TEhnbp

Resources!

Join us this October to observe Global Diversity Awareness Month! 🌍 At ABA Centers of Connecticut, we believe in the transformative power of diversity within our communities. Interesting facts to note: -Diverse teams surpass their homogenous counterparts by 35% in innovation and productivity (McKinsey & Company, 2015). -Schools that champion inclusivity see better academic and social outcomes for all kids (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). -Companies with diverse executives earn 19% more from innovation (Boston Consulting Group, 2018). -Children in diverse environments grow up to be more empathetic and adept at solving problems (American Psychological Association, 2019). -Neurodiverse perspectives drive creativity and innovation in schools and workplaces (Harvard Business Review, 2017). We at ABA Centers of Connecticut support every child’s unique strengths and promote an inclusive space where all can succeed. Together, let’s honor our differences and enrich our collective future! Learn more about evidence-based and personalized autism therapy by calling us at (844) 888-3665 for a FREE consultation, or click here: bit.ly/abact101124li. #ABACentersOfConnecticut #ABAEducationalContent #ABAEvidenceBased #ScientificValidation #EvidenceBased

The Safety on the Spectrum™: First Responder Program is a national effort to promote safe and equitable interactions between First Responders and the Autism Community. Leveraging a “train-the-trainer” approach, the Autism Society will impact positive change at a national level through grassroots efforts and local leadership. https://smpl.is/909a3

Our mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline. https://aasr.news/qd6 #endseclusion

To those of you kind people who engage with me and my posts, thank you for your patience these last few weeks. But, I have found the events of the last several months and these past few weeks paralyzing and devastating to watch. Watching campuses erupt with violence and segregation, 60 years after the Civil Rights Act became law, and the challenges for diversity, equity, and inclusion - I am struggling. Psychological safety on campus for students and professors is an ability to function without interpersonal fear. The same is true in all workplaces - fear inhibits learning, creativity, innovation, and speaking up. I am sharing Timothy R. Clark’s four elements of psychological safety. Remembering empathy, humanity, and diverse perspectives without cruelty, shame, or harm feels more important than ever. #psychologicalsafety #inclusion #diversity #safety #perspective #ideas #psychology #infographic #visualization #civilrights

Georgia Appleseed is at the forefront of keeping our kids in school and out of the criminal justice system. But it's not enough to keep kids in school. It is just as crucial to ensure they - and the school staff - have the supports they need to be successful there. Part of our school justice initiative is dedicated to exactly that - promoting comprehensive school-based behavioral health programs, which research shows offers effective solutions to:  - Enhance students’ academic achievement - Build social skills and self-awareness - Strengthen connections to schools and communities. - Reduce schoolwide truancy and discipline rates - Increase high school graduation rates - Help create a positive school climate, including teacher morale and attrition. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g9kdGR9Q and help us ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed and thrive. #MentalHealthAwareness  #SchoolBasedBehavioralHealth  #SBBH  #GeorgiaAppleseed