The Arc of the United States’ Post

Reflecting on an illuminating essay in TIME Magazine written by Amanda Joy Calhoun, MD, MPH, I'm reminded of the profound connection between anti-Black racism and its toll on mental health. As an education expert and the founder of North Star Academics, dedicated to equitable education, this article deeply resonates with my mission. It underscores that anti-Black racism is a pervasive stressor, impacting various aspects of Black lives. Education, healthcare, and the criminal justice system all contribute to this burden, particularly affecting Black students' academic pursuits. The mental health crisis within the Black community cannot be separated from racial injustice. Consistent exposure to discrimination contributes to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In education, this crisis is a pressing concern. To empower Black students, we must create culturally responsive, anti-racist environments and prioritize mental health support in schools. Nurturing self-advocacy, resilience, and self-efficacy is key. We also need allies to dismantle racism in education, addressing disparities in discipline, access, and mental health support. The TIME essay reminds us that challenging and dismantling anti-Black racism is the path to a future where all students can succeed in nurturing educational spaces. #education #NorthStarAcademics #equityineducation #equity #mentalhealth #bipoc #bipocmentalhealth #educate https://lnkd.in/ghTZgvBG

This is a great article identifying the many obstacles that are in the way of neurodivergent black kids and adults. One of the things I have noticed when I talk to parents is they don’t know you can get 504 accommodations for your kid without a diagnosis. If you have a consistency of feedback from teachers that say things like lacks focus, struggles to perform to their potential, etc. you can use that to advocate for a 504 plan for your kid. #neurodiversity #adhd #adhdcoaching #themoreyouknow #adhdkids

Recent studies underscore a rising concern: the alarming increase in suicide rates among Black youth in the United States, with racism pinpointed as a critical contributing factor. Data from a Johns Hopkins University report highlights the stark underrepresentation of Black individuals in mental health and suicide research, despite evidence showing that Black teens face disproportionately high suicide rates due to structural racism, including factors such as under-resourced communities and lack of healthcare access. A significant factor exacerbating these rates is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to increased instances of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly among Black youth. The disparities extend further into the realm of intersectionality, where multiracial and LGBTQ+ students report higher rates of depression and suicidal attempts. The article also emphasizes the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the overrepresentation of Black youth in environments conducive to such experiences. These environments often include low-income neighborhoods and foster care systems, compounding the risk of suicidal ideation. It is critical to note the absence of Black voices in suicide research, which challenges the development of effective mental health interventions and solutions. The American Academy of Pediatrics outlines several suicide risk factors, including bullying, discrimination, financial instability, and witnessing violence, urging immediate support for those in need. Read the full story by Jennifer Porter Gore from Word In Black at Dallas weekly.com #iamdw #blackpress #blackyouthsuicide #blackyouthsuicide #mentalhealthdisparities #structuralracism #structuralracism

In a society grappling with the complex issue of youth mental health, Amanda Joy Calhoun, MD, MPH's article in TIME highlights an often-overlooked facet of this crisis: the impact of anti-Black racism on Black youth's mental well-being. As an expert in the mental health effects of anti-Black racism, Amanda Joy Calhoun, MD, MPH recounts poignant experiences as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. She emphasizes the profound influence of racism on Black Americans' mental health, starting before birth and persisting throughout their lives. The article underscores that Black children and adolescents are experiencing unprecedented levels of suffering, with suicide rates rising faster among Black youth than any other racial or ethnic group. Disturbingly, Black children as young as five are 1.8 times more likely to commit suicide compared to their white peers. The article presents a compelling argument that anti-Black racism is a driving force behind the youth mental health crisis. Solutions must urgently address this aspect and tailor mental health treatments to the unique needs of Black youth. At North Star Academics, we believe in the power of education to foster understanding and empathy. This article reinforces our commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments that prioritize the emotional well-being of all students, irrespective of their racial or ethnic background. We echo the call to action presented in this article and stand in solidarity with efforts to combat anti-Black racism in all its forms. We can create a more equitable and mentally healthy future for our youth. #education #leadership #equityineducation #equity #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #bipoc #bipocmentalhealth

Today is Juneteenth, the anniversary of the emancipation of Black Americans. Equality and diversity are priorities at Connect Plus Therapy, in our company culture, in our client work, and in our personal lives. We champion equity and togetherness. 🫂🤝💙 In 2023, the rate of autism diagnoses increased to 1 in 36 individuals. This is due in part to improvements in the equality of autism screening, diagnosis, and therapeutic accessibility. As the Autism Society states: ""The early identification report demonstrates that for the first time, the percentage of 8-year-old Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Black children identified with Autism was higher than among 8-year-old White children. This change effectively closes the racial and ethnic gap which was observed and reported in previous ADDM reports. These shifts may reflect improved screening, awareness, and access to services among historically underserved groups. "" You can read more about this fact here: https://hubs.li/Q02ztcV70 Connect Plus Therapy will continue to prioritize racial equality, and to do our part in ensuring equal respect, dignity, and accessibility of therapies for those with autism. 💙 #Juneteenth #Diversity #Inclusivity #ABA #ABATherapy #BCBA #Autism #AutismTherapy #BehavioralTherapists #AutismAwareness #LifeSkills #Caregivers #BCBA

In the second part of C&A’s three-part series based off the documentary I am Not Racist … Am I?, C&A’s Chris Alpert examines what the student’s learn about themselves and their viewpoints on the topic. This insightful blog post discusses structural racism and how student’s felt in their own schools based on staff greetings each day ranging from teachers to the cafeteria workers. The documentary followed students in New York City where Alpert, the author of this post, went to school. He links how perceptions of students in New York City relate to Northeastern Ohio. A great read. #therapists #racism #counselors #parents #teenagers #adolescents -  

Black Disabled people have to deal with negative stereotypes and cultural assumptions regarding employment from their own communities and the disability movement, as well as the wider society. Negative views of disability perpetuated by the medical model of disability have been used as a vehicle to enforce racism in the lives of Black Disabled people... There have been calls for more intersectional research within the disability literature, combining ethnicity and gender studies. Despite the increase in demand for intersectional analysis, there is insufficient literature on the experiences of Black Disabled To read & download the full Literature Review click 👉 The Diverse Creative CIC Lead Researcher: Tumi Sotire A massive thank you to BLACK THRIVE for giving us the opportunity to highlight this topic and giving us the space to be as authentic as possible : ) Authors Dawn + Derrick of Armstrong Cameron Designed and illustrated by 46 Design Email: hello@thediversecreative.org #entrepreneurship #BusinessOwners #diverseentrepreneurs #diversityandinclusion #Entrepreneurs #disabled #disabledentrepreneur #inspire #mindset #business #NYAE2023 #neurodiversity #longtermhealthconditions #motivation #businessprogram #creativity #Dyslexia #Dyspraxia #education #Dyscalculia #Diversecreative #TDC #ADHD #socialenterprise #VirtualLearning #LongtermSickness #training #learning #disabilityawareness

Black Disabled people have to deal with negative stereotypes and cultural assumptions regarding employment from their own communities and the disability movement, as well as the wider society. Negative views of disability perpetuated by the medical model of disability have been used as a vehicle to enforce racism in the lives of Black Disabled people... There have been calls for more intersectional research within the disability literature, combining ethnicity and gender studies. Despite the increase in demand for intersectional analysis, there is insufficient literature on the experiences of Black Disabled To read & download the full Literature Review click 👉 The Diverse Creative CIC Lead Researcher: Tumi Sotire A massive thank you to BLACK THRIVE for giving us the opportunity to highlight this topic and giving us the space to be as authentic as possible : ) Authors Dawn + Derrick of Armstrong Cameron Designed and illustrated by 46 Design Email: hello@thediversecreative.org #entrepreneurship #BusinessOwners #diverseentrepreneurs #diversityandinclusion #Entrepreneurs #disabled #disabledentrepreneur #inspire #mindset #business #NYAE2023 #neurodiversity #longtermhealthconditions #motivation #businessprogram #creativity #Dyslexia #Dyspraxia #education #Dyscalculia #Diversecreative #TDC #ADHD #socialenterprise #VirtualLearning #LongtermSickness #training #learning #disabilityawareness

Black Disabled people have to deal with negative stereotypes and cultural assumptions regarding employment from their own communities and the disability movement, as well as the wider society. Negative views of disability perpetuated by the medical model of disability have been used as a vehicle to enforce racism in the lives of Black Disabled people... There have been calls for more intersectional research within the disability literature, combining ethnicity and gender studies. Despite the increase in demand for intersectional analysis, there is insufficient literature on the experiences of Black Disabled To read & download the full Literature Review click 👉 The Diverse Creative CIC Lead Researcher: Tumi Sotire A massive thank you to BLACK THRIVE for giving us the opportunity to highlight this topic and giving us the space to be as authentic as possible : ) Authors Dawn + Derrick of Armstrong Cameron Designed and illustrated by 46 Design Email: hello@thediversecreative.org #entrepreneurship #BusinessOwners #diverseentrepreneurs #diversityandinclusion #Entrepreneurs #disabled #disabledentrepreneur #inspire #mindset #business #NYAE2023 #neurodiversity #longtermhealthconditions #motivation #businessprogram #creativity #Dyslexia #Dyspraxia #education #Dyscalculia #Diversecreative #TDC #ADHD #socialenterprise #VirtualLearning #LongtermSickness #training #learning #disabilityawareness

I am honored to present my passion research which is on suspension and expulsion in a training with early childhood educators in Caswell and surrounding counties on the topic: Suspension and expulsion: What’s happening? This training is designed to delve deeper into culturally developmentally age-appropriate behaviors and present researched based strategies/techniques to eliminate and/or reduce the suspension/expulsion of primarily Black children. The following is research data shows the disproportionate number of children suspended (Civil Rights Data Collection, 2017-2018): Black preschool students accounted for 18.2% of the total preschool enrollment but received 43.3% of one or more out-of-school suspensions, Black preschool students were expelled at rates that were more than twice their share (38.2%) of total preschool enrollment (18.2%); and 7% of the nation’s 1.5 million preschoolers were children with disabilities serve under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and were expelled at rates 2.5 times greater than their share of the total preschool population. Yes, I am working diligently to reduce and/or eliminate the suspension/expulsion of Black children so they will become productive citizens in adulthood. I forward to where the above statistical data will not be a part of the conversation or narrative of Black and brown children along share their successes. Knowledge is powerful towards being an agent of social justice change through ACTION. Increased knowledge brings increased responsibility. #drbkw