NYC SAMHSA TRAINING 9/16

Trauma Informed Care 

A Change in Perspective

Monday, September 16, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

455 1st Ave - New York, NY 10016 

• Definition of trauma
• Effect it has on the brain
• 4 strategies to reduce the likelihood of re-traumatication
• 2 ways it affects people developmentally, psychologically and physiologically
• 2 action steps to implement in trauma-informed practices 

RSVP: email name, organization & contact number to Dira Severino dseverino@health.nyc.gov

Dads, will you Take Your Child To School on September 17th?

https://sites.google.com/site/dtyctsny/

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Donna Morrison

Donna Morrison is an active member of NYSPEP's Professional Development workgroup. She also has volunteered to represent NYSPEP on the Stronger Families Coalition.

Ms. Morrison currently serves The Guidance Center of Westchester in New Rochelle, NY as the Early Childhood Director. She oversees six programs that comprise the Early Childhood Department including a New York State Education Department Licensed Therapeutic Nursery, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classes, and a unique mental health consultation called "Foundations in Feelings" for child care settings.

Ms. Morrison has served the Early Childhood field for over 25 years in various settings including public schools, private day cares, and most recently Head Start. She is a professional workshop presenter for the National, New York State, and Westchester Associations for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Morrison identifies herself as "An Early Childhood Educator passionate about Mental Health whose job is to listen to the children, believe the children, and speak for the children and their families".

Her professional affiliations include: New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP), National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Head Start Association, Zero to Three, Early Childhood Network of Yonkers and Mt. Vernon (SOC) the 0-6 subcommittee for Westchester County Committee on Children and Families.

Ms. Morrison is currently co-developing NYSPEP's upcoming Strong Roots Training Institute workshop on Reflective Practice and is slated to present in Buffalo and New York City.

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Judy Wolf

Judith Rae "Judy" Wolf, serves on NYSPEP's Steering Committee and is Co-Chair of the Credential Workgroup.  She is also an active member of NYSPEP's Professional Development workgroup. She developed the Reflective Practice workshop for the 2013 Strong Roots Last a Lifetime Training Institute.

Judy is also the Extension Team Leader for the Family Development Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Tioga County in Owego, NY, where she leads a variety of programs, from parenting skills workshops at two community-based family resource centers to in-home visits, that reach hundreds of families every year.

Under her leadership, CCE Tioga has helped develop and define the Family Resource Center and supported others in implementing that model. Judy is a New York State Family Development Credential course trainer  and serves on the National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) Council.

A Letter to Parents

A Letter to Parents from the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services and the Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance encouraging participation in Dads Take Your Child To School (DTYCTS) Day.

Learn more and register your site at https://sites.google.com/site/dtyctsny/home

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Judy Nordstrom

Judy Nordstrom

Judy Nordstrom—Founder and Owner of T.E.P.E. Training Institute, “Training for Excellence in Parenting Education”—is highly active in NYSPEP's Steering Committee and Professional Development workgroup. She has also served as Chair and co-chair of the Credential Workgroup since its inception. Judy instituted several key NYSPEP initiatives including rich dialogues with SUNY, exploration of pediatrician partnerships with Dr. Howard King, and enlisting national experts who have vetted the NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential.

 Judy is a professional trainer, educator and national presenter. Last year she presented NYSPEP’s Adult Learning Styles workshops and webinar, as well as several Credential Orientations. Judy is currently collaborating on the development of the upcoming Compassion Fatigue workshop for NYSPEP's 2013 Strong Roots Training Institutes.

 Judy’s inspiration and drive comes solely from her family. She states, “I always wanted children (and stopped at 12) but had not one clue as to just how challenging it is to be a parent. I wish I had known about parenting education and that it had been available to me." She points out, "The key to effective parenting education lies in the talent, skill and training of a good facilitator." Judy has worked tirelessly since 1996 to ensure today’s parents know about parenting education and recognize the value of support.

Judy graduated in 1995 with a Psychology degree from Norwich University and was awarded the title of Presidential Fellow. She went on to earn an Outstanding Graduate Student Award in 1998 and a Master’s in Community-Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts. She focused exclusively on training in parenting education after a professor requested she start with a cohort of graduate students while enrolled in that program.

 In addition to family, Judy counts the rewards she’s experienced, as a direct result from her work as a trainer and in NYSPEP, as most important.

“I’ve always been a hard worker but have never before known such collaboration and brilliance! NYSPEP’s pervading spirit is palpable and unlike any work relationship I’ve ever known. The creativity, passion, and willingness to collaborate are breathtaking. For years, front liners—those knee-deep in work with families—have yearned for professional recognition but had no way to achieve statewide influence or cooperation until NYSPEP was born. NYSPEP breaks barriers and tears down silos, with our Credential team leading the pack. I’m gratified and blessed to work with such a dedicated group of women.”

The Neighborhood of Make Believe

The Neighborhood of Make Believe

by Angelina M. Hart, NYSPEP Coordinator

Recently, an old Fox News video resurfaced and was posted to Huffington Post. The video spends several minutes criticizing Mr. Rogers for telling children they are special, based on a statement by Don Chance, a finance professor at Louisiana State University, blaming Mr. Rogers for creating a generation of students who feel entitled.

Fox News also mentions the increase of narcissism among college students, based on a scientific study led by a psychiatrist at San Diego State University. However, in researching this piece, I found no mention of Mr. Rogers being cited as the causal factor for increased narcissism, aside from Don Chance's unqualified statement.

Interestingly, San Diego State University Psychology Professor Jean Twenge, writes, "The MTV show 'My Super Sweet Sixteen' has done 100 times more to normalize narcissism than Mr. Rogers ever did."

It should come as no surprise that -according to one source- Don Chance later contacted Fox News, retracting previous statements against Mr Rogers admitting, "I have no professional qualifications to evaluate the real problems or propose solutions." Moreover, Don Chance mistakenly confuses merit (earned) with value (intrinsic).

Sadly, irresponsible journalism has become mainstream. Most audience members don't know how to discern responsible journalism from inflated hype used to increase ratings, which saturates Fox's video. Fox could have cited the full source of the original statement against Mr. Rogers as coming from a finance professor. Audience members capable of critical reasoning skills might question his qualifications for making such a statement. Mentioning the scientific study on narcissism misleads by supposition that somehow the scientific study supports Don Chance's unqualified claim, which is a fallacy.

NYSPEP received a communication from Kenneth Barish, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College, Cornell University, in response to the recently resurfaced Fox video. We invite you to read his response, published by Huff Post Parents (Huffington Post). Please CLICK HERE to view his qualified response.